R-MC Hosts CAREER 15 Key Employer Panel

Zachary Wehrman took time to network during the event.

Heather Nelson '12 and KPMG's Peter Bartok

Tom Brannock '08, Casey Kaufman '13 and Katelyn Burner '13

10/5/11

Randolph-Macon College hosted a CAREER 15 Key Employer Panel on Friday, September 30, 2011 in Blackwell Auditorium, R-MC Center for the Performing Arts.

CAREER 15 is a unique resource that connects students and graduates of 15 Virginia liberal arts colleges with human resources staff looking for potential interns and employees. It was created by the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC) to expand the career opportunities of students attending one of its 15 member colleges, and to serve the workforce needs of its corporate partners. The recruiting network brings together a small group of student job seekers and the hiring managers of top-tier, Fortune 1000 level companies.

“This is a top-notch networking event that provides the opportunity for students to interact with representatives of companies who wouldn’t normally recruit at smaller schools such as Randolph-Macon College,” says Director of Career Services Cathy Rollman. “CAREER 15 offers students a venue in which they can interact with employers on a personal level.”

Each member institution selects students who represent their college or university, based on criteria set forth by the employers and the VFIC. “Selection criteria require that students be juniors or seniors, have demonstrated leadership skills through participation in clubs, sports, volunteer work or campus events, and have enthusiasm about working for at least one of the key employers,” says Rollman.

Altria, SunTrust, Dominion, KPMG, MassMutual, Genworth and Virginia Asset Management executives gave presentations and networked with students at the event. Alumna Sarah Morehead ’10 was one of the representatives from Altria and alumnus Tom Brannock ’08 was one of the representatives from Virginia Asset Management.

The afternoon session, held in Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church, was organized like a mini career fair, and students were able to interact with and submit résumés to the companies in which they were interested.

Altria Scholar Ashley Lambers ’12 was one of the CAREER 15 participants. Altria Scholars are nominated by the president at each of their schools and must demonstrate leadership potential and leadership skills; exhibit career, work and life skills; and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The following R-MC students also participated in the event: Katelyn Burner ’13, Casey Kaufman ’13, Michael Leber ’12, Duy Nguyen ’12, John Coleman ’12, Bethany Schaeffer ’12 and Heather Nelson ’12. Alumni Calvin Fleming ’11 and Zachary Wehrman ’11 also participated.

R-MC President Robert R. Lindgren serves on the VFIC board of directors and the VFIC Career/Workforce committee, which oversees the CAREER 15 program. Founded in 1952, the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges is a nonprofit fund-raising and programmatic consortium supporting the programs and students of 15 leading private colleges in the Commonwealth: Bridgewater College, Emory & Henry College, Hampden-Sydney College, Hollins University, Lynchburg College, Mary Baldwin College, Marymount University, Randolph College, Randolph-Macon College, Roanoke College, Shenandoah University, Sweet Briar College, University of Richmond, Virginia Wesleyan College and Washington and Lee University.