Submitted by the San Juan County Economic Development Council

Higher-wage employment can be open to many who learn the skills of business management and leadership. The San Juan County Economic Development Council invites workers in the San Juan Islands to join in a “Business Management and Leadership Skills” course; business owners and managers are also encouraged to enroll employees.

This for-credit course will be offered at greatly reduced cost thanks to generous grants from our funders (including the Town of Friday Harbor) and is offered in partnership with Skagit Valley College. The classes will run from Feb. 19-March 18. Employees working in hospitality and the trades are particularly encouraged to attend and a special focus toward these industries will be included in the course.

The benefits of studying business management are plentiful – employees may be eligible for satisfying, higher-wage employment and business owners and managers find that management-trained staff can be more understanding of the demands and processes of running a business.

The course will include topics such as efficient management techniques; achievement of personal and business goals; development of personnel; team and partner network performance; and the use of an entrepreneurial mindset to innovate and manage change. Participants will also receive individual business advising from a Small Business Development Center advisor, five college credits from Skagit Valley College and a certificate from the EDC.

Details: the course will run on Wednesdays from Feb. 19-March 18 at Skagit Valley College in Friday Harbor and will include an online component; the cost for the course is $165 which includes books and a reduction in tuition of nearly 90%. For more information and to register, please visit www.sanjuansedc.org/bizmgmt.

The EDC thanks San Juan County; the Raynier Foundation; the Town of Friday Harbor; the San Juan Island Community Foundation; Islanders Bank; Heritage Bank; and the Washington State Department of Commerce for their support of EDC initiatives.

The San Juan County Economic Development Council strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County. We believe a strong economy builds a strong community.