Center for Business Excellence opens at CBU to serve business owners

Riverside, Calif. (Nov. 5, 2021) – The Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business at California Baptist University hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new Center for Business Excellence on Nov. 4. The center is aimed at helping small and medium-sized business owners in the community.

The center will offer various services to those business owners, including one-on-one coaching with a faculty member with entrepreneur experience. The center is an official Certiport testing center where employees and employers can obtain certificates in a variety of technologies. It also will hold seminars in conjunction with the Dr. Paul and Annie Kienel Leadership Institute.

“Some years ago, the brainchild of the faculty of the Jabs School was to engage with our community directly,” said Dr. Tim Gramling, dean of the Dr. Robert K. Jabs School of Business. “We are excited by the presence of this Center for Business Excellence, which will provide seminars and training and certifications to make a difference in the lives of small to medium sized business owners, leaders and staff.”

Dr. Marina Girju, associate dean for undergraduate programs, said the Center for Business Excellence is the only university sponsored and Certiport authorized center in the Inland Empire area.

“We are looking forward to working with individuals who want to upgrade their skills or simply obtain a certificate to clearly, unequivocally demonstrate the skills they have,” Girju said. “As you see, my sleeves are all up. We are so ready to start the work here.” 

Dr. Charles Sands, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, encouraged the attendees to spread the news about the center and to participate themselves.

“I love this community. I love the fact that you're here to support another initiative tied to excellence and tied to influence in the region. We all know that leadership is about influence,” Sands said.

CBU faculty members and staff in addition to business owners and Riverside city and community officials were on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony and open house. Dr. Robert K. Jabs, former dean and professor for whom the School of Business is named, also attended.

Jim Perry, Riverside city councilmember in Ward 6, said he was glad to see CBU continue to expand.

“This is an opportunity to form our business leaders, to get our business leaders out there with even more expertise, and to make a difference not only in this city but in this region and hopefully in this state,” Perry said.

For more information on the Center for Business Excellence, please contact Delores Washington, 951-343-4329 or dwashington@calbaptist.edu.