Partnering with the Pros
- Jodi Brunner
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
By Mary Carpenter • Photos Supplied
In order for a business – large or small — to grow and prosper it needs the right people in the right positions. But where do you find the “right people?” Consider this scenario. You have an open position on your company’s management team, but you’re not worried. You’re committed to promoting from within whenever possible and you have several employees who excel in their current jobs. You’ll put out the word and see who is interested in a new challenge.
But wait. An employee’s past performance is no guarantee of future success. For a good outcome you will need to match the skills of the candidates with the requirements of the job. And that’s when a partnership with the SUNY Plattsburgh School of Business & Economics (SBE) could be invaluable.
To learn more about the SBEs Innovative Management Workshops program, Strictly Business met recently with the School’s Dean, Brian Neureuther and Dr. Samy Garas who have spearheaded the new venture. “Part of the mission of the SBE is to support and enrich our local business community,” Neureuther began. “To that end, we are proud to introduce a new, non-credit program tailored specifically for local managers. Professional development has the potential to offer new opportunities for employees and create future leaders for employers. Our faculty is eager to work with the regional business community to provide learning opportunities that will help improve the skills of existing employees and help them develop new ones.”
Dr. Garas explained when and how the initiative began. “In 2022 we met in focus groups held at UVM Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital that included representatives from CVPH and Alice Hyde Medical Center. The discussions focused on what managers needed in order to move into and up in management positions in the rapidly changing health care industry. Seven areas were identified. From those initial conversations we developed targeted workshops designed to equip managers with advanced business skills that would enhance their leadership potential and better serve their employer and the greater community.”
The workshops, specifically designed for the medical facilities, were:
Managing Organizations — offering the primary framework of Plan, Organize, Lead, and Control
Accounting and Finance — providing a toolkit for managers to interpret financial information.
Evidence-Based Decision Making — examining the essential tools and methodologies in data analysis with an emphasis on Microsoft Excel
Legal & Regulatory Environment — providing a comprehensive overview of the legal and regulatory framework governing the industry.
Leadership — building core people-leadership capabilities, including communications, coaching, feedback, and leading change so new and emerging managers can lead teams with confidence.
Strategy — discussing the major stages of strategy processes and emphasizing the importance of each stage in the development of a robust strategy.
Lean Six Sigma Management — introducing the Lean Thinking principles in White, Yellow and Green Belt examinations along with their applications for improving operational efficiency.
“All sessions were facilitated by faculty who are experts in their fields, distinguished SBE alumni and members of the business community who are recognized for their achievements,” Garas outlined. “Each workshop -- Managing Organizations – Yellow Belt Six Sigma was a seven-hour class that met in-person, on-site at CVPH. For the Green Belt, classes members came to campus five times over an eight week period to meet and utilize our computer lab. Seven cohorts, totaling 120+ managers from CVPH and Alice Hyde competed the program.
Participants were required to attend all sessions and pass an assessment at the end of each workshop. Upon successful completion, each earned a certificate and a digitally encrypted badge to be added to his/her resume and LinkedIn profile to recognize their proof of education. The awards were issued jointly by SUNY Plattsburgh and Credly, the #1 internationally recognized digital credential management company. In addition, those completing the work qualified for a course waiver for the SBE’s Master’s degree program in Data Analytics.
Currently, Neureuther, Garas and others on the steering committee are putting the finishing touches on the program, making it easily customizable for manufacturers, small businesses and not-for-profits. “The recent work we’ve done on our internal structure will allow us to develop workshops to address the needs of both employers and employees across industries,” Neureuther emphasized. “Our group’s willingness to offer sessions on-site at partner businesses will be an added bonus.”
Planning is underway for group facilitators to work with a local not-for-profit in spring 2026 to create a custom curriculum to meet its workplace needs. The workshops will be offered at affordable rates to ensure managers who wish to elevate their skills can attend.
The North Country is fortunate to have a variety of organizations that offer professional development opportunities – the North Country Chamber of Commerce, the Institute for Advanced Manufacturing and CV-TEC. Now, with the addition of the School of Business & Economics to the list, employees who are looking for ways to improve their leadership abilities have one more option.
When employees have access to professional growth opportunities, employers benefit from a more skilled and productive workforce and improved employee retention. Everyone benefits. That’s how you create and keep “the right people.”
SUNY Plattsburgh
School of Business & Economics
331 Au Sable Hall
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
(518) 564-4186
Dr. Brian Neureuther
(518) 564-4185
Dr. Sammy Garas
(518) 564-4248
Did You Know?
SUNY Plattsburgh’s School of Business & Economics (SBE) is accredited by the
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the premier
accreditation body for business schools.
Only six percent of business schools worldwide have earned the accreditation.
The SBE currently offers:
• 12 undergraduate majors, 11 minors, 4 certificate programs and one graduate program.
Distinctive programs in business education are:
• Cybersecurity Management, Data Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Hospitality Management, Supply Chain Management.
The SBE is currently enjoying exceptional growth. We currently have just over 975 students majoring in the SBE,” Dean Brian Neureuther offered. “ Innovative program development, strong career outcomes, robust networking opportunities, and our commitment to student success have contributed to an 11 percent increase in enrollment compared to spring 2024, and a 4.83 percent increase over fall 2024.”
To continue this momentum, Neureuther explained, “We have developed two new graduate programs, a Master of Science in Accounting and a STEM-designated Master of Business Administration (MBA), which are currently under review by SUNY and the New York State Department of Education. If approved, we anticipate the programs to launch in Fall 2026.”