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Walsh College Confers Doctor of Management Degree on Baker

Walsh College awarded a Doctor of Management degree in Executive Leadership to Kathryn Baker of Washington, Mich., at the College’s 103rd Commencement on Saturday, June 21, 2014, at Zion Christian Church, Troy. 
 
Dr. Baker’s doctoral dissertation involved a comparative study of business coaching and leader efficacy development.  She earned her bachelor of science degree in Industrial Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Walsh College.
 
According to Dr. Baker’s study, business coaching is an organizational intervention.  It combines the elements of business planning and strategy with increased awareness and education for leaders to help improve business performance.  An additional outcome of participating in a business coaching program may be leader development.  This comparative relationship study explored the impact of business coaching on the leaders of small and medium enterprises. 
 
“Dr. Baker’s work places focus on the challenges of small- and medium-sized company leadership,” said Dr. Linda Hagan, director, Doctor of Management Program, and chair and professor, Business Communication.  “Business coaching has evolved into a significant contributor to successful entrepreneurship.  She has added strength to that body of knowledge through this study.”
 
Dr. Baker has more than 18 years of business development, sales, marketing, strategic planning, and organizational development experience.  She has worked with organizations operating across a number of different industries, including technology, industrial, and manufacturing.  
 
She currently owns a coaching practice and works with business owners and executives.  Along with two associates, she helps leaders increase profits, build teams, and execute solid growth strategies.  In addition, Dr. Baker has been an adjunct instructor at Walsh College and currently serves as the treasurer for the Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce.
 
Her dissertation advisory committee at Walsh included Dr. Hagan, chair; Dr. Susan Gilkey, associate professor, Management; Dr. Lee Meadows, professor, Management; and Dr. Richard Radners, assistant professor, Management.
 
Dr. Baker also developed a poster presentation, “Business Coaching and Leader Efficacy Development:  A Leadership Study,” for the Third Annual Engaged Management Conference in Atlanta, Ga., in September 2013.
 
For more information on Walsh College, visit www.walshcollege.edu.
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WALSH COLLEGE

Founded in 1922, Walsh College is a private, not for profit institution offering upper-division undergraduate and graduate business and technology degrees and certificate programs.  One of Southeast Michigan’s largest business schools, Walsh has locations in Troy, Novi, Clinton Township, and Port Huron, as well as online. Walsh’s business services division offers the Walsh Institute, which provides solutions for businesses through training, continuing education, and consulting.
 
Walsh is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahlc.org; phone: 312-263-0456). The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP, www.acbsp.org) accredits specific degree programs.
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WALSH CONTACTS:
Brenda Meller/Assistant Vice President, Walsh College bmeller@walshcollege.edu or 248.823.1205.

Alicia Boltach/Account Supervisor, Airfoil Public Relations boltach@airfoilgroup.com or 248.304.1453.

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