UMUC students help those
who help the disabled

Students in an IMAN course taught by Richard Kolasheski (above) served as academic consultants for a company in Kensington, Md. As a result, the company plans to expand operations to the United Kingdom next year.

Special to Fyi Online

Last semester, four UMUC graduate students worked on a somewhat unusual project for Richard Kolasheski's "Managing Overseas Operations" class.

The students, who are pursuing master's degrees in international management, developed an international business plan for a Kensington, Md., company, Orthotic Mobility Systems, Inc., which manufactures innovative canes and walking devices for disabled people.

Orthotic Mobility is no ordinary manufacturing company. Its all-terrain canes are custom-made by individuals from the Mellwood House, an outpatient and residential facility for mentally disadvantaged, in Upper Marlboro. Four autistic men assemble their unique products. "Thus, we have mentally disabled people making equipment to enhance the quality of life of physically disabled individuals," said Kolasheski.

In helping the small company develop a business plan for international expansion, the class felt it played a role in helping Orthotic Mobility's disabled clients. "I felt that we were of some use to the company," said student Vangal Ravi. "They really appreciated our help."

Acting as international marketing consultants, students met with representatives from Orthotic Mobility three times at UMUC's Inn and Conference Center to discuss the company's business goals. At the end of the semester, they presented a 35-page report that recommended expansion to the United Kingdom. The report evaluated the British economic environment and business laws and concluded that Orthotic Mobility would flourish overseas.

With the students' assistance, Harry Herman, president/CEO of Orthotic Mobility, predicts that his company will have little difficulty expanding to the United Kingdom by spring 2002.

At the end of the semester, the UMUC students expressed their admiration for the company they had studied. "Some of the students were so interested in us that they wanted to work with us after they graduated," said Philip Lyons, sales director of Orthotic Mobility.

Best of all, in developing an international business plan, the graduate students closed their books and utilized the real-world skills they learned at UMUC. "I was continuously leveraging the knowledge I had gained throughout the course," said Ravi, who received his graduate degree in May.

For more information, visit Orthotic Mobility Systems on the Web.