Retail Management Certificate Now Available in Dallas

The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has added El Centro College in Dallas to its network of schools offering the Retail Management Certificate, which provides education and career opportunities in the supermarket industry.

“We are elated to bring this wonderful certificate program to El Centro College,” said Bryan Kaltenbach, WAFC president and chairman and president of Food4Less/Foods Co., a division of Kroger. “It's important that we provide American workers with the skills and education to remain competitive in the world market. Dallas has long been a city that thrives on good management and entrepreneurial spirit, and we are honored to continue with that legacy.”

The certificate features nine classes that cover topics from principles of management to business technology. The credits can be used toward an associate’s or bachelor’s degree if students wish to continue their education beyond the certificate.

The first classes at El Centro will be offered this fall and available to both full-time and part-time students in a 16-week or 8-week format. An accelerated 5-week program also will be offered in the summer. Classes will be a combination of online and traditional classroom formats, with some taught on-site at retail locations.

The certificate was developed in 2000 in partnership with several food industry companies and organizations, and is now offered in more than 130 community colleges in the Western United States as well as online. The White House recently recognized the program as part of President Obama’s Upskill Initiative that strives to realize the full potential of workers by providing education and training needed for new skills that lead to higher wages.