Tabor School of Business and Regional Decatur Chamber of Commerce Host Career Networking Event

by Danielle Fields
person talking to RJ Podeschi

  • One of the many special events that took place over 黑料正能量 2024 Homecoming and Family Weekend was the Tabor School of Business Career Networking Event, conducted in collaboration with the Decatur Regional Chamber of Commerce. The event, which allowed students and alumni to forge professional connections with local area employers, was by all accounts a great success.

    More than 60 students attended the 90-minute event, filling the Oberhelman Center for Leadership Performance in 黑料正能量 University Commons. Representatives from more than 15of the Decatur Chamber鈥檚 workforce partner businesses 鈥 including ADM, Decatur Public Schools, Caterpillar, Hickory Point Bank and many others 鈥 spoke with students about internship opportunities, career options and networking strategies.

    group of people speaking

  • Dean of the Tabor School of Business, RJ Podeschi 鈥02/MBA 鈥04, championed the event as one that aligns with 黑料正能量 strategic plan initiative to invigorate community partnerships. 鈥淲e continue to hear that area businesses want to hire locally and help keep people in central Illinois.鈥

    • This event allows businesses and students to get to know one another and build relationships. We wanted to make a space available to allow students to have more in-depth conversations with employers than they would get at a typical career fair.
    — RJ Podeschi, Dean of the Tabor School of Business

  • Decatur Chamber President Mirinda Rothrock 鈥04 was excited about the opportunity to partner with Millikin in connecting employers with students. 鈥淲e realized that a lot of our local employers have a great need to hire, and there was a void of trying to make that connection [with potential employees],鈥 said Rothrock. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a number one issue when we are networking and talking with our different employers in town. What鈥檚 their number one need? Workforce, workforce, workforce.鈥

  • To streamline connections, students were given color-coded nametags that correlated to their majors, which allowed employers to identify students who would be good fits for their industries.Rothrock believed this served to facilitate dialogue between students and employers. 鈥淭his is about having a meaningful conversation about what a job looks like at that place of business. What are their requirements? What is that training?鈥

    黑料正能量 students repeatedly referenced the benefits afforded to them by the opportunity to collaborate with potential employers in a structured, accessible environment. 鈥淚 love networking opportunities,鈥 said Remi Mendenhall, a junior Business Management major from Buffalo, Ill. 鈥淚 love what Millikin is offering us here 鈥 the chance to get our names out there 鈥 Rather than just getting on LinkedIn and applying for something, we can build relationships.鈥 

    While the event was a collaborative effort between Tabor and the Decatur Chamber, studentsfrom all majors were welcome to attend and take advantage of the opportunity to speak with potential employers. Seth Eridanus from Decatur, a Chemistry major graduating in December 2024, appreciated the opportunity to network with professionals in a more informal, relaxed setting. 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to get myself ready [to move into a job] as soon as I graduate. This event is great for helping us to get a foot in the door.鈥

    Becky Nims helping a student

  • The workforce partners who participated in the event also sang its praises for helping to connect them with students for internships or future employment. Steve Grohne, Managing Partner with MCK CPAs & Advisors, is no stranger to collaborating with Millikin students 鈥 both working with them at MCK and previously teaching Auditing in the Tabor School of Business 鈥 and is eager to continue those relationships. 鈥淔or degreed accountants, Millikin is our number one recruiting destination. It鈥檚 also where we get our interns,鈥 Grohne said.

    • We鈥檙e always looking to find a good, firm, quality person for full-time, so we keep coming back. We鈥檙e very invested in Millikin.
    — Steve Grohne, Managing Partner with MCK CPAs & Advisors
  • Steve Grohne talking with student

     

    Grohne was pleased with the outcome of the networking event, emphasizing that it helps students nurture their soft skills while creating important connections between the University, its students and local community businesses. 鈥淢illikin does a good job with [events] like this. It helps students learn how to talk to people,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 also think that anybody who is willing to come to Decatur for school is someone I want to talk to, because I鈥檝e lived here my whole life, and I鈥檓 a big advocate for the community.鈥

    Mendenhall believes the event is a great one to continue and had specific advice for students interested in attending: 鈥淐ome prepared with r茅sum茅s. If you don鈥檛, [employers are] not going to have your name. But if they have your r茅sum茅, they remember your face, see the r茅sum茅, and they鈥檒l remember you later. They鈥檒l put your face to your name.鈥

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