Chris speaks with Dr. Michael Tidwell, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Business for Eastern Michigan University (EMU). Dr. Tidwell reflects on his time as Dean for Business, and the strategies concerning business education within the region. They discuss the implementation of strategic planning to help build the local and regional economy in the southeast.

EMU created three educational programs that assists students in areas that they normally wouldn’t receive during traditional courses. One of those educational programs is EMU’s Center for Advancing Social Enterprises, which is an important educational tool, because nonprofit organizations service 11 percent of the private workforce in the State of Michigan. Dr. Tidwell also points out how EMU College of Business has a strong footprint in the entrepreneurial community, while running the largest Small Business Development Center office in the State of Michigan.