New Certificate in Entrepreneurship for Business Leaders in Southern Virginia

Charlottesville, VA

- Today’s business owners face new challenges and opportunities every day, and forward-thinking organizations look to their talented managers and executives to help build stronger, sustainable businesses. With a focus on businesses operating in challenging economic environments, the Tayloe Murphy Center at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and the School of Continuing & Professional Studies have designed a new Certificate in Entrepreneurship program to begin this November in Southern Virginia.

“We view this educational offering as central to our goal of assisting the existing businesses in the Commonwealth. Our hope is that with our assistance, individuals and firms primed to grow get the small support they need to build firms that create more jobs and wealth for their communities,” commented Greg Fairchild, Associate Professor of Business Administration and Executive Director of the Tayloe Murphy Center.

The noncredit certificate program will provide existing business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with both general tools and specific skills in entrepreneurship to help them grow and develop their business. The 11 courses– 10 of which are required to earn the certificate – will be taught by Professor Fairchild with Darden school case studies relevant to entrepreneurs leading small and medium-sized businesses, rising leaders within those firms, or other interested entrepreneurs.

"Small business development and entrepreneurship are key components to our plan to reinvent the economy in Southern Virginia", stated Charles H. Majors, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American National Bank and Trust Company.   "Residents in our region are being offered an incredible opportunity to participate in an outstanding program taught by Greg Fairchild.  It is like getting a Darden education in our own backyard.  We are so fortunate that we have been chosen to have the pilot offering here."

Anchored at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville, VA, the pilot certificate program will be taught by Greg Fairchild.  Starting the week of November 15, 2010, the program will be offered Monday evenings, and each course will be three hours long.  For more information visit www.tayloemurphy.org or contact Tayloe Murphy Center Associate Director Marc Johnson at (434) 982-4527 or johnsonr@darden.virginia.edu.

Source: The UVA School of Continuing and Professional Studies and the Tayloe Murphy Center at the Darden School of Business