Sacramento State students and local businesspeople can learn lessons from each other with a program offered by the University?s Center for Small Business.

The program offers free management assistance to small businesses and, in turn, gives students valuable on-the-job experience, said Management Professor Dennis Tootelian, who serves as director for the program.

Students have provided more than 9,200 hours of service with nearly 140 firms through the Center, according to Sac State Public Affairs.

Businesses in need of assistance contact Tootelian, who in turn assigns a faculty member to each one in need, he said. Students then work with the businesses on whichever issues need to be addressed.

“This means that students will either work in a group, usually if they are undergraduates, or work alone if they are a graduate student,” Tootelian said.

Students are not required to be business majors in order to serve as consultants. The only requirement is that they are enrolled in business courses, Tootelian said.

The experience students gain from working with actual businesses allows them to apply what they?ve learned in the classroom in the outside world, Tootelian said.

“They are able to help companies in business issues, and that reinforces the fact that they have learned something and are able to put that knowledge to use,” Tootelian said. “That makes them feel good.”

Many of the businesses that request assistance are corporations that probably could not afford to pay for that consultation otherwise, he said.

Since the business center offers advice free of charge, Sac State has formed partnerships with two companies: Resource Capital, which finances small companies, and Union Bank of California. The relationship benefits everyone involved, Tootelian said.

“If businesses call Sac State to get help, and with that help are able to become successful, then basically the company will become one of our clients down the line,” said Resource Capital employee Kim Ioanidis.

“It?s not a direct connection but about five to eight years down the road, the businesses will come and get a loan.”

The Union Bank of California aids the Center by sending over businesses to receive consultations, said Vice President of Real Estate Industries Group at Union Bank Dana Smith.

Union Bank donates yearly to Sac State to keep the Center going, Smith said. She believes that if other banks could join program, it would help both businesses and students.

“We like how the Business Center allows us to get involved with new students who are motivated and who want to get ahead by working in this type of (field),” Smith said. “The bank is always looking for employees who are leaders and top-achieving students. Anything we can do to make the odds better for the bank in hiring is good for the bank.”