Chamber holds luncheon with HU students, community leaders

The Huntington County Chamber of Commerce held a luncheon to introduce Huntington University students to community leaders. The luncheon was held Thursday, November 4 in the community conference room inside the Huntington Arts & Entrepreneurial Center, 32 E. Franklin Street.

The meeting encouraged the students in attendance to network with community leaders. It also helped leaders of the community get to know the students a little bit better. Goals to be achieved from the meeting include future internships for the students, and jobs or business startups. Through the luncheon, students were able to get to know some leaders in Huntington County much better.

Students attending the event were interested business, business entrepreneurship, small business management, banking and financial services, financial advising, insurance, marketing and communications and construction.

Students attending the first luncheon included Isabel Hunter, Alejo Bagnera, Diego Tapia, Illia Turaba, Alesandra Haraguchi, Paul Bickel and Courtney Craig. The community leaders that attended and ‘mentored’ the students were Eric Fawcett, president and CEO, Bippus State Bank; Adam Harris, financial advisor, Edward Jones; John Paff, owner/entrepreneur, Petra Strategic Communications; Nick Alwine, co-owner, FCI Construction and Eileen McMillan, owner/entrepreneur State Farm Insurance. Also attending were Dr. Brock Zehr, Huntington University associate professor of business & economics and MBA program director and Steve Kimmel, executive director, Huntington County Chamber of Commerce.

The luncheon started off by having each person attending introduce themselves and share a little bit about themselves. Students shared their after-graduation passion and goals. The community leaders shared where they work, education, advice and their path to their current destination.

After lunch the group broke up into smaller and more focused groups, and the students asked questions of the community leaders. Community leaders answered the questions and then asked questions of their own. At the conclusion of the luncheon everyone felt the time together was well spent, and all would like to be a part of the conversation in the future.