Undergraduate and graduate students from the Kimmel School department of engineering and technology will provide the consulting services.

“We have partnered with Western in connecting their graduate business students with our clients to perform research for the past three years,” said Russ Yelton, executive director of A-B Tech’s Entrepreneurial Ventures and Business Incubator. “The Kimmel School dean, Robert McMahan, approached us with this idea after seeing the hands-on work the business students were able to accomplish.

“Expanding the partnership between A-B Tech and Western by including their engineering students will enhance the students’ real-life experiences, while at the same time providing a direct economic benefit to the businesses of Western North Carolina,” Yelton said.

The center will select proposals from the area as either short-term projects or semester-long projects to begin in January. As the projects begin, students will meet with business owners at A-B Tech, but the consultations may also take place at the individual businesses or on WCU’s campus in Cullowhee as the projects mature, McMahan said.

“Our faculty and students are excited about having a chance to work with local businesses in collaboration with the great work that is being done at A-B Tech,” he said. “Kimmel engineers are distinguished by their interdisciplinary mind-set, for being immersed in a project-based learning environment, and for being well versed in the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, innovation and project management.  The school also is recognized for its Center for Rapid Product Realization, which has already worked with over 100 businesses across the region to assist them in developing new products and processes. These consultations will be greatly beneficial for everyone involved, as our students have a lot of insights to bring to the table, and they will be able to learn a great deal from passionate local entrepreneurs who are trying to get their ideas off the ground.”

Anyone with a product or prototype in need of assistance who is interested in participating in the program should contact Yelton at (828) 254-1921, extension 5851, or at ryelton@abtech.edu.

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Last modified: Friday, Dec. 12, 2008