Event Notices From February 24

Waking up from a Service Sourcing Nightmare: Volkswagen Group of America and New Horizons Computer Learning Centers will sponsor a seminar on developing better customer service capabilities Thursday, March 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. at VW's offices, 3800 Hamlin Road in Auburn Hills. This session will outline an 8 step process that Volkswagen Group of America took to turn a helpless situation with one person and two bad contracts into a shining star in our IT Department and a world class Client Services department. In this session you'll learn how to develop a customer service capability that drives customer satisfaction back into the organization. Learn how to build a "Customer Quality Environment" that will direct the guiding principles of customer satisfaction and ensure services are delivered with a customer focus. You'll gain the knowledge you need to enhance your current environment and take away a framework for success that you'll be able to use to enhance the customer experience. To sign up, visit www.eventbrite.com/event/1354482293/efbnen

Saginaw Valley Offers Export Help For Biz: The Center for Business & Economic Development at Saginaw Valley State University is a grant recipient from the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Development focused on entrepreneurial activities and collaboration. Included in this initiative is to help the mid-Michigan business community to diversify, including to look at international opportunities. To this end, CBED is offering two back-to-back programs aimed to help us look at the international market and to understand the rules and regulations as they apply in specific countries. "Making Exportiong Profitable" will be offered Thursay, March 3 and Thursday, April 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mid-Michigan Innovation Center, 4520 Ashman Road, Suite M, Midland. This program offers valuable ways to improve your company's export potential and become more profitable. Discover ways to profitably manage your export operations, minimize costs, and reduce risks. The workshop provides in depth coverage of international payment systems and trade finance. Participants will also receive The Dictionary of International Trade, for free. The cost is $95, or $55 per person for two or more from a company, with scholarships available. "Finding and Managing International Customers" will be offered Wednesday, March 2 and Wednesday, April 14, also at the MMIC from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and at the same cost. If your company wants to find new and profitable customers overseas, then this workshop is for you. Learn steps your firm can take to identify potential export markets and connect with foreign trade leads. Each participant will receive a copy of The Global Entrepreneur - Taking Your Business International. You will also gain additional materials and information  to help prepare you for the Certified Global Business Professional credential, a way to benchmark your export knowledge and skills. For more information, contact Linda Haas at (989) 964-7015 or e-mail lhaas@svsu.edu.