UNT Reaching Out Into Community to Offer Free Help to Local Business Owners

Through its Family Business Initiative, the school's business program will offer free services to help Denton-area businesses expand and, in turn, give UNT students hands-on learning opportunities. 

partnership

The University of North Texas Department of Management is hoping a new initiative can better foster partnerships with local businesses.

Through its Family Business Initiative, the school’s business program will offer free services to help Denton-area businesses expand and, in turn, give UNT students hands-on learning opportunities. 

The upcoming Family Business Breakfast Oct. 27 will serve as a networking event bringing together local business owners and UNT faculty and MBA students, according to the university.

“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,” Michael Sexton, a senior lecturer in the Department of Management, said in a release. “And, if that’s out of date, you can bet everything else is — like their marketing and social media plans.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.”

“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.”
Michael Sexton

UNT has helped businesses and nonprofits of varying sizes with everything from marketing overhauls to launching a new product, according to the university. Past collaborations include those with Irving-based 7-Eleven, Denton nonprofit, Our Daily Bread, and Aura Coffee in Denton.

Earlier this year, Pioneer Natural Resources called upon UNT students to solve a logistics problem it was experiencing. The students responded by developing a spreadsheet-based automated tool that could be used to estimate transportation costs and other related costs in the oil field. According to a release, Pioneer was pleased with the students’ work and planned to implement the spreadsheet in its daily operations.

“For the students, it’s a line item on their résumé that shows they actually worked for a live client,” Sexton said. “That real world experience is part of what differentiates our students so that they can get hired.”

IF YOU GO

Family Business Breakfast

When: 8 – 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 27

Where: Room 314 of University Union on the UNT campus, 1155 Union Circle Drive, in Denton.

More Info: Visit the event page.

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