WMU News

Seminar series set for economic development professionals

January 15, 1998

KALAMAZOO -- A series of two-day computer seminars designed for economic development professionals will begin Feb. 10 and run through May 26 at locations in Battle Creek, Grand Rapids, Muskegon and East Lansing.

The four seminars will help participants learn how to use computers to increase their personal efficiency as well as their organization's productivity. They are being sponsored by Western Michigan University's Office of Professional Programs and Conferences and the PTD/Lansing Computer Institute.

"Our surveys in the state indicate that economic development personnel need to provide better customer service and need ways to make their offices more efficient and effective," said Rosanne Stead, director of marketing for the computer institute. "Enhanced skills in computer applications can do this for them."

James McFaul, director of WMU's professional programs and conferences office, said the seminar series is a unique cooperative effort between the University and the computer institute to offer professional development programming.

McFaul added that each seminar in the series will provide essential tools participants can employ to retain, expand and attract business.

The series, which carries a tuition fee of $450 per seminar, is designed for representatives from county, township, city and village governments; housing and downtown development authorities; local economic development corporations; chambers of commerce; utility companies; school districts and higher education institutions; and others involved in economic development.

Three of the seminars will teach participants how to use the latest versions of four Microsoft software programs: Word and Excel, Access, and PowerPoint. In the fourth seminar, participants will log on to the Internet and learn how to design a World Wide Web home page as well as how to find the latest on-line demographic, employment, and world-wide business information.

For complete details on the seminar series, contact WMU's Office of Professional Programs and Conferences at (616) 387-4174 or the PTD/Lansing Computer Institute at (517) 333-9363.


Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
616 387-8400
univ-rel@wmich.edu

http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news