Group fills gap in exec training

Tom Taormina is the author of seven books, most of them on quality assurance, and has consulted for nearly 500 companies across the country.

But not much of his work has been near to his home outside of Virginia City.

Taormina looks to bring better geographic balance into his workday life as he's brought together a group of nationally known northern Nevada consultants to bring training to their home turf.

And the four believe that more training will pay benefits for the economy of the region they call home.

"The growth of Nevada's businesses is stifled because of a lack of appropriate business and leadership training," Taormina said.

At the same time, he said the lack of good training opportunities is a stumbling block as the region seeks to attract desirable new companies.

If first indications mean anything, Taormina is onto something.

The June 19 debut in Reno of the program called "Winning Strategies" is sold out.

A second session is set for July 19 in Carson City.

Venture capitalists and business brokers who previewed the curriculum liked what they saw,Taormina said, and made several suggestions for improvement.

Along with Taormina, the team presenting Winning Strategies includes:

* Sy Ogulnick, who has consulted widely on leadership and interpersonal skills.

* Dr.

Paul Mok, an expert on communications styles and organizational structure and the author of five books.

* Mylan Hawkins, a coach and trainer who has developed charitable and business enterprises.

"We share the same values,"Taormina said over a cup of coffee a few days ago.

"We're all invested in northern Nevada.

We all live here on purpose.

And we all want to lose our frequent-flier status."

The curriculum they've put together is a series of 20 classes, each a half day long.

Two of the classes can be combined into a one-day seminar or four can be combined to create a two-day training event.

Each of the courses, meanwhile, fits into a track covering a specific set of skills.

A track on business operations, for instance, begins with a class on implementation of business management systems.

Next is a class on measurement of business success followed by a session on maturing an agile business.

Completion of all 20 blocks,Taormina said, would require at least a year of study.

Taormina, whose consulting practice is known as Productivity Resources, serves as coordinator of the "Winning Strategies" program.

An eight-member group serves an advisory board.

Its members include Paul Sutton, president of Corporate Planning and Finance; Bill Grundstrom, founder of Dell Computer's business practice improvement program; George Wagner, retired chief information officer of Merrill Lynch Hubbard; Ken Green, president of Just-Click Prospecting; Chris Howard, president of Northstar Investors; Bob Armstrong, an attorney specializing in mergers and acquisitions; Garrett Sutton, an attorney; and Winifred Addi, vice president of Addi Galleries.