The PIPE Program

Progress, Insight & Performance Education

The PIPE PROGRAM

The PIPE Program (Progress, Insight & Performance Education) is a collaboration with the Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council and the University of Phoenix. This 8-week, advanced management training program provides participants with the skills and knowledge needed to optimize their business.

Participant Eligibility

Participants must be employed by a company certified as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) through the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), City of St. Louis, the State of Missouri or certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). The PIPE Program is recommended for officers or key employees who would benefit from sharpening their business skills. The courses are designed for individuals who already have basic business knowledge and experience.

Company Eligibility

Companies may only send individuals meeting all participant eligibility requirements.

Business owner must have at least three (3) years of experience developing/operating their company
Company must have annual revenue between $125,000 and $50,000,000 (USD
Company must employ at least two (2) full or part-time employees

Overview and Benefits

This 8-week, non-credit Program is designed to save time and improve company performance. The output of each process (class) flows into the next, concluding with process improvement.

Week 1 (10/3/24) - Strategic Planning Skills: Optimization starts with effective planning. Whether you are creating your first strategic plan or reviewing the direction of an organization, this course will help you clarify and set goals. Strategic/critical thinking, including the use of business intelligence data to drive decision-making, will also be analyzed.
Week 2 (10/10/24) - Managing Organizational Goals: Organizational goals can often get lost in layers of management without being communicated to individual contributors. In the absence of goals, employees can feel unmotivated or even set their own goals for achievement, resulting in poor and conflicting team performance. In this course, you will develop skills needed to establish tactical goals for your team based on organizational directives and general goals from management, prompting you to create and manage action plans to achieve such goals. Customized and co-led by the MBDA Business Center - Missouri.
Week 3 (10/17/24) - Business Ethics: Pausing in the pursuit of setting strategy, participants review the role moral beliefs play in business assessments. Making the right decisions for the right reasons is critical to smart business growth. This course will also briefly discuss how business ethics influence the strategy of acquisitions. Customized and co-led by the MBDA Business Center - Missouri.
Week 4 (10/24/24) – All Things Financial for Businesses: This session provides essential skills in budgeting, forecasting and financial analysis to enhance decision-making and strategic planning. Participants will learn to interpret financial statements and apply best practices for managing cash flow and investments effectively. Curated and facilitated by the MBDA Business Center - Missouri.
Week 5 (10/31/24) - Project Management: The review of project management concepts and its related skills help attendees envision overseeing certain strategic goals as a formal project that can be monitored and measured. Learn about the project management life cycle, success criteria, common reasons for project failure, setting up strong teams, and risk factors to consider.
Week 6 (11/07/24) - Introduction to Supply Chain Management: This course provides an overview of supply chain theory and explores its importance to your strategy. Also, it identifies how your supply chain plays into planning and monitoring goals.
Week 7 (11/14/24) – How to Get Started in Exporting: This session provides a comprehensive introduction to the vital steps and strategies for successfully entering international markets. Participants will learn about key topics such as market research, regulatory compliance, financial resources and logistics management to ensure a smooth export process. By the end of the session, business owners will be equipped with practical tools and insights to confidently launch their exporting endeavors. Curated and facilitated by the MBDA Business Center - Missouri.
Week 8 (11/21/24) - Process Improvement: After putting together the concepts taught throughout the PIPE Program, this final class examines process improvement. Utilizing tools and techniques, participants will be empowered to drive toward business optimization!

Class Schedule

Class sessions 1-7 will be held virtually on Thursdays from 3-6pm CST and session 8 will take place in-person at the MBDA Business Center – Missouri (same time). The Program cost is $2,500 per participant; however, full scholarships are available through the MBDA Business Center – Missouri to qualifying companies invited to participate (one applicant per company).

Contact Information

Todd Gilyard, Project Director, MBDA Business Center – Missouri
Phone: 314.391.4477
Email info@missourimbdacenter.com

Neda Sharp, Director of Program Development
Phone: 312-755-2554
Email Programs@chicagomsdc.org