Irvine Firm Takes Mini-MBA Program to Turkey; Rep. Cox Helps Global Resources Win Government Contract for Strategic Region

Business Wire, July 6, 2004

IRVINE, Calif. -- For the past 20 years, Irvine-based Di Landau has worked on more than 70 consulting and management education projects in 50 developing and emerging countries, from Mozambique to Mauritius. Yet Landau's newest assignment is perhaps the most significant from a global perspective: a government contract valued at nearly $700,000 that is sending her to Turkey, the strategic crossroads to Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Landau, president of Global Resources, is taking her team to Turkey to introduce the firm's unique MBA PowerPak(TM) (www.mbapowerpak.com) educational program to Turkey's telecommunications sector. Bill Edwards, president of Edwards Global Services of Irvine, is serving as co-manager of the project.

The work is being conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), which advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. MBA PowerPak is an eight-day, mini-Master of Business Administration program designed for technical working professionals who need business management skills but not an entire two-year MBA program.

MBA PowerPak has a proven record in the United States, with clients such as AT&T, Cisco Systems and Qualcomm. However, this is the first time the program is being introduced to another country.

Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach), chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, was instrumental in helping Landau receive the award from the USTDA, writing a strong letter of support to the government agency.

Said Cox: "Turkey's role as a NATO member, a strong U.S. ally and the model of a secular, Islamic democracy, gives America an enormous stake in the success of Turkey. I'm proud that Orange County is providing leadership in that strategic region."

Cox added: "Di Landau and her team, working with the USTDA, will share America's best practices in management with the critical telecommunications sector. In so doing, the team will extend our nation's positive influence in Turkey -- going beyond technology into the business, financial and human relations skills that have made our free enterprise system an important complement to our own democracy."

Landau anticipates burgeoning opportunities for U.S. companies in Turkey. In addition to seeking entry into the European Union, Landau noted, in 2004 Turkey opened its telecommunications sector to competition, creating potential investment opportunities for U.S. businesses.

Despite her large portfolio of past experiences, Landau is eagerly anticipating this new international assignment. Preparatory activities have included private lessons in the Turkish language. Said Landau, "I'm getting to use every professional muscle I've ever developed: international project management, cross-cultural expertise and financial acumen...I feel like I'm playing a harp and I'm going up and down all of the strings, all at the same time."

Global Resources will conduct a feasibility study and two USTDA-funded pilot projects of the MBA PowerPak program. The study will explore three versions of MBA PowerPak -- live, licensed and online -- as well as potential adaptations specific to the Turkish market.

Of the two pilot programs, one will be held exclusively for the state-owned telecommunications agency, Turk Telekom. "This course is particularly appropriate for Turk Telekom, which -- with the advent of deregulation -- is about to face a competitive business climate for the first time," Landau noted. The second pilot will include project sponsor and systems integration company Meteksan Sistem, as well as representatives from various industry players, among them the Telecommunications Authority, the Turkish counterpart of America's Federal Communications Commission.

"Assuming the study yields the positive results we anticipate, we expect to be looking for investors and partners for our future U.S. and international expansion," Landau said.

About Global Resources

Global Resources, which does business in California as GR Consulting and Training, specializes in global business education, and project planning and management in developing and middle-income countries. The firm has offices in Bridgewater, N.J., and Irvine. Global Resources provides services in Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East. To date, Global Resources has trained more than 3,500 managers from 45 nations. For information or a schedule of MBA PowerPak classes, call 949-721-0323 or visit the Web site, www.MBAPowerPak.com. For information about Edwards Global Services, call 949-224-3896 or visit the Web site, www.edwardsglobal.com.