Wharton Center helps local entrepreneurs with business

Although many Wharton students work as consultants after graduating, a group of graduate and undergraduate students are getting real world experience in the profession while helping local area businesses. Now in its second decade of operation, the Wharton Small Business Development Center employs Wharton students to provides management consulting, practical business training and entrepreneurial support services to small businesses which generate $10 million or less in revenue. The center -- which has helped over 20,000 small businesses and entrepreneurs since its creation -- charges no fees to clients for its consulting services. Entrepreneurs from businesses ranging from high tech and manufacturing firms to retail and service companies are actively involved in consultation and work hands-on with student-consultants to better manage their businesses. The SBDC is located on the fourth floor of Vance Hall. Consulting services are provided by the staff, most of whom are either undergraduate or graduate students at the Wharton School. Consultants are hired by the center for one-year appointments. Jacqueline Jenkins, the assistant director of consulting services, completed the Wharton MBA Program in 1996. "The best thing we do is provide technical assistance for free to emerging companies. We represent a key outreach for Penn and the businesses in the area," Jenkins said. "The Wharton SBDC is a phenomenal organization in that it offers exposure to entrepreneurs and a wealth of knowledge to students," she added. Undergraduates are directly involved in consulting and interaction with the small businesses, with the goal of the work varying from stream-lining production and future planning to pre-start up grants and loans. During the school year, the student-consultants work an average of 20 hours a week. They put in 40 hours a week in the summer. Wharton junior Florence Dulla, who joined the SBDC last May as a consultant and research associate, currently consults with Windsor Associates, an alternative dispute resolution company. She also offers consulting for Russell Roofing and the Pennsylvania Reproductive Company. "Learning has to extend past the environment of the classroom. The [SBDC] program offers a breadth of experience and broadens the parameters of an internship," Dulla said. "My college experience has been all the better because of the program," she added. Wharton sophomore Tom Parr is also a consultant and research associate of the SBDC. Parr joined the center in January and is involved with the Food Service Industry as well as manufacturing companies. He has also been involved in entrepreneurial research, currently working with the Mugwump corporation, and R&B; Towing. R&B; Towing, Parr explained, was started by a woman who was unable to acquire the money from the bank to get started. Through consulting, Parr and the SBDC helped the woman obtain the necessary funds from the bank to create her own business. He has also been involved in community outreach through the YMCA to promote the resources available within the SBDC. "The SBDC is a tremendous opportunity which is unparalleled," Parr noted. "The experience embodies the purpose of Wharton, to train business leaders in a cooperative environment." The Wharton SBDC is open to all Penn students whether their goal is to join the consulting team or to seek advice in starting a business. Students must apply to become consulting and research associates, during two application periods in May and December. The SBDC will be holding an information session March 2 at 5:30 p.m. in Vance Hall for all students interested.