Working with difficult people
Sept. 27, 2000
KALAMAZOO -- A social worker and community activist will discuss ways to cope with difficult customers, colleagues and employees at a workshop sponsored by Western Michigan University Thursday, Oct. 5.
Michelle Serlin, owner and founder of Choices for Change Counseling and Massage Agency, will present "React or Respond? Techniques to Deal with Difficult People" from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Kalamazoo County Chamber of Commerce building, 346 W. Michigan Ave. The program, part of a monthly series of workshops offered by WMU's Women's Business Development Center, is free and open to the public.
In her talk, Serlin will discuss options for people frustrated by an unhealthy work situation. The workshop is designed to provide attendees with ideas and new coping strategies for dealing with difficult customers, colleagues and employees.
A clinical social worker, Serlin founded Choices for Change nearly a decade ago. As a volunteer, she has served as the president or vice president of more than a dozen community, political and women's organizations over the past 15 years. Currently, she is president of the Women's Therapist Network. Serlin has received honors and awards for her work with the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Detroit Common Council, the Detroit YWCA and the Kalamazoo Chapter of NOW. She was nominated as one of the top 25 business leaders in the state by the Small Business Development Center at Kalamazoo College.
WMU's Haworth College of Business established the Women's Business Development Center in 1999 to offer support to female professionals and entrepreneurs through training, group and individual problem-solving consultation, current business information and networking opportunities.
For more information or to reserve a seat, contact WBDC Director Pat Guenther at (616) 387-2714 or <patricia.guenther@wmich.edu>.
Media contact: Jessica English, 616 387-8400, jessica.english@wmich.edu