SoCalGas/SDG&E Supplier Diversity Institute Offer Mastering Business Growth Program

BUENA PARK, Calif. - March 15, 2013 - PRLog -- An innovative training program offers emerging business leaders the opportunity to obtain a competitive advantage and acquire an insider’s view of procurement practices at southern California-area utility companies.   The program is free of charge to eligible attendees, businesses under $1M in revenue and less than three years of operation with an interest in doing business with Sempra Energy as a Diverse Business Enterprise (DBE).

Entitled Mastering Business Growth, the first round of the program runs half-days for ten weeks on consecutive Tuesdays, beginning March 19th at the Southern California Gas Company’s Energy Resource Center in Downey.  The next round of the program will be held at the SDG&E Energy Innovation Center in San Diego.  

The MBG program consists of a series of ten course modules ranging from human relations management, finance and accounting, to business law regulations, contracting, risk management and marketing - all topics that provide participants with a state-of-the-art toolkit for business planning and implementation.  

Each module will be led by an award-winning trainer.  Industry expert panelists with experience developing and serving the DBE sector will also participate.  The program will also provide ample opportunities for networking, one-on-one coaching and a customized training curriculum to fit participants’ specific needs.   Emphasis will be placed on targeting small business sectors that are well suited to collaborate with the utilities industry.  They include construction, architectural, engineering, environmental, and other professional service firms.          
Participants who complete the course will participate in a special event that matches them with utilities company buyers.   They will also have a chance to win a scholarship to the UCLA Anderson School of Management’s Development for Entrepreneurs Program.

Buena Park-based Infinity Business Solutions is responsible for overall course administration.  According to Infinity President Lily Otieno, the MBG program is long overdue.  “We devised this program to offer small and diversity-oriented business owners with an opportunity that extends beyond their interest in doing business with the utility companies.  The tools that participants receive will serve them well as they branch out and expand their reach to the broader marketplace.”

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Infinity Business Solutions (IBS) is a management consulting company that focuses on solutions-based training for both small and large businesses seeking to contract with the banking industry, insurance, pharmaceutical and utilities or governmental agencies. IBS offers supplier procurement training and leadership development strategies based on sourcing requirements. Training includes technical assistance, capacity building and professional development to diverse suppliers to enable them to be strategic in the market place.

IBS' areas of expertise include supplier diversity consulting, supplier development training with a focus on instructional design, leadership and development, supplier mentoring programs, quality improvement/compliance and project management. Its tagline is Training with an Edge to give you the Edge. For more information about Infinity Business Solutions, call (714) 670-8941 or visit the website at www.ibsconsultingservices.com