In its physical structure, the University Business Center, located in the Peters Building, is a conference center with an auditorium and some well-equipped classrooms. But in terms of its function, the center is dedicated to serving the public and bringing the Fresno State campus and business community closer together. 

In the past year, the center has nearly doubled its event attendance while hosting a record 150 events.

“We’ve seen a measurable increase in demand since last year,” said Rowan Chng, the center’s manager. “In the 2024-25 academic year, we hosted 90 events and brought in around 5,500 attendees. In 2025-26 we have over 150 events scheduled and we expect nearly 10,000 attendees. We’ve attracted major new clients for trainings, including the Fresno County and Kings County departments of public health and Community West Bank.”

Through workshops, classes, presentations and conferences at the center, Fresno State faculty, industry experts and students are able to collaborate, network and share knowledge. 

“The University Business Center is about creating meaningful relationships that connect Fresno State with the community,” Chng said. “The [center] connects the people of the Central Valley with the expertise of the business school and real-life applications to support the community, and vice versa.”

As demand for professional and executive education grows across the Central Valley, Fresno State’s University Business Center has expanded its reach — now hosting more than 150 trainings and events annually. From AI marketing seminars to executive MBA programs and nationally attended agricultural finance trainings, the center has seen increased participation in recent years while extending its footprint beyond campus.

The core facilities of the University Business Center include the Alice Peters Auditorium, executive classrooms, a conference room, a large public gallery and an outdoor patio. In recent years, the University Business Center classrooms have been refreshed and upgraded with smart whiteboards and videoconference technology. 

The newest addition to the center is a state-of-the-art classroom that opened in fall 2023 at the Campus Pointe shopping center.

“The Campus Pointe classroom is a nice, multipurpose space that can be used in many different ways, for workshops, seminars, lectures,” said Dr. Emil Milevoj, who served as University Business Center director from 2001 to 2017. “It’s a great modern space that’s very versatile and convenient in terms of location and parking.”

History of service since the 1950s

The Craig School of Business at Fresno State has provided knowledge and expertise to the business community for decades. The roots of the University Business Center date back to the 1950s, when the business school operated a unit called the Bureau of Business Research that published an economic data newsletter.

By the early 1970s, the bureau had been renamed the Bureau of Business Research and Service, and its role had greatly expanded. In a 1973 memo, the bureau director stated its work included maintaining files on local economic conditions, facilitating research and conducting managerial training and continuing education.

Throughout the 1970s and ’80s, the demand for business education steadily increased, and in fall 1984 the bureau offered over 40 courses for business professionals. It was clear that better facilities were needed to support this mission, and plans for a conference center were included in the design of the Leon S. Peters Business Building. The newly renamed University Business Center opened its doors in 1988.

“Computers had just started to enter the workplace, and a lot of trainings in the late ’80s involved word processing, spreadsheets and helping people understand all this new technology,” Milevoj said. “In the ’90s it shifted to training on web design and development, and in the 21st century we focused on corporate managerial training programs.”

Continuing education, training, events and customer service

The University Business Center presents over 150 trainings and events each year, and its facilities are available to rent to Fresno State faculty, student organizations, the business community and the public. 

The center hosts events for clients like the California Association for Local Economic Development, the Agricultural Lending Institute, the California Association of Realtors and Mason Street Wealth Management, among others. The University Business Center presents a variety of public training seminars on topics that run the gamut from professional training to financial and retirement planning.

In addition to hosting events, the center administers two academic programs within the Craig School, the Accelerated Bachelor in Business Administration and MBA for Executives. Chng said the center handles administrative details both large and small for these programs.

“We connect students with advisers and financial aid, and we handle every part of administration, all the way to preparing the room in the morning before class and throughout the day for instructor and student needs,” Chng said.

Chng believes the University Business Center offers several advantages over other conference facilities in the Fresno area: connection to Fresno State, modern facilities, convenient location and, above all, a strong commitment to service. With just a two-person staff consisting of Chng and his colleague Karla Lopez, the center has a reputation for going above and beyond for its clients.

“A lot of people come back to us because of our willingness to accommodate their needs,” Chng said. “We accommodate them with the room, the technology, the tables, the chairs, the catering. Clients don’t have to worry about it; they can just run their show. It’s not rocket science, but every little bit makes an impact on people remembering you.”

One satisfied customer is Roy Martin, co-director of the Agricultural Lending Institute, which has held its annual trainings at the University Business Center for 21 years. 

“The advantage to us in coming to Fresno State is that we’ve formed a partnership with the [center’s]  staff,” Martin said. “You go to another facility and it’s just another conference to them. We get great support from the [University Business Center] staff, and we always have.”

Another advantage for the Agricultural Lending Institute, which teaches financial professionals how to evaluate farmland and crops as lending collateral, is the proximity to the Fresno State farm.

“In just 10 minutes, we’re out here on the school farm, talking about how to inspect crops and what to look for,” Martin said. “We get students from across the country and around the world, and to be able to show them the 300 commercial crops we grow is very helpful in opening their eyes to what goes on in the San Joaquin Valley.”