Called The Executive Circle Program, the certificate program focuses on issues that affect smaller businesses every day and gives participants the opportunity to share concerns and network with leaders of similarly-sized companies in the Chicago area.

"A lot of universities offer business certificate programs that are geared toward executives from major corporations," said Henry H. Rodkin, Director of the Center Professional Excellence. "This program is unique because it's tailored to the needs and schedules of mid- and upper-level managers of small- and middle- sized companies, who greatly outnumber large company executives and face business issues from a different perspective."

Participants in the program will attend classes every third Friday for 14 weeks over a period of nine months at the College of Commerce in the DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson Blvd. Faculty members and industry leaders will lead the program, focusing on practical management, marketing, finance and accounting issues that affect corporate growth and financial success in smaller businesses. The first session of the program begins Sept. 5.

The program will explore issues that include how smaller companies can compete in the global economy, use team building to increase the bottom line, foster a more diverse workforce, and improve corporate communication and development through the Internet and other new technologies. Topics will be presented in a variety of ways, including lectures, case studies, small group discussions and team participation exercises.

Rodkin said the program is suited to managers from a variety of industries such as small manufacturing, assembly and service companies.

DePaul's Center for Professional Excellence was launched in 1996 to offer graduate level business education certificate programs to area business people. The center also sponsors an annual conference on consumer trends to create better awareness among business decision-makers of the changing consumer issues that drive most business successes and failures.

For more information about The Center and the Executive Circle Program, call (312) 362-8661.

Note to Reporters: Henry Rodkin is available for interviews at (312) 362-8671.