certificate – UofL News

UofL answers industry need with customized professional development certificate in distilled spirits

Betty Coffman — Fri, 18 Nov 2022 16:16:22 +0000

Global spirits leader Beam Suntory provides continuous formal and on-the-job education to its employees – building knowledge around industry trends that support effective leadership skills. Whether it’s an employee in a technical role that requires a deeper understanding of the business or a new manager who is seeking skills to think strategically across functions, the employees have unique learning needs based on personal background and education.

To meet their education needs, the University of Louisville recently worked with Beam Suntory to develop “Leading with Spirit,” a professional development program customized to the needs of the company and its employees. The program is built on UofL’s existing distilled spirits business certificate, with content added in project management and leading change. Beam Suntory employees will benefit from courses led by industry experts, and a compressed 16-week, non-credit curriculum, which can be completed regardless of previous educational background.

“Our employees are deeply knowledgeable in their specific areas of the business and want to apply their background to the nuances of the spirits industry,” said Nicki Clifton, senior HR director, Supply Chain at Beam Suntory. “We are proud to provide a learning opportunity to them through the UofL College of Business and are appreciative of this partnership which supports our employees and their development goals.”

Bob Hausladen, director of the Distilled Spirits Program at UofL, left, and Virginia Denny, assistant dean for executive education, center, lead the launch of the “Leading with Spirit” professional development program at Jim Beam Distillery.

A pilot cohort for Leading with Spirit was launched in October with 10 Beam Suntory employees. The new certificate program will add industry-specific leadership and strategic management education to the employees’ resumes in just a few months, a much faster and more cost-effective solution than traditional degree programs.

The UofL College of Business has expertise in developing customized, industry-specific programs such as the new certificate for Beam Suntory to meet the needs of Louisville industries.

“With the development of the graduate certificate programs in niche industries in Louisville such as distilled spirits, we can fine-tune the programs to fit the specific needs of the audience and company,” said Jeff Guan, interim dean of the UofL College of Business. “Creating a non-graduate-degree version of a program allows flexibility to meet the need where the need exists. In this case, it’s created a great partnership with Bean Suntory.”

The original is an online certificate offered to graduate students that provides credits toward completion of an MBA. Developed to meet the needs of Kentucky’s important distilled spirits industry, the certificate covers regulations, sales and distribution, operations and supply chain management, sustainability and brand marketing. It is believed to be the only distilled spirits business certificate in the U.S.

Virginia Denny, assistant dean for executive education in UofL’s College of Business, said programs like Leading with Spirit are becoming more important for both professionals and corporations.

“We are no longer in a world where we can think about education ending with a bachelor’s, master’s or even a PhD degree. We are living in a world of 60 years of curriculum. Technology is transforming so rapidly, we have to be there for students and companies in a different way,” Denny said. “That’s where the non-credit, executive education programs come into play. That is our future – the ability to play in the space between credit and non-credit and responding to the needs of corporate clients.”

Beam Suntory is a global premium spirits company headquartered in New York. They produce Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbons in Kentucky, Hibiki Japanese whisky in Japan and more than 70 other spirits brands around the world. Its 5,700 employees are in more than 90 locations on five continents.

UofL College of Business, Kentucky Distillers’ Association partner to increase diversity in the industry

Betty Coffman — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 14:47:10 +0000

The University of Louisville and the have established the Kentucky Distillers’ Association/University of Louisville Scholars Program to increase diversity in the Commonwealth’s signature bourbon industry.

The partnership will award five full-tuition scholarships for UofL’s , with preference given to Black students, women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ and other underrepresented groups. The certificate is a graduate-level, online program to prepare individuals for careers in business operations of the distilled spirits industry.��

“The KDA and its members recognize that there are too few diverse voices in our industry and we must do more to build a workforce more reflective of our population and culture,” KDA President Eric Gregory said. “The KDA/UofL Scholars Program is part of our commitment to create an industry and a community that are more diverse, equal, welcoming and inclusive. Moreover, these students will be the foundation for historic and necessary change – a permanent legacy that will last for generations and forever transform our timeless craft.”

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association will fund these and other scholarships through its new Lifting Spirits Foundation.

“At the University of Louisville, we are committed to empowering our communities by improving equity and access in all areas of education and achievement,” said UofL President Neeli Bendapudi. “The KDA/UofL partnership is a shining example of how we can work hand in hand with industry to create a more equitable society for all in one of our state’s essential industries.”

In addition to completing coursework, UofL and the KDA are exploring opportunities for the scholars to participate in a series of industry immersions such as internships and mentorships. Through the commitments of the KDA and its members, these experiences would give participants an unparalleled and rich exploration of the industry and the distinct Kentucky firms that lead it.

“At the end of a year, each KDA UofL scholar will understand the business and management principles of the industry, said , College of Business executive-in-residence and director of the Distilled Spirits Business Certificate Program. “They will have enhanced their resume with real-world experience, develop meaningful relationships with leading industry executives, and learn the unique culture of these KDA member distilleries. All in all, there could not be a better way to open the gateway to success than these skills, perspectives and relationships. Our shared vision is that in 20 years, there’ll be a cohort of senior-level leaders in the industry, creating similar opportunities for others, who started their careers as KDA/UofL Scholars.”

Jessica Pendergrass, chair of the KDA board of directors and a UofL alumna, said the association is committed to increasing diversity by expanding opportunities in the bourbon industry for traditionally underrepresented populations.

“The member companies of the KDA are working together with universities to build a better future for the Kentucky bourbon industry and the Commonwealth,” said Pendergrass, who also is general counsel and chief compliance officer for Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc. “We are expanding our support of distilling programs to ensure inclusion and opportunity in our industry for all and to better reflect the cultural diversity of the consumers we know and love. My hope is these efforts focused on long-term, sustainable change in our industry create near-term accessibility to everyone who wants to be engaged in this thriving, unique industry in Kentucky.”

Kentucky bourbon is one of the Commonwealth’s most historic and treasured industries, accounting for $8.6 billion in annual economic impact and more than 20,100 jobs with an annual payroll topping $1 billion each year. The industry is in the middle of a $2.3 billion building boom, from innovative new tourism centers to expanded production facilities, all to meet the growing global thirst for Kentucky bourbon.

“The Distilled Spirits Business Certificate exemplifies UofL’s strong, reciprocal relationship with the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the regional economy,” UofL College of Business Dean Todd A. Mooradian said. “We create programs like this certificate, our Equine Industry Program and our Family Business offerings that tie to the distinctive strengths of the region and the state. In turn, our programs contribute to those sectors and help shape their future.

“We gladly share responsibility for making that future more equitable and more just,” Mooradian said. “We commit ourselves, our resources and our energy to building excellence, addressing legacy disadvantages and systematic bias by building inclusive opportunities and creating a welcoming culture that embraces, invests in and is open for business to all.”

The UofL online Distilled Spirits Business Certificate provides broad-based knowledge about business operations within the industry for current or future distilled spirits professionals. It offers a one-of-a-kind curriculum that features the most relevant knowledge, skills and awareness for accelerating success in the spirits industry. Instructors are UofL College of Business faculty and from KDA-member companies like Brown-Forman, Heaven Hill, Jim Beam and others. Graduates of the certificate program will be well-suited for leadership roles from operations and finance to supply-chain management and marketing. The certificate program includes nine graduate credits delivered entirely online and earns students one-fifth of the credits needed to complete a University of Louisville MBA.

For more information, visit the .��

Brandeis Law launches online certificate for health care workers

Cindy Hess — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 14:51:57 +0000

Brandeis School of Law is introducing an online certificate program to help health care workers hone their legal finesse and professional credentials. The program starts in September.

The Certificate in Health Law is a series of offered by Brandeis in collaboration with . Applicants do not need an undergraduate degree to qualify. Certificate offerings include a suite of 11 courses and enrollees can create a customized certificate. Organizers said the courses will tackle timely topics such as health care fraud and abuse, end-of-life decisions, HIPAA, security and patient care issues.

Brandeis School of Law Dean Susan Duncan said the certificate will help people understand the legal, regulatory and ethical issues related to health law.

“There’s a tremendous need for a curriculum that explains and educates workers on the complexities of health law,” Duncan said. “This online program makes it much easier for professionals to get the training and education they need while they complete the course at their own pace.”

Most courses can be completed within 60 days. The cost for the certificate is $10,000 with discounts offered to employers who have multiple employees enrolled. Individuals can also enroll in those courses that match their areas of interest at $1,300 per course.

The online courses are taught by UofL faculty, legal professionals in the industry and practicing attorneys. iLaw is a law school online company that has developed and provided programs and courses to more than 20 percent of all accredited law schools in the United States.