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Economics and Business Department Hosted Alumni Networking Event

Posted on Tuesday, October 7, 2014

The Westminster College Department of Economics and Business hosted its semiannual professional networking symposium Sept. 20.

The event was organized under the leadership of co-founders Dr. Daniel Fischmar, Westminster professor of economics, and alumni Ben Nelson '06, assistant vice president of Moody's Corporation in New York City and Dr. Christie Grewe Nelson '06, postdoctoral research fellow with CCICADA/Rutgers University.  Karen Coulter of the Department of Economics and Business coordinated the event, led the event-day operations team and served as liaison for organizations hosting booths during the career fair.

Participants were welcomed by Thomas Tupitza '79, chair of the Westminster Board of Trustees and president of Knox, McLaughlin, Gornall, and Sennett and Erin Smith, Westminster's interim associate dean of library and information services.  The keynote address, "Navigating Your Career Labyrinth," was delivered by Eric Harvey '02, president and chief technology officer of Imagine Careers.

"I've had the opportunity to speak at numerous events, conferences and symposia," Harvey said.  "I can sincerely say that the WC Networking Symposium was one of the best overall events I have ever attended.  From the professionalism of the staff and students to the organization of the day to the quality of the companies and people in attendance, I was blown away.  I can't wait to see how this event continues to grow moving forward."

The event, which drew more than 200 attendees, included a career fair, more than a dozen breakout sessions and workshops and a networking lunch.

"This event provides students with a first-hand experience with two of the most important things they can do for their careers: networking within their field and finding a mentor," Fischmar said.

Westminster Trustees Barbara Braden Guffey '70, Jeff McCandless'80 and Keith McCauley '68 participated as panelists, as did William Hazen '65, former Trustee, Ken Romig '85, Westminster's vice president for finance and management services, and Tupitza.

Westminster faculty who moderated or served on panels were: Dr. Edward Cohen, professor and program coordinator for the Department of Political Science; Dr. Timothy Cuff '78, professor and chair of the Department of Religion, History, Philosophy and Classics; Fischmar; John Geidner, accounting instructor; Dr. Angela Lahr, assistant professor of history; Jesse Ligo '82, professor and chair of the Department of Economics and Business; Dr. Russell Martin, professor of history; Brian Petrus '10, visiting lecturer of business administration; David Smith, associate professor of accounting; Dr. Peter Smith, associate professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry; Bob Vucenovic, business administration instructor; and Bradley Weaver, broadcast communications lecturer.

Additional moderators were Christie Nelson and Alexandra Cochran of Chromalox.

"As an accounting major, the event enabled me to connect with professionals within my field of study," said Westminster senior James DeBone.  "It also gave me exposure to the practical side of accounting as opposed to the academic side I see as a student."

DeBone is a son of Samuel and Diane DeBone of Greensburg and a graduate of Hempfield Area High School.

Firms represented at the career fair were: Accenture; Accounting Principals; Alcoa; Ally Financial; Armstrong County Court System; Bank of New York Mellon; Bellefonte Area School District; Bill Hazen and Associates; BKD CPAs and Advisors; Braskem Americas; Carbis Walker; Carnegie Library; Carnegie Mellon University; Cheese Factory; Chromalox; CCICADA, Cleveland State University; CONSOL Energy; Cooper Thomas; Cornell University; Crown Castle; Dicks Sporting Goods; Duquesne University; eCenter@LindenPointe; Ekker, Kuster, McCall, and Epstein; First Investors; Flowers on Vine; General Electric; Grossman, Yanak and Ford; Heinz; Huron Consulting Group; IBM; Imagine Careers; JFS Welath Advisors; Knox, McLaughlin, Gornall, and Sennett; Liberty Mutual; Mercyhurst University; Millennium Dane Complex; Mission of Love; Mistretta Chiropractors; Moody's; New Wilmington Borough; Novum Pharmaceuticals; Paragon Homes; Penn State University; Pittsburgh Aeronautics; Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse; PNC; PPG; Rutgers University; Steelite International; The Ames Companies; The Wright Place; University of Texas; UPMC; VAM Associates; Vissman Management; VITAC; West Virginia University; and Westminster College.

Contact Fischmar at 724-946-7162 or email for more information.

(L-r) Eric Harvey (Imagine Careers), Jackie Faber Zyra (Alcoa), Tara Ott (Heinz), Alexandra Cochran (Chromalox), Kenneth Kaufman (Keystone Clearwater Solutions), Milt Constantine (PNC)