Saturday, Jun 25, 2016
Dr. Mark Promislo will take over leading the program as Dr. Sigfredo Hernandez retires
by Louis Pernet '16
A luncheon for Mind our Business program alumni was held at Rider June 11, 2016, to celebrate the program's 20th anniversary. Since 1997, Mind Our Business (MOB) has trained and mentored more than 3,000 Mercer County middle school students, ages 10-14, in starting and running their own businesses. The program was launched in 1996 by Dr. Sigfredo Hernandez thanks to a Harper grant offered by the College of Business Administration.
“MOB has taught me life lessons and business skills that I will carry for the rest of my life,” says Bianca Rodriguez a junior majoring in global supply chain and international business.
Over the years, the program has helped both Mercer County middle school students and their mentors at Rider. Ninety percent of the middle school students who participated in the program indicated that it helped them become better students and 50 percent of them either obtained a college degree or a currently enrolled in college. The mentors who took this class at Rider developed their business skills while making a difference in the lives of their students.
“MOB impacted my life in the fact that I feel like a better person knowing I was able to impact my students,” says Nadia Saez '19, a sophomore majoring in entrepreneurial studies and marketing.
Hernandez, an associate professor in the Department of Marketing, Advertising and Legal Studies, developed the program successfully over the years. Now that he is retiring, he will soon pass the leadership to Dr. Mark Promislo, an associate professor in the Department of Management.
“I have been blessed with the opportunity to facilitate this course/program for 20 years," Hernandez says. "Unlike the other courses that I teach, the learning experience in MOB is life-transforming for Rider and Trenton students alike.”
The Mind Our Business Program is part of the many opportunities to develop business skills and gain very valuable skills at Rider. “Minding Our Business has been the best class I have taken during my three years at Rider without any doubt in my mind,” says senior Oscar Chue.
To learn more about the program, visit http://minding-our-business.com.