VAGTC joins Seidman College of Business

The Van Andel Global Trade Center will move from the Finance and Administration Division to the Seidman College of Business, according to Jim Bachmeier, vice president for Finance and Administration.

Bachmeier said the business college and VAGTC, with its focus on promoting international business and trade, have a large number of similar outreach programs. For example, Seidman College of Business operates the Family Owned Business Institute, Small Business & Technology Development Center, Entrepreneurship Center, Business Ethics Center, Certified Financial Planning Program and the Certified Financial Analysts Program.

The Seidman College of Business and VAGTC have worked closely together since the center’s creation, including partnering on four U.S. Department of Education business and international education grants that have brought more than $600,000 to Grand Valley. The grants have supported the VAGTC and Seidman’s International Business Program. The IBP enrolls 100 students now and boasts approximately 200 graduates since 1998.

“The alignment of VAGTC with the Seidman College of Business should provide better service to its constituents and foster better coordination and synergy of business and international business resources,” Bachmeier said.

He added that Seidman has a number of faculty members with broad international teaching and consulting experience who serve a very valuable human resource role to the VAGTC.