While the town of Talking Rock appears to be on its feet now, a past “leadership vacuum” inspired a new rural management program at Kennesaw State University.
According to a press release from the university, the Rural Management MBA was developed to train people for leadership in rural communities and “create economic opportunities and improve the quality of life for their residents. “
Renee Bourbeau, executive director of MBA programs for KSU’s Michael Coles College of Business, developed the program after the ISO fire rating in Talking Rock skyrocketed from a 6 to a 10 in 2022. Insurance companies view a 10 rating as essentially being without fire protection. A high rating increases homeowner insurance premiums.
“We’ve seen what can happen in rural communities when there is a leadership vacuum,” Bourbeau said. “When [the Talking Rock mayor resigned] in 2021, it led to the city losing its fire station and eventually its fire designation, leading to increased insurance rates for its residents. A program like ours will prepare cities and counties for leadership crises like this.”
Bourbeau said the time is right for a rural management program. For the first time in a decade, rural counties across America are experiencing population growth, with the U.S. Census Bureau listing two Georgia counties – Jackson and Dawson – among the fastest growing in the country.
“Rural counties are experiencing incredible growth right now,” said Bourbeau. “These communities have a need for qualified professionals to fill leadership positions in business and government. Kennesaw State is proud to be the first university in the country to offer an MBA program specifically tailored to their unique economic position.”
The press release goes on to state that rural management is a discipline that involves solving challenges related to sustainable agriculture, building and maintaining infrastructure, and ensuring access to healthcare, education, and employment.
“We are always looking for new ways to adapt our programs to respond to the needs of our students and the business community,” Bourbeau said. “Our concentrations in Rural Management and Business Intelligence expand Kennesaw State into new markets and provide more students with opportunities for career advancement.”
The program is a concentration for its evening Master of Business Administration program and is set to launch in fall 2025.
