■ Higher Education
Continued From Page 28 the backbone of our economy not only sustain their economic position , but also experience new growth so they can truly thrive in the 21st century economy ,” the county executive added .
Cathy John , the owner of Cake Portraits Bakery and Studio in Teaneck , credits her student counselors for tapping into a new customer base . Her shop specializes in Caribbean style fruitcakes , and also features delicious pastries , cupcakes and other sumptuous desserts . The doors opened last February . But John said she did not have the expertise or money to fully promote her business .
The baker said Mancka and Tisselano “ brought their laptops and helped me set a website .” The students helped her optimize her Google profile and create a social media presence . “ I think without the program , I would still be really behind and trying to find a way to amass new customers . But with their help , I ’ m slowing gaining a social media following .”
Mark Jeffries , the owner of Go Fish , a seafood and Latino fusion restaurant , went online looking for help . “ When you ’ re starting a business , money is tight ,” Jeffries said , adding “ they really came through from me .”
In addition to providing technical support for a website and menu design , Jeffries said the students used the “ SizeUp ” software that provides small business with data on their market sector . “ What they did for me , I would have had to pay thousands of dollars for if I went to someone in the private sector ,” he said .
Another student , David Kim , developed a mark eting plan for the launch of a new product by Cote-L Industries of Bergenfield . Cy Fine , the owner of Cote-L , lost his business partner to Covid19 and was forced to revamp his entire operation .
Fine explained his business was established more than 30 years ago and it manufactures
Bergen STEM students working on a solar energy project .
The community college seeks to ignite the region ’ s recovery .
slip resistant coating and ancillary products . His clients include the U . S . Navy , which uses his products on aircraft carriers . Fine said he was impressed by the research done by Kim and the strategies he developed .
Kim is now a rising senior at Rutgers University . At Bergen Community College he studied marketing and hopes to land a job in the field . He found the program was “ an interesting way to network with local business and help my community .”
Mancka described it as a “ one in a million opportunity for a student .”
She was very impressed by the training provided to the student counselors , especially the emphasis on leadership , management and problem solving . “ It was invaluable ,” she said . Mancka graduated from Bergen Community
Photo : Bergen Community College
College last May and is now attending Montclair University , where she has a double major in accounting and computer sciences . Tisselano graduated from Bergen in 2020 with a degree in business administration . He is now studying at Rutgers University with a double major in marketing and management .
The program created a strong bond between the entrepreneurs and the students . Friedman briefed his colleagues about the initiative ’ s success at a recently meeting of the New Jersey Council of County College . He hopes his college ’ s experience can be a template for use elsewhere across the state . “ People can theorize about it . But we ’ re living it ,” he said , adding that the value of the students ’ hands-on experience cannot be overestimated .
Friedman was also asked to join the county executive ’ s Bergen County Economic Resiliency Advisory Committee . He hopes the committee will consider expanding the business network program .
If the college president needs support from the entrepreneurs , he need not look any further than Amdur . He was effusive in his praise . During his career , the veteran business coach taught a graduate school program at a private university for 15 years . He maintained that a four-way partnership among job-seekers , business , government and higher education is critical to the continued growth of the American economy and its job market .
And in Amdur ’ s estimation , in the world of higher education , “ the star of the show is the community college .” Years ago , it may have been considered nothing more than a 13th grade , he conceded . But today , Amdur stressed county colleges are prized for their value , excellent instruction and career placement . “ And you won ’ t find anyone who does it better than Bergen Community College .”
Photo : Bergen Community College
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