Denver (December 20, 2015) – Anthony Wilkerson, assistant manager at Burkhart PRO Hardware in Cincinnati graduated from the North American Retail Hardware Association’s Retail Management Certification Program. Wilkerson attended the NRHA Retail Management Certification program as the first recipient of the Gary D. Cosgrave Retail Management Certification Scholarship, awarded jointly by Denver-based PRO Group, Inc. and Toledo-based Bostwick-Braun. The scholarship is named after former PRO Group owner, Gary Cosgrave.
Part of the spring 2015 RMCP class, Wilkerson was one of 17 students from across North America who attended the six-month, college-level program. Developed in conjunction with Butler University, course curriculum is designed to teach future leaders within the independent home improvement industry leadership skills and advanced retail management concepts and best practices.
“It’s fantastic to see Anthony graduate from the NRHA Retail Management Certification program,” says Steve Synnott, President and CEO of PRO Group. “The industry clearly had a need for professional, collegiate level education and the NRHA program addresses that need perfectly. PRO looks forward to continuing to identify candidates like Anthony Wilkerson for future Gary D. Cosgrave Retail Management Certification Scholarship’s.”
Wilkerson says the NRHA Retail Management Certification Program was a great growing experience for him, both personally and professionally. “From the first day to the last was a substantial change for me,” he says. “It was a great growing experience and a great program to be a part of. I really enjoyed it and feel I took a lot away from it.”
“Anthony has done a great job with his project, and the course has certainly opened his eyes to a lot of different things,” adds Burkhardt’s store owner Sue Flory. “He comes up with ideas on his own now.”
Media contact:
Shari Kalbach, Managing Director, PRO Group, Inc.
shari.kalbach@pro-group.com, 720-875-2226).