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Students Explore Professional Opportunities in Washington D.C.

Students in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business Administration connected with professionals in a variety of local, national and international companies in Washington D.C. Career Services at CBA led a group of 10 students to a series of company tours, meetings with successful alumni and a panel discussion regarding finding employment after graduation and life in Washington D.C.
 
Company tours were led by the following alumni: Shelbi Svoboda ’14, account manager at the pharmaceutical startup Kit Check; Ali Britzman ’15, financial planning and analysis associate for Women for Women International; and Bradley D. Belt ’80, vice chairman of Orchard Global Asset Management. While visiting the Gallup world headquarters, students had a chance meeting with CEO Jim Clifton ’73. Upon discovering the group was from Nebraska, Clifton invited the students into his office to discuss their partnership with the college’s Don Clifton Strengths Institute.
 
Touring the sites of Washington D.C.
Touring the sites of Washington D.C.
“These career expeditions are a great way to build relationships with employers who may or may not have us on their radar,” said Jeannine Berge, associate director of employer experience and outreach at Career Services at CBA. “We have great relationships with regional employers near Lincoln, but we also want to show students our supportive alumni network across the nation. We want to support students with aspirations of going beyond the Midwest after graduation and help to build opportunities and connections for them.”
 
After the company visits were completed, students interacted with more alumni through a panel discussion with Jody Beck ’72, director of the Semester in Washington Program at the Scripps Howard Foundation; Jay Hoffman ’94, CFO of the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Administration; Rob Stuckey ’84, managing director of Carlyle US Real Estate; and Margo Berends ’14, program associate of international operations for Global Communities. They spoke about jobs in their respective industries and how to stand out to future employers. Following the panel discussion, students networked with the panelists and asked questions individually, while Beck reviewed the students’ résumés and portfolios. 
 
“I am so glad we had the chance to meet these successful alumni,” said Nicci Poehling, senior marketing major from Overland Park, Kansas. “I made some great connections and am excited to keep in touch with the people I met.”
 
Meeting Jim Clifton in Washington D.C.
Meeting Jim Clifton in Washington D.C.
Students also toured the Smithsonian Institution’s museums and national monuments. Taylor Bolam, a junior economics major interning in Senator Ben Sasse’s office, gave them a special tour of the U.S. Capitol. More than just exploring more of the United States, students discovered more of the employment opportunities they have outside of Nebraska.
 
“This trip really opened my eyes to all of the careers out there,” said Leland Chow, a senior finance major from Subang Jaya, Malaysia. “I got to see what the real world was like, while still having fun. This was a wonderful experience for me.”
 
Other students who participated in the career expedition include: Randi Clabo, junior economics major from Syracuse, Nebraska; Brenda Gallardo, sophomore economics major from Wakefield, Nebraska; Joslyn Jensen, sophomore business administration major from Omaha, Nebraska; Gabrielle Gean Xin Kok, junior economics major from Seremban, Malaysia; Kelly Schatz, junior finance major from Naperville, Illinois; Lahiru Somaratne, senior actuarial science major from Piliyandala, Sri Lanka; Dylan Wrightsman, junior management and marketing major from Beatrice, Nebraska; and Tamayo Zhou, sophomore actuarial science major from Tianjin, China.
 
For more information on career expedition opportunities and other programs offered by Career Services at CBA, visit: cba.unl.edu/careerservices.
Published: April 26, 2016