By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Nov. 7, 2002
Several hundred people have registered for one of two customer service seminars next week at Mississippi State University-Meridian Campus and room remains available for more.
The deadline to register for the free seminars is Monday; the seminars are set for 2 p.m.-4 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8 p.m. on Nov. 14 in the Kahlmus Auditorium.
The seminars, focusing on basic customer relations, will be presented by Dr. Mike Thompson, certified customer service trainer and professor of marketing at Delta State University.
He has offered seminars throughout the Southeastern United States for retail businesses, banks, hospitals and service agencies.
Organizers of the seminars include Sandy Bynum, executive director of the Lauderdale County Tourism Bureau; Doc Braswell, business specialist with MSU-Meridian; and Sonny Fisher, of the Small Business Development Center at MSU in Starkville.
Fisher said participants in Thompson's seminars have seen improvements in employee attitudes, production and profits.
Braswell said making a good impression plays a large role in economic development. He said he hopes the seminars will raise the level of awareness locally about the importance of customer service to businesses and the community at large.
Bynum said more seminars are being discussed. She said she would like to see customer service seminars offered locally at least twice a year.