Conference Nov. 11 Aims to Give Students Leg Up in Business Careers
Contact: George Manlove, 581-3756
ORONO — A group of Maine Business School students at UMaine says tomorrow’s business leaders will need more than a good education in business. They hope a student conference planned Nov. 11 will give participants a look at how good networking, marketing, negotiating and other skills can better prepare them for the business world.
The UMaine student Chapter of the American Marketing Association is hosting the 2006 Maine State Business Conference Nov. 11 in D.P. Corbett Business Building on the Orono campus. Several hundred business students from Maine colleges and universities have been invited. Seven speakers will talk about the less obvious aspects of business that are important for professional success. Though geared toward college students, the public is invited.
“The intent is for some of these seminar topics to build on the academic education and expose students to practical aspects of real-world situations and real-world issues they’ll soon be a part of,” says Courtney Hagenaars, vice president of the UMaine AMA. He expects the conference will be an annual event.
Additionally, through meeting some of the speakers from the private sector, students may develop relationships that could lead to jobs with Maine companies after graduation.
The conference is 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. A $5 fee covers a continental breakfast and lunch. For information and self-registration, visit the Maine Business School website (www.mbs.maine.edu/survey/conference) or email Hagenaars at Courtney.hagenaars@umit.maine.edu.
Dan Innis, dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Health, will open and close the day’s activities.
Seminar leaders include:
John Coleman of ViA advertising agency in Portland, who will give the keynote address and discuss corporate employment, job hopping, entry-level positions and what to expect;
Deb Neuman, director of the Target Technology Incubator and host of “Back to Business” radio talk show on WVOM, who will discuss entrepreneurism, the Maine Innovation Center and growing business sectors in Maine;
Carol Colson of Bangor Savings Bank, who will discuss the importance and the art of networking;
Marc Leclerc, Patrick Smith and Cory Cunningham of Evest Lending, who will discuss debt and credit management for the college student and graduate;
Cathy Nugent, strategic staffing specialist for Hannaford Brothers supermarket chain, discussing offer creation, negotiation and introducing new proposals;
And Sherry Treworgy and Kathy Marquez of the UMaine Career Center, who will discuss internships, resume building and interview skills.
Omar Khan, assistant professor of marketing and an advisor to the UMaine AMA chapter, says it is invaluable for experienced business men and women to communicate the importance of job skills that can influence success and effectiveness of students preparing to launch careers with businesses and corporations.
State Rep. Nancy Smith, chair of the Maine House of representatives’ Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development, has expressed an interest in the conference and plans to attend, according to Khan.