MSU, chamber partnering on international training center

The Missouri State University Board of Governors has approved the establishment of the International Leadership and Training Center, which in its first year includes a partnership with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. The move also represents a staff shakeup at the chamber, as Executive Vice President Brad Bodenhausen is splitting his time with the new program.

The ILTC would provide noncredit customized language training, along with international leadership and development programs, said Jim Baker, MSU vice president for research, economic development and international programs. He said since the university already has the Jim D. Morris Center and programs such as the Foreign Languages Institute located inside the downtown facility, program costs are kept to a minimum, with the majority of operational costs being paid to the chamber for the first year.

"The basic mission is to provide noncredit training and leadership workforce development training opportunities for other countries," Baker said of the program approved by the board June 21 that went into effect that day. "We're focusing on emerging countries around the world. The challenge for almost all of them is having a trained workforce."

Baker said MSU is paying the chamber $58,000 during the first year for its business and marketing services, the majority of which would pay a portion of chamber Executive Vice President Brad Bodenhausen's salary. Effective July 1, Bodenhausen has agreed to split his time between his chamber duties and the MSU ILTC, as he is essentially serving as the center's part-time director while the chamber is aiding the program.

"Essentially, we've purchased part of his time," Baker said, noting MSU expects the center to be self-sustaining by fiscal 2015 and would no longer require the chamber's services.

Bodenhausen said chamber President Jim Anderson has informed the board of Bodenhausen's plan to move full-time into the role at MSU by mid-2014. He said that would depend on whether the program remains viable after the first year.

In the meantime, Bodenhausen said he'll keep an office at the chamber and will spend his chamber time working with the communications department and existing international programs.

Chamber Vice President of Business Assistance Rob Dixon, who has been tabbed to take over as executive vice president, will pick up part of Bodenhausen's duties, including developing special events and working with public affairs.

Baker said ILTC clients would pay the university on a case-by-case basis. He noted a standard fee likely would be included but hasn't been determined. He said the program budget includes $10,000 to $15,000 in travel expenses, as the ILTC also would serve clients in their home countries.

"We're really starting from scratch," Bodenhausen added. "We'll offer customized noncredit training for really two channels of customers - partner universities of Missouri State and the other will be corporations that are looking to have international training that's very specific and customized to their needs."[[In-content Ad]]