Professor John Fuller's Program Seminar students recently went to West Branch, IA, to participate in a Main Street workshop. The workshop was intended to help businesses in West Branch, population 2,300, deal with a changing business environment.

Margie Johnson, highly acclaimed speaker, author, and consultant based in Virginia Beach, VA, led the discussion. Her forty-year career as an entrepreneur and business expert has given her the experience to develop customer-centered strategies and economic development solutions for local businesses. Students participated in the workshop by discussing strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats with local business owners. Through the workshop, West Branch business leaders learned strategies to gain the competitive edge needed to survive and thrive.

First year student Doug Ongie noted that, “the workshop was helpful because I learned how small businesses think and operate and I can apply the knowledge I gained from the workshop to my future career as a city planner.”