Executive Development Program Launched for National Firms

	See photos of recent classes
Participants in the Speedway SuperAmerica executive development program for emerging leaders review oil exploration technology at dataOhio, the Wright Center for Data, on Wright State University’s campus.

Under the leadership of Dr. James Munch, Professor and Chair of Marketing, the Raj Soin College of Business is offering a series of executive development seminars customized for regional and national employers. According to Munch more and more, companies are saying, “To continue to innovate, stay abreast of global trends, and successfully grow our business we must continually improve our technical skills and organizational processes.”

Munch added that these companies are realizing that change must be embraced and executed by people who are relatively new to senior positions.  In our executive programs at the Raj Soin College of Business, we partner with regional and national companies to build a customized educational framework to help develop emerging leaders over the course of their careers.  We bring together properly matched Wright State faculty with national reputations in their disciplines, nationally recognized visiting faculty, and seasoned executives to teach agreed upon technical skills, organizational tools, and global leadership concepts that best match each company’s leadership development needs.

According to Munch, Speedway came to the Raj Soin College of Business over a year ago and expressed interest in creating a program to develop high potential leaders in all parts of their organization.   “Working together with their corporate leaders we built a customized curriculum and executive development program from the ground up.   Now we are developing high potential leaders in many key parts of their organization from finance, retail operations, marketing, supply chain, global oil economics, to organizational leadership.   We believe we have added technical depth and valuable insight into an already strong Speedway management team.” Munch added.  For example, Speedway’s parent company is Marathon Oil.  Speedway executives wanted their emerging leaders to have a better understanding of the global oil economy and its impact on Speedway’s and Marathon’s strategic position market position.  The College was able to draw upon the expertise of Dr. Riad Ajami, Professor of International Management and Global Strategy, Chair Management and International Business and Executive Director of the Center for Global Business Education and Research.

Business faculty have delivered similar approaches in a customized Project Management program that we recently developed for Dayton Superior, Inc.  Berkwood Farmer, Dean of the College added “At the Raj Soin College of Business, we believe that an integral link missing from many business schools is a strong working partnership between companies and universities.   Our objective is to continue to forge these educational relationships.  It’s a win-win for both parties and it’s great for the Ohio region.”

To learn more about customized executive development programs for your company or organization, contact Dr. James Munch, Professor and Chair, Department of Marketing, james.munch@wright.edu  937-775-3193.