Spring 2008 Issue - NIU College of Business - Northern Illinois ...

New Alumni Club –The Young Professionals NetworkAlmost immediately after graduating, five newly mintedNIU College of Business alumni sought to create a wayto stay connected with NIU. Not only did the five sharethe same alma mater, but they also shared a deepfriendship, much of which was formed during theircollege years. To be sure, Brian Gillet (B.S. Marketing2001, M.I.S. 2002), Matthew Kirch (B.S. OM&IS 2000),Brian Wodarski (B.S. Marketing 2001, M.I.S. 2002),Chris Barnes (B.S. Marketing 2001), and Brett Kinsfather(B.S. Marketing 2001) savored the social aspect oftheir academic years. Equally, they held – and still hold– in high esteem the college’s challenging learningenvironment. They also value the engaged faculty theycame to know along the way. As these young alumnibegan their professional careers, they wanted to createa way to take their academic experience forward withthem. Namely, they wanted to continue to combinethe importance of relationships with the importance oflearning. And they wanted other new NIU College ofBusiness graduates to have the same opportunity.In August 2006, they created a way to do just that.Collaborating with the Dean’s Office and with thecollege’s NIU Executive Club, they founded the YoungProfessionals Network (YPN). The YPN is a new Collegeof Business alumni club for NIU business graduatesin the early stages of their professional careers. Thefocus of the YPN is both social and professional. Forexample, the YPN fostersinteraction betweencurrent business studentsand alumni, in the hopesthat opportunities suchas internships, mentoringrelationships, and jobplacements will emerge.Through its affiliationwith the NIU ExecutiveClub, the YPN also strives to prepare its membersto participate in more sophisticated professionalnetworking events with senior-level executives.In 2007 during its first year of formation, theYPN held monthly events that included aSchaumburg Flyers baseball outing, hostingguest speaker Nicole D’Ambrosio (B.S.Marketing 2003) from Donald Trump’s “TheApprentice” television program, and organizinga Bacardi Rum tasting event at CARNIVALEin Chicago. Be sure to check out 2008 YPNevents at www.cob.niu.edu/ypn/eventcalendar.asp.~ Jennifer KincaidFor additional information on the NIU College of Businessalumni clubs, please visit the following web pages.Rockford Alumni Clubwww.cob.niu.edu/rockfordclub/Jeff Wallem (B.S. Management 1979), presidentNIU Executive Clubwww.cob.niu.edu/executiveclub/president.aspDan Feeley (B.S. OM&IS 1985), presidentYoung Professionals Networkwww.cob.niu.edu/ypn/Brian Gillet (B.S. Marketing 2001, M.I.S. 2002), president42 | NIU College of Business www.cob.niu.edu Where the Classroom Meets the Business World