Courtesy The Saratogian
By Maureen Werther
Michelle Mitchell, owner of M&M Consulting, grew her business drawing on years of experience, first as a member of the armed forces and, later, working for engineering and computer technology companies that serviced the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.
After serving her country as a member of the Air Force during the mid-1980s, Mitchell worked for a time in Germany for a computer company before returning to continue her career back in the states. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, she continued in the field of computers and computer technology, working in downstate New York as inside sales and support for her company’s engineering team.
She then moved on to become a component engineering consultant, where she was, in effect, the “gatekeeper,” managing the acquisition of highly specialized parts for submarine assemblies and other military equipment and components.
During this time, Mitchell began to develop the ideas for a consulting business.
“I knew a lot of people from my years in the armed services and in business,” she said. When engineers she knew from work got laid off, she began helping them by rewriting their resumes and helping to connect them with other companies.
She also began helping other people who were already employed, but who were looking to move up in their company or find a better opportunity elsewhere.
“It kind of evolved into a recruitment, training, and business coaching business,” she said.
Today, Mitchell works with business owners and managers who want to give their employees a leg up and help them succeed in their jobs and grow in their professions.
They can benefit from sessions like “handling a difficult co-worker,” “learning the art of cold-calling,” and “how to make a great business impression.”
A native of Fulton County, Mitchell returned to the area in 1996 and began offering her services in Gloversville and Amsterdam. Now a resident of Wilton, she hopes to grow her business in the Saratoga area. Over the years, she developed more than a dozen seminar programs, all with the theme of promoting business success for the employer and the employees.
Mitchell has experience working with a variety of businesses, ranging from engineering firms and computer technology companies, to restaurants and customer-service businesses.
She is comfortable working with small groups in an intimate business setting, as well as with large groups of 200 or more.
“Whatever the business owner or manager wants, I can offer the right program for them,” said Mitchell.
In addition to working with groups, Mitchell is also available to work with clients on an individual basis.
“Some of my most popular training programs include Career Journey After a Layoff, Steps to New Employment, and Steps to Creating a Successful Business Impression,” said Mitchell. “Whether it’s something as basic as making the right wardrobe choices for your profession, to developing an effective resume and cover letter, even to cold-calling companies that you’d like to work for but who may not be hiring, I can help.”
When conducting seminars, Mitchell prefers to work with people outside of their daily work environment, and she uses business space at locations in town, such as The Hub or other venues, depending on the number of attendees and the type of training being offered.
But Mitchell is willing to hold seminars on site in a company’s conference or training facility. She is also comfortable holding multiple sessions per day, which can work well for larger companies that want different types of training for different departments.
For more information, contact Mitchell at 845-667-0736 or leave a voice message on at 773-4225. Her email address is mmconsulting06@verizon.net.