From left: Cari Lemon, Hakiteli Tuivai, Charlene Gomez, Jonah Barrera, Anita Rios, Blair Baeza, Jacob Lara, Kalie Lyle, Rebecca Dow, Tien Nguyen, Terry Anderson, Angelica Boone, Priscilla Lucero, Vicente Partido, Miguel Vicens-Feliberty, Calum HillA great partnership came to fruition as Dr. Miguel Vicens's students presented an official business plan as their final project for the semester. Nine WNMU School of Business students enrolled in the capstone course ‘Business Policies and Management,' completed a semester-long project in partnership with the local non-profit Community Partnership for Children (CPC). The students are Annette Perez, Jonah Barrera, Calum Hill, Kalie Lyle, Blair Baeza, Hakiteli Tuivai, Jacob Lara, Tien Nguyen, and Vicente Partido.

CPC is in its fourth year of a pilot project known as Grant County Community Early Care & Education- Learning Network for Kids (LINKS). With grants from Freeport McMoran's Community Investment Fund, Thornburg, Brindle, Con Alma, and McCune Foundations, funding helps CPC to link childcare centers to sharing services and costs to maximize capacity.

At the last two Prospectors' Legislative Forums, Senator Howie Morales, in support of the CPC efforts, has recommended a business plan be created in order to seek additional funding. Kevin Cook, Manger, Strategic Community Development for Freeport McMoRan New Mexico Operations, suggested CPC work with WNMU School of Business students. CPC board members followed these recommendations which ultimately lead to the collaboration. Both parties benefit because students have hands-on experience developing a professional business plan that is ready to implement immediately and CPC receives a solid plan for next steps in becoming sustainable and increase capacity.

The students were split into teams to create a strategy for marketing, finance, and a new ‘break- even analysis.' On December 7, 2017 they presented their final plan and recommendations to CPC board members/staff, Grant County Community Health Council Director Cari Lemon, and State Representative Rebecca Dow.

Priscilla Lucero, CPC board member and Southwest NM Council of Governments Executive Director asked the students what they would take away from this experience. They reported the opportunity to present to an audience of professionals in the field was impactful verses only presenting in front of their peers and professor. Lemon commented, "I recommend you keep a pulse on the development of this project because once it is established and a valid, sustainable model, you'll be able to include your crucial involvement that lead to success on your resumes."

"The students worked hard trying to figure out the business model, find statistics and assembling the plan together. I think this was a great experience that will shape them as future professionals in their field, as well as citizens," stated Dr. Vicens.

After reading the thirty-four page business plan, Cellissa Hoyt, national trainer from New Hampshire and consultant to CPC/LINKS via Con Alma funding stated, "This is an impressive amount of work and there is a lot of information to utilize!"

CPC/LINKS Project Coordinator Terry Anderson commended Dr. Miguel Vicens and the students for their hard work and final presentation. "This is a great foundation to build the organization's sustainability as we move this important collaborative-model forward."