National consultants to lead WNCC series

When some big-name business consultants from northern Nevada decided to join forces this year, they thought their seminar program would prove particularly useful to seasoned managers.

Instead, the team operating as "Winning Strategies" has discovered that its expertise is particularly needed by less sophisticated companies, many of them small, that struggle with day-to-day operations.

The upshot? The Winning Strategies team will offer a series of six classes through Western Nevada Community College in Nevada City.

The classes known as the "Discovery Series" will put four nationally-known consultants into an environment far from the well-appointed conference facilities where they ordinarily work.

The team includes:

* Tom Taormina, who has written seven books and consulted for nearly 500 companies around the country on quality assurance.

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

* Dr.

Paul Mok, an expert on communications styles and organizational structure who has written five books.

* Mylan Hawkins, a business coach, trainer and developer of charitable and business enterprises.

Taormina said last week the series will teach participants how to analyze the key processes used in their business, teach them to improve their communications skills and teach them how to define and share their company's vision.

Each class session will run from 8-11 a.m.

on Wednesdays at the WNCC campus.

The sessions begin Oct.

15.

In addition, Taormina said participants' homework will include addressing a problem in their business each week.

"If you can start hitting some home runs in one area, this thing is just going to snowball," he said.

The consultants' "Winning Strategies" program includes 20 classes in disciplines ranging from basic skills to sophisticated strategies such as a creation of an agile mature business.

While the group discovered that its more basic classes are in greater immediate demand, Taormina said the higherlevel courses also will be taught in coming months, probably at venues outside of the community college setting.