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Robert Morris University

Professional Development Partnerships with Penguins and Eat’n Park

Two major regional employers have recently partnered with RMU for customized training for select members of their workforce, led by faculty in business and organizational leadership.

Leadership Development

"We recognize the importance of customizing employee development programs for organizations that are aligned with their organizational goals."

Two major regional employers have recently partnered with RMU for customized training for select members of their workforce, led by faculty in business and organizational leadership.

The Pittsburgh Penguins partner with RMU to deliver leadership development to groups of new and aspiring managers. The NHL organization recently completed its first cohort of leadership training with RMU, which took part over three sessions led by RMU faculty. Two more cohorts are planned for this fall and the spring of 2020.

RMU is Official Higher Education Partner of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and provides leadership development programs for the Penguins staff at the new RMU Conference Center at PPG Paints Arena. The Penguins also offer RMU students educational and professional opportunities, including three dedicated internship positions each year, as part of the agreement.

A dozen Eat’n Park restaurant employees are taking a specialized course in service quality and customer relationships at RMU. The 10-week online course is taught by marketing professor Jill Maher and focuses on transferable skills that are valuable in a variety of hospitality and retail careers. Students were selected by their general managers and identified as highly motivated new or aspiring managers.

The program is part of Reimagine Retail, a project of the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program to improve job quality and career advancement opportunities in retail and related sectors. The Allegheny Conference on Community Development is one of six local partners of the nationwide project, and worked with RMU and Eat’n Park on the program.

"RMU is committed to helping our region to develop future leaders. We are taking an approach to learn from companies and organizations what they need in terms of leadership and talent development,” said Derya Jacobs, vice president for corporate relations and senior vice provost at RMU. “We recognize the importance of customizing employee development programs for organizations that are aligned with their organizational goals.”