Community Resources
Community Interaction
The School of Business Administration strives to meet the educational needs of the business community, which, in turn, provides opportunities such as internships and mentoring for our students. The following organizations located on the Missouri Southern State University campus help us to strengthen our ties with the community through campus-based resource centers and professional development programs.
The Business and Economic Executive Lecture Series sponsored by The Robert W. Plaster School of Business Administration features speakers of interest to students and the business community. Past speakers have included: David Haffner, President and CEO, Leggett & Platt; Leon Royer, President, American Bank, Bozeman; William Gipson, President and CEO, The Empire District Electric Company.
The International Trade & Quality Center is a resource for students, faculty, and members of the business community who wish to globalize their business or other business-related activities. The ITQC also provides information to students and faculty on the availability of international business internships. Contact: Chris Moos, Director, International Trade & Quality Center of Missouri Southern State University, Plaster Hall 108, 3950 E. Newman Rd., Joplin, MO 64801-1595, Tel: (417) 625-9538. Visit their Web site at www.mssu.edu/itc.
The Southern Business and Economic Review is an academic journal with a strong managerial focus published twice a year by the SBDC. Each issue focuses on a particular sector of the local economy, and contains economic indicators and articles of interest to the Four State region's business community. Contact: Kim Gray, Publications and Development Director, The Robert W. Plaster School of Business Administration, Missouri Southern State University, Plaster Hall 302, 3950 E. Newman Rd., Joplin, MO 64801-1595, Tel: (417) 625-9779.
Seminar Series in International and Quality Topics provides a changing selection of topical and professional development courses that can be taken individually or as a series for continuing education or college credit. Featured for Fall 2006 are "Seminar Series in International Trade" and "Tools of Quality Systems." Contact: Terry Marion, Consultant, International Trade & Quality Center of Missouri Southern State University, Plaster Hall 108, 3950 E. Newman Rd., Joplin, MO 64801-1595, Tel: (417) 625-9538.
The Small Business Development Center at Missouri Southern State University is part of a nationwide network of SBDC programs and is affiliated with and supported by The Robert W. Plaster School of Business Administration. The local center was established in April 1987. The SBDC provides existing and start-up small businesses in Jasper, Newton, Barton, Vernon, and McDonald counties with consulting and training.
The SBDC provides free one-on-one counseling to area small businesses that are existing businesses or start-up companies. SBDC Workshops provide seminars to assist local businesses with their training and educational needs. The SBDC seeks to serve the community by developing and coordinating various seminars of interest to local businesses.
For additional information, please contact the Small Business Development Center, Missouri Southern State University, Plaster Hall 107, 3950 Newman Rd., Joplin, MO 64801-1512, Tel: (417) 625-3128.
The Center for Entrepreneurship provides practical and relevant information about starting and operating a small business, and offers courses via the Internet that may be taken as non-credit courses or for college credit by Business and other majors. Students can earn a Certificate of Entrepreneurship or a Minor in Entrepreneurship. Contact: Karen Bradshaw, Director, Center for Entrepreneurship, Plaster Hall 107, Missouri Southern State University, 3950 E. Newman Rd., Joplin, MO 64801-1595, Tel: (417) 625-9520. Download a PDF with more information on courses and degrees: Center for Entrepreneurship.
The Heartland Procurement Technical Assistance Center assists viable businesses located in Southwest Missouri and the state of Kansas with potential market expansion through procurement opportunities with the government. Contact: Terry Bennett, Program Manager, Heartland PTAC, Missouri Southern State University, Plaster Hall 107, 3950 E. Newman Rd., Joplin, MO 64801-1595, Tel: (417) 625-9538. Visit their site at www.mssu.edu/heartlandptac/ptac_services.htm.