Student-Leadership Luncheon held Tuesday

Several students from Huntington University and leaders of the community gathered Tuesday for the first Student-Leadership Luncheon of the fall semester. Shown on the front row from left, are Sophia Salway, Cole Thomas, both Huntington University students; Jennifer Jordan, Duke Energy; Kelly Stuber, Beacon Credit Union and Dr. Brock Zehr, Huntington University. Back row from left, include Travis Penrod, First Federal Savings Bank; Brady Smekens, Smekens Education Solutions; David Lian, Huntington University student; Jeremy Rufener, Rufener Financial and Franco Minoldo Garcia, MBA student, Huntington University. Students not shown in the photo include Isabelle Herrera, Katie Hooley and Julian Tantera. Duke Energy was the sponsor of the event.

The Huntington County Chamber of Commerce held a Student-Leadership Luncheon to introduce Huntington University students to community leaders. The luncheon was held on Tuesday, November 12 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 bit better.

Students attending the event were interested in economics/finance, small business management, marketing and public relations, accounting and entrepreneurship.

Students attending the luncheon included David Lian, Franco Minoldo Garcia, Sophia Salway and Cole Thomas. Students not able to attend because of illness include Isabelle Herrera, Katie Hooley and Julian Tantera. The community leaders that attended and mentored the students were Travis Penrod, chief financial officer, First Federal Savings Bank; Jeremy Rufener, financial advisor, Rufener Financial; Brady Smekens, owner, Smekens Education Solutions Inc.; Jennifer Jordan, government and community relations manager, Duke Energy and Kelly Stuber, manager, Beacon Credit Union. 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 introduce themselves and share a little 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 where the students asked questions of the leaders. Leaders answered the questions and then asked questions of their own. Everyone felt the time together was well spent, and all would like to be a part of the conversation in the future. The Chamber of Commerce is grateful to our Student-Leadership Sponsor, Duke Energy.