On February 9th, 2016, six Chatham graduate students received their Customer Value Modeling (CVM)® Certification. Through this certification process, participants learn how to select, measure, and quantify critical value drivers for customer value models, set product and service prices based on customer value modeling, and redesign customer value benefits that are aligned with their needs. “The CVM® Certification was launched in 2013 and to date 331 professionals have been certified in the process of dollarizing competitive advantage and customer value proposition,” explains Dr. Stephan Liozu, Chatham professor and creator of Value Innoruption Advisors, a boutique consulting firm that offers this certification and specializes in disruptive approaches in value, pricing, and strategic management. The students certified include:
- Marta Pelusi, Master of Sustainability/Master of Business Administration’17
- Gina Sciarrino, Master of Food Studies ’17
- Hosam Alshaye, Master of Sustainability ’17
- Terrie Musser, Master of Sustainability ’17
- Kelcy Wagner, Master of Sustainability ’17
- Ezra Welsh, Master of Sustainability ’16
This unique certification opportunity was offered as part of Dr. Tom Macagno’s Applied Green and Social Innovation course (SUS 607). This course is open to all Chatham graduate students, and specifically designed for the Master of Sustainability (MSUS) Program and students enrolled in the new Dual Degree Masters of Food Studies and MBA Program (MAFS/MBA).“This certification helps students think about the value created by a product,” Dr. Macagno observes, “and helps them set prices to support a business strategy.”
Throughout spring semester, Dr. Macagno’s class worked with the Pittsburgh-based business start-up firm, Mayim, LLC., that has developed irrigation sensing and management software to help reduce water consumption and chemical use in crop production. With the help of Idea Foundry, a Pittsburgh-based non-profit innovation acceleration and commercialization organization, Mayim has been able to assist hundreds of small to mid-sized family farms reduce their water usage. Dr. Macagno’s class worked closely with the Director of Social Enterprise Initiatives at Idea Foundry, Nicole Muise-Kielkucki. Nicole is an alumna of Chatham’s Master of Arts in Food Studies program, and she encouraged students to learn through hands-on consulting for a local business.
Certified students attended two, three-hour long classes as well as completed fifteen hours of practical homework with Mayim, LLC. including market research, preparation, and reading. Further, students were required to successfully build two customer value models– one generic model and one real product or service value model. Finally, they had to pass a multi-choice test at the end of the training and obtain a minimum score of 75% or better.
Dr. Stephan Liozu concludes with highlighting the significance of this partnership: “This is a great collaboration between Chatham, Idea Foundry, and Mayim LLC. It is also a great example of innovation and collaboration between The Falk School of Sustainability and the Business & Entrepreneurship Department. Students received a certification which is valuable for their skill set and resume.”
Chatham University’s Falk School of Sustainability Master of Sustainability program, in partnership with Chatham’s MBA program, has developed a dual degree program that prepares graduates for sustainability management and leadership positions across all sectors including business, government, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This opportunity is one of many offered to graduate students who are interested in business as well as enhancing their entrepreneurial skills.
