For small business owners and mid-level professionals without a business background, it can be difficult to find educational opportunities to further develop business knowledge and skills that can accommodate a full-time work schedule.

The University of North Carolina Wilmington's Cameron School of Business is helping to address this need through a new series of Professional Business Education courses aimed at small business owners, middle managers and people who may be considering an MBA and want to start with a shorter, more affordable option.

The Professional Business courses provide high-quality, cost-effective, practical education and training to the region's professional community by leveraging the resources of the Cameron School of Business. All courses are taught by full-time UNC Wilmington faculty in a university environment with graduate level material and learning.

"This area continues to grow economically, in population and through new businesses entering the region. There is a great need for business education and professional development," said Jonathan Rowe, who coordinates the programs through the Cameron School of Business. "Our success with these programs will continually be measured by meeting the needs of our professional community through our course offerings. All of our business courses are designed around quality and cost effectiveness with practical material that can clearly be applied to one's job and career."

The professional business education series offers an 11-week Executive Certificate Program as well as shorter courses on business coaching, leading and managing change, entrepreneurship and project management. Although the spring executive certificate program is sold out, other courses are still available throughout the spring. A three-class series on Leading and Managing Effective Change begins Wednesday, Feb. 27 and a day-long seminar on Coaching for High Performance Results is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 29. Space is limited and discounts are available to UNCW alumni and local organizations.

A full schedule of course dates and times, as well as information on the cost of each program and registration, is available online at www.uncw.edu/cbes.

Media contacts:

Jennifer Mackethan, program coordinator, Center for Business and Economic Services, 910.962.2237 or mackethanj@uncw.edu

Jonathan Rowe, program director, Center for Business and Economic Services, 910.962.3032 or rowej@uncw.edu

Dana Fischetti, manager of news and media relations, 910.962.7250 or fischettid@uncw.edu