What does it look like to Create Your MORE? It looks like local businesses providing student opportunities to research careers and make professional connections within the working world. Recently, a local financial institution, Merchants Bank, hosted Career Day at the Winona State Engagement Center this past spring. The event was part of a series organized in cooperation with local Winona businesses.
Merchants Bank sent a team of over 20 representatives from sales, marketing, accounting, finance, IT, human resources, investments, trust, and digital banking. Students were encouraged to interact with the different departments in order to a receive a token that could be used towards a chance to win cash and other prizes inside the Cash Machine.
Professionals Share
Students had the opportunity to talk with professionals from Merchants Bank including: Jim Vrchota, Vice President and Commercial Lender, about what it takes to start and run a successful business. Mary Gordon, Vice President and Director of Marketing, who shared her experience and unusual career path that led her to working in an industry that doesn’t typically hire Marketing majors. Martin Oines, Trust Officer and Vice President, who discussed with students the intricacies of the lesser known career path of a trust officer. And Christine Duellman, Vice President, who answered questions about her experience as a Small Business Administration Lending & Credit Underwriting Manager. There was even an international twist to the event when two WSU alumni, currently working remotely in Poland, also joined via Skype.
Pro Resume Support
HR representatives shared interview tips and reviewed resumes as Trista Mann, Marketing Coordinator/Graphic Designer, walked through her work as a bank graphic designer. Mann set-up a photo studio for students to take a professional photo for their LinkedIn profile.
The day was an outstanding example of community engagement, a priority for the College of Business and Winona State University. It demonstrated, once again, the learning opportunities that such engagement opens up for students.
-Dr. Laura Carolveschi, Assistant Professor of Economics