RIT’s Executive MBA Program Offers to Help Local Businesses

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A. Sue Weisler

Experienced managers and executives from RIT’s EMBA program in the E. Philip Saunders College of Business will analyze and solve local companies’ problems for the annual Capstone Project.

Got a business problem? Local companies will again have access to knowledgeable and ambitious teams of consultants—at no charge.

For more than 15 years, Rochester Institute of Technology has invited area businesses to take part in the annual Capstone Project, sponsored by the Executive MBA program at RIT’s E. Philip Saunders College of Business. All applications for the Capstone Project are due by April 13.

Experienced managers and executives from RIT’s EMBA program have helped strengthen more than 60 local and diverse businesses—including JML Optical Industries Inc., Monroe Tractor, DeCarolis Truck Rental, Excellus and the United Way of Greater Rochester Inc.

The EMBA project teams will spend a 20-week period defining and analyzing a client’s problems in areas such as manufacturing, finance, business strategy, marketing, human resource management and information systems. Host company executives with RIT faculty review each team’s analysis and final presentations.

“We see the ‘Capstone Projects’ as both a service to Rochester’s business community and an opportunity for our Executive MBA students to demonstrate their expertise,” says Donald Wilson, director of the Executive MBA Program at RIT’s Saunders College. “We are always interested in receiving capstone applications from organizations identifying problems that will challenge our EMBA students while tackling real issues at local companies.”

Firms must be willing to provide a project sponsor and to share relevant information and data with student teams. The confidential studies are available only to company officers and faculty who review team deliverables. RIT does not charge a fee, although a number of companies have made contributions to the Saunders College EMBA scholarship fund.

Companies that wish to participate can go to The RIT Saunders College of Business website and click on Capstone Projects or contact RIT’s Executive MBA office at 585-475-7435 or embamail@rit.edu by April 13.

Note: Rochester Institute of Technology’s executive MBA program, offered by the E. Philip Saunders College of Business, is a 15-month degree program and is designed for experienced mid-level professionals who are seeking to advance their careers. For information, go to The RIT Saunders College of Business website.