IN A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE NEED FOR AND INTEREST IN MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES TO BE SPONSORED BY EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY FOR BUSINESS OWNERS AND MANAGERS, 136 BUSINESSMEN IN A NINE COUNTY AREA SURROUNDING THE UNIVERSITY RATED SUGGESTED CONFERENCE TOPICS. BANKERS, LAWYERS, ACCOUNTANTS, AND BUSINESS LEADERS, BUYERS FOR BUSINESS FIRMS, AND CONSUMERS WERE ALL ASKED TO GIVE OPINIONS OF THE MANAGEMENT SKILLS OF LOCAL BUSINESSMEN AND SUPPLIERS. FROM THE RESPONSES IT APPEARED THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR THE OWNERS AND MANAGERS OF AT LEAST SOME BUSINESS FIRMS TO IMPROVE THEIR MANAGEMENT SKILLS AND THERE IS INTEREST IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN A PROGRAM OF TRAINING CONFERENCES SPONSORED BY THE UNIVERSITY. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE UNIVERSITY FURTHER DEFINE THE TRAINING NEEDS OF AREA BUSINESSMEN, EVALUATE ITS MANPOWER RESOURCES FOR CONDUCTING CONFERENCES, DETERMINE THE AVAILABILITY OF CONFERENCE LEADERS OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY, DESIGNATE A CONFERENCE COORDINATOR, AND CAREFULLY PLAN, SCHEDULE, AND PUBLICIZE A PILOT CONFERENCE. (DOCUMENT INCLUDES THE SURVEY QUESTIONS AND 11 TABLES.) THIS DOCUMENT IS A MASTERS THEIS, AVAILABLE FROM EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY, JOHNSON CITY, TENN. 94 PAGES. (AUTHOR/AJ)