Grossman Teaches Chinese MBA Students on Visit to Chicago

SCORE Counselor Al Grossman gave a workshop entitled International Trade with China on May 6 to a class of 30 Chinese MBA students at the IIT downtown campus. Afterwards, he and his wife hosted a luncheon at Lao Beijing Restaurant.

Most of the students were young adults, many of whom return to government positions. Others were professionals, one an MD, and another a college professor. The Chinese government sponsored the trip and their stay in Chicago.

Earlier this year, Grossman was inducted into Chicago Area Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame by UIC’s Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies. He is recognized “for entrepreneurial achievements and for making a lasting impact on Chicago’s business landscape.”

This entrepreneurl spent 46 years in the electrical/lighting industry. In the last 14 years of his business career he was Co-founder, President and CEO of a business manufacturing and importing commercial lighting products, sold through wholesalers throughout North America.

As a SCORE counselor, Grossman teaches semi-annual workshops on importing (CLICK for INFO)and exporting (CLICK for INFO), and counsels out of the Citibank Center location. (CLICK TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT.)

See also related post: Free Counselors Want to Help YOU Start or Grow Your Business.

Lesson: Fly to Chicago to Tap a Resource

Cyber counselor Dave Lebowitz received an email request from a man and his son who wanted to start Four Seasons Lighting, a retail lighting business, in Murrieta, CA. Dave referred them to Al Grossman, who had sold a successful lighting business before becoming a counselor for SCORE Chicago.

After a lengthy phone conversation, Charles Locklin and his son got on a plane and flew to Chicago to meet Al. This atypical counseling session included airport escort, a Cubs game and dinner. After the two days together, Grossman referred the client to a nearby California chapter of SCORE for follow-up.

In early February, Steffanie Dupree, a TV producer for NewsProNet, covered the story with interviews of Grossman in Chicago and Locklin in his California store.

The lesson is: if you have a expert resource person who offers to help you build your business, take advantage of their experience. Who knows, counseling may even include a Cubs game.

Lesson: Log On to Find Guidance in Weak Areas

Jian Chu

Business: East Terra LLC
Problem: Lacked sales procedures and import knowledge
Solution: Mentor from SCORE Chicago provided guidance by email
Results: Successful product launch and sales
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