"E-Program" (Entrepreneurship-Program)

The Entrepreneurship Program at Purdue University Calumet is a non-degree, non-academic, educational program designed exclusively for the experienced business owner. The E-Program is designed to fit into the time constraints of today's entrepreneur, who is typically working long hours to meet the expectations of his or her customers. The E-Program provides today's business owners the tools, inspiration, and skills to realize long-term business health and wealth.

Through a balance of presentations and hands-on application, the Entrepreneurship Program delivers a powerful, practical, focused approach that, when added to a business owners personal drive and creativity, will produce an immediate return on investment. Generally participants continue to report about significant increases in revenues and sales. Contacts with highly successful leaders, experts, and other business owners in each group, provides a platform for continual business growth.

The program runs for 9 months and is divided into two segments:

Segment One - focuses on the "how to" components of management, marketing, accounting, finance, personnel, strategic planning, business law, and other workplace issues. This segment is divided into three modules: Strategy and Resource Management, Marketing Related Topics, Money Related Topics. Each module runs for six weeks, one night a week, from 5:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. Segment one fills in information gaps as it ensures a sound framework of essential information. The format consists of organized discussions based on real-world situations.

Segment Two - provides a structured forum in which participants apply entrepreneurial skills to a "Client Company". Competing "consulting companies" are made up of 4-5 participants comprised from the group. Team members pool the knowledge gained from Segment One and their own diverse experiences to advise a real business client. The client is a non-competing business. This consulting experience allows each participant to see first-hand how the techniques apply and can be beneficial when applied to their own business. At the completion of this project, each "consulting company" makes a Client-Consulting presentation. The teams are judged in a non-academic setting and awards are presented to the winning "consulting company".

Additional benefits to the E-Program:

• Membership in the Purdue Business Owners Association, which provides sustaining educational, business and networking opportunities.
• Certificate of Completion.