There’s a slightly inconspicuous office on the second floor in Daniels College of Business. The Institute for Executive and Professional Development has four major concentrations with one goal in mind: to advance knowledge of business across the board. Two of their programs, the business management certificate and custom corporate programs, reach out to DU students, the community and businesses around the globe.

The department has been a part of DU’s business school for 30 years, although recent developments in the program are garnering attention.

Launched last April, the business management certificate (BMC) is a flexible six-month course that teaches practical business strategies. Targeting graduates that don’t want to plunge into an MBA, employees that need an extra boost in their business know-how and current students who are seeking minimal business knowledge with their liberal arts degree, the BMC program gives students the edge they need in their current or future careers.

There are only 30 students in the program.

Kelsey Stansbury, assistant director for the institute, said it’s only a matter of time before more students and community members enroll.

“It’s the perfect program for a graduating student that’s going into the business world and needs to have confidence for their first job,” she said.

Stransbury was an English major. Like many liberal arts majors, she found herself in the business sector after graduation.

“One afternoon my boss asked me to figure out the gross margin. I had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. He advised me to learn about gross margins and other general business terminology, and then to come back to work,” Stransbury said.

In order to obtain a BMC, students take online courses drawn from the Harvard Manage Mentor program and attend a once a month class session.

The certificate program offers classes on reading financial statements, sales and marketing and strategic planning.

Stransbury is most excited about their “Me,inc.” course, which is designed to brand yourself by creating strong business networks.

In an effort to promote the course, Stransbury is currently holding five seats for interested DU seniors.

The program begins March 14, and enrolled students do not have to be business majors.

Working with a multitude of global businesses, the custom corporate program literally travels to corporations across the world and teaches finance training sessions to its employees.

The next trip planned will take DCB finance professors to First Data companies in Hong Kong, Sydney and Bombay.

Custom corporate programs are funded by the employers, although participants have the option to get class credit.

Similarly, BMC participants can pay $2,536 for four credits and DU alumnus pay $1500 for non-credit only enrollment.

In addition to these two featured programs, the Institute offers leadership programs and executive MBA courses.

For further information, contact Kelsey Stransbury at kstansbu@du.edu or stop by the office in DCB 280.