January 10, 2007 - The Robinson College of Business will conduct a series of four free workshops designed to provide the tools and practical knowledge necessary to create an international company or to take an existing company global. Support has been obtained through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Business and International Education Program (BIE). Each workshop is a stand-alone course that will focus on a different aspect of building a global business. Participants attending all four workshops will receive a certificate of completion from Georgia State University.

The explosion of the internet made it easier to organize a global start-up and for existing companies to market their products and services overseas. However, access to tools such as the internet and export-assistance agencies may not always be readily available within underserved minority communities. The workshops will discuss how business-owners and start-up entrepreneurs find the tools that will enable them to compete in the global arena. The workshops will also address questions such as should a company get involved with exporting or importing and should an individual start a new business with the international marketplace in mind.

• "Sources of Business Ideas" (January 20)
• "Who are the Players?: sources of support and finding customers" (February 17)
• "Making It Happen: partners and marketing" (March 17)
• "Financing: show me the money" (April 21)

The workshops are sponsored by the Summit National Bank and presented in cooperation with the Brazilian American Chamber of Commerce, the International Association of Caribbean Organizations, Geo Strategy Partners, and the National Association of Chinese-Americans.

Where:    Georgia State University
                Classroom South Building Room 608
                Corner of Decatur St. SE and Central Avenue SW

Time:        9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

For more information visit the website at iib.gsu.edu/workshop.htm or contact Dr. David Bruce (404) 413-7279 or Pedro Carrillo (404) 413-7280.

The J. Mack Robinson College of Business is one of the top-ranked business schools. The College's Flex (part-time) MBA program has been listed in the top ten by U.S. News for the past eleven consecutive years and its undergraduate business program is ranked among the top 50 in the nation. Robinson's Executive MBA program is listed among the world's best by The Financial Times. Georgia State University's Robinson College of Business has an enrollment of approximately 7000 students and has classroom facilities in downtown Atlanta, Alpharetta, Brookhaven and Henry County. www.robinson.gsu.edu