In September, the Introduction to Business class on Iola’s Allen Community College campus, under the instruction of Nicci Denny, was asked to complete a project that would help the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce make decisions on how to achieve specific strategic goals.

The students were divided into groups. Each group was given different situations that were detailed by members of The Chamber. The groups then embarked on a decision making plan once the situations were received. This decision making plan explored situations identified by the Iola Area Chamber of Commerce and reported on results from research conducted online from primary and secondary resources.

The groups were tasked with four milestones that consisted of defining situations, research, composing alternatives, and choosing an appropriate alternative for each situation, goal, and objective. Research gathered throughout the plan varied as the topics assigned to each group involved different situations, goals, and objectives.

The plan examined the results from the group milestones and detailed insight garnered from the research conducted from primary and secondary resources.

On Dec. 4, 2019, the Introduction to Business students presented their findings to The Chamber director, Jill Hartman, and the president of the Chamber Board of Directors, Shilo Eggers. Other attendees included Lonnie Larson, Mary Kay Heard, Ken McGuffin, John Masterson, Brian Counsil, and Tosca Harris.

“The students did an outstanding job completing the project thoroughly, timely, and professionally,” Denny said.