Family Business Initiative at UNT Connects Students with the Local Community

The Department of Management at the University of North Texas College of Business is expanding the ways its Family Business Initiative is connecting UNT students to local businesses.

The UNT North Texas Family Business Initiative is building on an important partnership between the school and the community which has been on the rise in recent years. From large companies—such as 7-Eleven and Pioneer Natural Resources—to local startup and nonprofits, a number of organizations have turned to UNT students for help, and in turn provided invaluable experiences for these up-and-coming business leaders.

The Department of Management hopes to expand their programs even further to make UNT a “first line resource” for local companies. One of the ways they will do this is through a restructuring of the department’s Family Business Breakfast. Through the event, the school hopes Denton-area businesses can better connect with students and become aware of the many resources available through the university—ranging from consulting to strategic planning and much more.

“I’m always shocked by the number of businesses that operate without a business plan or with one that hasn’t been updated in years,” said Michael Sexton, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Management at UNT. “And, if that’s out of date, you can bet everything else is- like their marketing and social media plans. That’s the type of stuff we’re talking about.”

Sexton also commented on the value of the experience for UNT students, increasing their hire-ability by demonstrating to potential employers that they have hands-on business experience.

This year’s revamped Family Business Breakfast will take place at the end of October at the UNT University Union and is free to the public.

regions: Dallas

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