MAKING CONNECTIONS 2008-09 – A WRAP-UP
Trinity University Christina Kious ’10 perhaps summarizes the purpose of Trinity’s Making Connections career networking programs best from the perspective of students who are soon to enter a challenging job market. She recently participated in Atlanta’s Second Annual Making Connections event during Winter Break, gaining insight and, thereby, building upon her confidence that “because I’m from Georgia and would like to work in the Atlanta area after I graduate, I wanted to meet alumni who currently work and live there.” She continues “the evening turned out to be the perfect opportunity to meet and speak with such Trinity graduates! The group was so incredibly down to earth, and everyone had a unique story to tell about their time in San Antonio and what they had done since then. There was a wide variety of career categories represented, so it was a great opportunity to meet graduates in my same field with knowledge about the different companies to work for in the area as well as with career advice in general.” The Atlanta networking event was held at the Ansley Golf Club with the leadership of Event Coordinator Sally Stephens Westmoreland ’76. The engaging and meaningful dialogue resulting from such events demonstrate the power and the reach of Trinity’s Alumni Career Network. The Career Network sets the stage to strengthen alumni and student marketability in the business world by improving their networking base.
Building strong professional connections among alumni and students is the primary goal of these career networking programs in various alumni chapter cities through the Career Network. In the Fall and during Winter Break, a total of ten Making Connections events, supported by the Offices of Alumni Relations and Career Services, provided an effective system through which career networking and mentoring takes place among alumni and students. The Career Chairs and Event Coordinators from various alumni chapters brought leadership, initiative, and energy to coordinate the promotion and planning of such events and other networking channels.
San Antonio Career Chair James Sanders ’98 hosted another successful career event in September on Trinity’s campus. A special 30-minute “Alumni Professional Networking” reception was added to the event schedule for alumni to network exclusively with other alumni. Several Business Affiliate members attended as well. Alumni and students then met in their various career interest groups followed by a general networking session for attendees to meet those in other industries. James noted that “this new format allowed students and alumni to better meet their individual needs and interests, and take advantage of this once-a-year professional networking opportunity to come and meet the influential and prestigious Trinity alumni and friends in the San Antonio community.” With student participation, James summarized the positive impact saying “attendees had the chance to meet leaders of tomorrow.”
In addition to the Atlanta event, the remainder of the career events took place between the Fall and Spring semesters. Harry Mach, Jr. and his wife, Cora Sue, parents of Trinity Trustee Steve Mach ’92, continued to share their extraordinary gifts of generosity and hospitality in hosting another lovely evening at the Houston Making Connections which drew more than 135 alumni and students. Greg Hudson ’91, Houston Career Chair, was instrumental in reaching alumni from various industries to participate. Vice President for University Advancement Marc Raney was also able to attend and personally express Trinity’s most sincere appreciation for the Mach Family’s longstanding support of the networking program over the years and the many tangible and intangible benefits that result.
Austin Career Chair Karin Maake ’99 was very pleased that this year’s event was graciously hosted in the home of Suzanne and Eric ’97 Hansum off Bee Cave Road. Co-founder of GradLaunchUSA, “polishing students into professionals every day,” Karin understands the importance of career networking among alumni and students and shared “keys to success” with attendees, emphasizing the tools and resources accessible through Trinity University. With the weather in their favor, there was a great turnout and the event lingered into the evening.
Dallas Chapter President Kathleen Kerr Blanchard ’94, ’97 helped host the Dallas Making Connections at the home of Lisa and Jeff ’83 Smith, Ph.D. Carolann Jacobs, President of Vivid Epiphany, who attended the event as a guest of Russell McCall ’90, remarked that “this was a wonderful event…as an SMU grad, I wish our Career Center tried to help us to make those connections. I am also pleased to see that Trinity is promoting networking as a career management tool. Alumni and students alike are going to have to realize that as our workforce shifts to more project-based types of employment, the way to maintain opportunities is through being known as someone who provides an excellent service. The providing service part isn’t nearly as difficult as the being known part. If you come across anyone who can benefit from my free events, such as Land Your Dream Job, please send them my way.”
The home of Sarah and Eric ’88 Hilty provided a most ideal venue for the Colorado Alumni Chapter’s career networking event. With gracious hosts, comfortable surroundings and friendly alumni faces, the event was a true success. Eric, who is also a member of the National Alumni Board, was impressed remarking that “we had a great turnout of six current Trinity students, all of whom were intelligent, articulate and well-poised. They interacted with a group of alumni from across the years swapping Trinity stories and discussing career goals.”
The National Capital Area’s career event was held at Paolo’s Ristorante in Georgetown. Coordinated by Dan Nevrivy, Ph.D. ’95 and Jill Graham Collins ’70, the professional networking event drew “twenty Trinity alumni, a few guests, and a current Trinity student who gathered to make new connections, renew old ones, and share their favorite Trinity experiences, all the while enjoying the warmth of a cozy fireplace and succulent hors d'oeuvres. A great time was had by all.”
For the fifth consecutive year, the New York Chapter Board hosted a very productive career event. Chapter President Candice Comeaux ’01 hosted the event at The Strathmore Room and shared that “New York area alumni gathered for an afternoon of networking and fellowship. Four decades of alumni joined current students to discuss career opportunities and internships in the region as well as to remember Trinity experiences. We welcomed visiting alumni from Colorado as well as a recently accepted Trinity student from the class of 2013. It was a great event, and we look forward to seeing everyone again in 2010!”
The New England Chapter Board held its first career networking event at the home of Laura Smeaton ’92. Career Chair Jessica Patrick ’02 coordinated the planning and promotion of the successful alumni event remarking that the event “will be the biggest gathering of Trinity alumni New England's seen for awhile!” Laura was a wonderful hostess and commented that “everyone who attended seemed to have a great time - lots of new folks (including a lot of recent graduates!), and lots of good feedback including interest in having folks talk to prospective students.”
On the opposite coast, a group of Seattle alumni and students enjoyed the camaraderie and hospitality of its first career networking event at the home of Heather Richardson ’06 and Chris Smith ’04. Dr. Mary Kay Cooper, Director of Alumni Relations, who attended, was impressed with the remarkable size of participation and developing interest of Trinity supporters in the Seattle area. Development Officer Jackie Sliker and Director of University Advancement Rick Roberts were also able to attend the very successful networking event.
In summary, Dr. Cooper congratulated each of the participating alumni chapter cities saying, “I’ve attended these events from Seattle to New York City, and it’s great to see the kinds of conversations our students and alumni are having. The alumni think our students are amazing, and the students are in awe of what our alumni are doing. We thoroughly enjoy our role as facilitators in building these professional relationships. And we couldn’t do it without our alumni volunteers. Thank you!”
Dr. Brian Hirsch, Director of Career Services, offers similar kudos to alumni and students who attended the networking events. “Making Connections continues to be one of the most important opportunities for students to tap into the experience and generosity of Trinity alumni. This is even more critical as we move forward in uncertain economic times where interpersonal networking will take on an even more important role in moving students forward along their chosen career paths.”
“Alumni who participate in these career networking events and through the Alumni Career Snapshots program through the Career Network provide such invaluable expertise and a skill and talent base not readily available elsewhere to students and fellow alumni,” according to Alumni Volunteer Coordinator Elizabeth Ford ’93, ’96. For those not yet members, Trinity alumni are encouraged to join the snapshots program which allows alumni to serve as career resources or “mentors” and answer a series of questions about career development opportunities and professional networking skills. This program is part of the Career Services’ TigerJobs system which facilitates recruitment and enables alumni to post job opportunities. Alumni are able to enter and access their career information through the Career Snapshots, located through a mentor module in the TigerJobs system. This module is password-protected and alumni can update their information in real time if changes occur. Furthermore, this module allows alumni to customize communication with others who directly contact them as a career resource. If you do not have a profile go to www.myinterfase.com/trinity/mentor; then select the “click here to register” link. If you already have a Career Snapshot: type in www.myinterfase.com/trinity/mentor; the username is your email address; the default password is snapshot; you are currently defaulted to allow student contact; we defaulted your contact information to make it available but the only contact information that shows by default is your email address. (You are able to go in and change that if you would like and alter your contact information); and the default number of contacts per month is 5.
In addition to Elizabeth Ford, Assistant Director of Career Services Twyla Hough, and Career Adviser Maranda Larsen attended these events during Winter Break and along with Student Programs and Young Alumni Coordinator Crystal Benavides ’05 offer staff assistance to alumni chapters interested in hosting Making Connections and career networking events. Chapter events like Making Connections, together with career resources and tools, combine to further Trinity's Career Network.
Please contact Elizabeth Ford at 1-800-882-5861 if you have questions regarding the Career Network.