Mercer University’s Center for Executive Education is now registering individuals for its next offering of professional development certificate programs — Project Management, AI for Beginners and Intermediates, and Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt.

The Center for Executive Education, housed in Mercer’s School of Business, aims to help organizations meet the need for practical and useful knowledge that facilitates critical thinking by maximizing human capital through innovative and state-of-the-art programs. The Center offers a portfolio of customized corporate and open-enrollment certificate programs developed by the most forward-thinking minds in academia and industry.

“For the last quarter of 2024, we are once again providing access to a Project Management Prep program and our first offering of the AI for Beginners and AI for Intermediates certification,” said Jeff Wolfe, director of the Center for Executive Education. “Our popular Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certificate program is scheduled for early 2025.”

Project Management Preparation Certificate

Five sessions on Mercer’s Cecil B. Day Campus in Atlanta

Oct. 11, Oct. 25, Nov. 8, Nov. 22 and Dec. 6

Each session is eight hours.

The Project Management Prep program includes 40 hours of preparation toward sitting for the PMP certification exam. This five-day course will provide attendees with the skills needed to more effectively and efficiently develop and implement organizational projects, as well as provide the necessary preparation to pass the PMP certification. This course is based on the Project Management Body of Knowledge developed by the Project Management Institute. Attendees will learn the step-by-step PM methodology for delivering projects on time using advanced techniques for scheduling, estimating, budgeting, optimizing project plans and team building.

The program, led by Dr. Etienne Musonera, professor of marketing, and Cory Jackson, adjunct professor. Dr. Musonera is active in consulting and offers unique expertise in marketing and business strategies, foreign direct investment, decision risk analysis, Lean Six Sigma, business process management, project engineering management, quality management, and world-class manufacturing best strategies and practices, supply chain and operations management, business and marketing plans.

Jackson is a senior vice president at United Community Bank with more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Mercer selected him to lecture as an adjunct professor in 2013, and he currently serves on the University’s Board of Trustees.

Visit the Center’s website for more information and to register for the course, which costs $2,500 per person. Special pricing is available for Mercer faculty, staff, students, alumni and organizations with three or more participants. Registration fees cover program materials, 40 hours of instruction, coffee, lunch and refreshments during the program, and a Mercer University certificate of completion.

“This program has been requested by you, and we are pleased to be able to provide a full range of continuing education in the area of the successful development and completion of projects that deliver on time and within budget,” Wolfe said.

AI Beginners and Intermediate Certification

Two sessions on Mercer’s Cecil B. Day Campus in Atlanta

Beginner session Oct. 18 and intermediate session Nov. 1. 

Four hours of in-person program content

This program series offers a comprehensive journey through the world of natural language processing and the utilization of ChatGPT, tailored specifically for small business owners and professionals. Starting with foundational concepts, the series gradually builds participants' expertise, from understanding the basics of natural language processing and ChatGPT to mastering advanced techniques for strategic business applications. Through a blend of theoretical knowledge, practical hands-on workshops and real-world case studies, attendees will learn how to leverage ChatGPT to enhance customer service, automate workflows, generate content and derive strategic insights.

“AI can be found in our everyday life, and now is the time to embrace the opportunities it offers,” Wolfe said. “Our AI certificate program includes practical sessions on setting up and interacting with ChatGPT, crafting effective prompts, and addressing common challenges.”

The program will be led by Dr. Anthony Choi, director of the machine intelligence and robotics laboratory and professor of electrical and computer engineering in the School of Engineering. His primary research interests are machine learning, natural language processing, artificial intelligence, expert systems, big data analytics, data visualization, unmanned systems, robotics, intelligent systems and acoustic localization. Dr. Choi has been conducting projects from NASA, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Air Force and the Office of Naval Research 

Registration is available now at a cost of $350 per person for each four-hour session. Special pricing is available for Mercer faculty, staff, students, alumni and organizations with three or more participants. Registration fees cover program materials, four hours of instruction per session and a Mercer University certificate of completion when both sessions have been completed. 

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certificate

Feb. 7, 2025

8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Mercer’s Cecil B. Day Campus in Atlanta

The program, led by Dr. Myriam Quispe-Agnoli, associate professor of economics at Mercer, and Dr. Eric Kushins, assistant professor of management at Berry College, provides entry-level certification for individuals interested in understanding the Lean Six Sigma managerial approach and developing a process improvement toolkit. No prior training or knowledge of Lean Six Sigma or statistics is required to take this course 

Visit the Center’s website for more information and to register for the course, which costs $500, with special pricing available for Mercer students, faculty, staff, alumni and organizations with three or more participants. Registration fees cover program materials, eight hours of instruction, coffee, lunch and refreshments during the program, and a Mercer University certificate of completion.