Marketing via technology with help from UM

Noel Garcia of
New Age Body Piercing

John Gale, a business graduate student at the University of Miami organized an event with the assistance of university leadership, for 11 businesses in Coconut Grove to participate in a pilot pro-bono business consulting program called, "Organizational Management Consulting." John is co-teaching the program as well through the UM Business School. The program teaches the businesses how to use technology to better market their services.

"Each business has been assigned a group of graduate students who are evaluating each business and are providing them with technological digital solutions," says John. 

John and UM Professor Marina Portnoy, who designed the course, felt that smaller businesses were falling behind in the technology aspect of everyday life. Through this program their students get real experience in the market place while helping local businesses in the process.

A few of the local businesses that took place in the program are Atchana's restaurant, New Age Body Piercing and Sharp Dentistry.

The program seems to have been a success and all of the businesses are ready to make themselves more tech-friendly in and outside their businesses. Look for them to ramp up their social media as well as making use of their new tech skills inside their businesses.

Noel Garcia owner of New Age Body Piercing (along with Grove Ink and Lucky 14 smoke shop) said, "The program was better than I expected. I was very impressed. And I'm not impressed easily. They actually paid attention to what I had to say and they were interested in what the business was about and what I was trying to accomplish."

The Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce, BID and Commissioner Ken Russell have taken interest in the program. The program lasted about a month and ends on Thursday, February 21, when there will be a final presentation delivered to each business at UM's business school (5250 University Drive, Coral Gables) from 5:30 - 9:50 pm. It's open to the public where everyone can learn more about this community program.