Career Connections Day
Photos from Career Connections Day 2012
DVC Students at Career Connections Day 2012
On Tuesday, September 25, the first annual Career Connections Day took place at The Gardens at Heather Farm in Walnut Creek. The DVC Business Administration Department and the Rotary Club of Walnut Creek cosponsored Career Connections Day, a special day to bring DVC business students and local business leaders together for a day of learning, sharing information, job shadowing, and networking.
The students and mentors arrived at 8 a.m. and began the morning with breakfast prepared by Wilma Lot Catering. Students were matched up with mentors who worked in industries in which they are planning to major. After an hour, student rotated to new mentors, followed by a third session.
In all, 22 DVC business students met with 17 Rotary Club mentors. The mentors who volunteered their time were small business owners and entrepreneurs: a financial advisor, a food and beverage manager, an event planner, a technical writer, a franchise business owner, a banking VP and senior IT manager, a bank branch manager, an executive director of a nonprofit organization, a community education coordinator for a nonprofit, a city manager, a postmaster, a sales engineer for a telecommunications company, an attorney, a CEO with Boy Scouts of America, and a professional videographer.
After lunch the students got to hear four Rotary members give a keynote address about the Four-Way Ethics Test that can be used to make ethical decisions:
- 1. Is it the truth?
- 2. Is it fair to all concerned?
- 3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
- 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
For the complete photo album from the event, go here: Photos by DVC Faculty Carolyn Seefer. A few photos are included below.
Jesse Castro tells DVC students what it is like to be a bank manager.
DVC student job shadows videography business owner Kelly Campbell
Doug Switzer mentors students inside the Heather Farms Garden Center
Karen Lile, mentors students by the fountain.
DVC students and faculty attend Rotary Club of Walnut Creek's luncheon at end of Career Connections Day 2012
A Partnership between Diablo Valley College Business Administration Department and Rotary Club of Walnut Creek
Tuesday, September 25, 2012, is Career Connections Day
- Location
- Heather Farms Center Building
- 1540 Marchbanks Drive
- Walnut Creek, Ca 94596
- Schedule on Tuesday September 25th:
- 8:00-9:00am Breakfast at Heather Farms Center. Introduction of mentors and students
- 9:00-12:00pm Informational Sessions (on-site). Tours leave from and return to Heather Farms Center Building
- 12:15-1:30pm Rotary Club of Walnut Creek. Guest Speakers: The 4 Way Test and How it Made a Difference in My Career.
- Schedule on Tuesday October 30th
- 12:15-1:30pm Rotary Club of Walnut Creek. Speakers: DVC students who participated in Career Connections Day on September 25th
- Cost
- Student Price: $20. Includes breakfast and lunch (students)
- Rotary Club Member and Guest Price: $15 for breakfast, $15 for lunch
See Facebook Career Connections Day Page for information on registering for this event as a student.
Mission Statement
DVC and Rotary Club of Walnut Creek Career Connections
To bridge the gap between DVC Business Students and the Business Community
To connect DVC Students with Business Leaders, so students can explore career paths and opportunities
To promote high ethical standards in the community and to share by example how these ethical standards are applied in the workplace.
To recognize the equal value of all useful professions.
Steering Committee Directors
Listed in alphabetical order by last name.
- Claudia Eckelmann
- Assistant Professor of Business Administration, Diablo Valley College
- Ray Gilmore
- Professor of Business, Diablo Valley College
- Karen Lile, B.A.
- Vocational/Resource Chair, Rotary Club of Walnut Creek
- Planner/Webmaster, Karen Lile Services
- Carolyn M. Seefer, M.B.A.
- Professor of Business Administration, Diablo Valley College
- LoAnn Winkler
- Adjunct Instructor, Business Division, Diablo Valley College and Los Medanos College
- Rotary International District 5160 - Camp Venture Facilitator/Instructor - 2010, 2012
Participating Business Leaders
Click here for more information about the Presentors/Mentors who have volunteered their time for this community service to Diablo Valley College Students.
Career Connection Opportunities
Added in order that business professionals offered to participate in program.
| # | Career Type | Day and Time | Business Professional | Student Enrollment Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Entrepreneur for Small Businesses | 1 hour Informational at 9am, 10am, 11am | Karen Lile, Entreprenuer | 7 students each session. | 2 | Piano Rebuilding and Brokerage Business Owner | 1 hour Informational at 9am, 10am, 11am | Kendall Ross Bean, Vice President, Piano Finders | 7 students. | 3 | Financial Advisor | 1 hour Informational at 9am and 11am | Athena Yock-Davis | 1 student each sesson. |
| 4 | Food and Beverage Manager | 1 hour Informational at 9am and 11am | Athena Yock-Davis | 1 student. |
| 5 | Event Planner and Business Owner | 5 hours Observational, Experiential 7:30am-1:30pm | Jennifer Ruane, Owner Occasion Management. | 1 student. Student will assist the event planner for Career Connections Day. |
| 6 | Technical Writer | 1 hour Informational at 9am, 10am, 11am | Mary Azevedo | 7 students each session. |
| 7 | Franchise Business Owner | 1 hour Informational with Observational at business site. | Bob Romero, Franchise Business Owner. | 3 students. For students who want to have their own business and/or be part of a franchise. |
| 8 | Senior IT manager and Vice President in International Banking | 1 hour Informational at 9am, 10am, 11am | Doug Switzer, Retired VP Washington Mutual, Bank of America | 7 students. For students who might be interested in any career that involves International travel and living abroad. | 10 | Bank Branch Manager | 1 hour Informational at 11am | Jessee Castro, US Bank | 7 students. | 11 | Executive Director of Non-Profit Organization | 1 hour Informational at 11am | Carol Carillo, Executive Director, Child Abuse Prevention Council of CCC | 7 students. |
| 12 | Community Education Coordinator for Non-Profit Org. Providing Mandatory Training for those working with Children on how to spot and report signs of Abuse. | Observational on DVC campus: October 1st, Monday, 7:00pm-9:00pm; October 3rd, Wednesday, 7:00pm-9:30pm;ÊOctober 10th, Wednesday, 12:30pm-1:45pm, MRT | Cristina Hickey, Community Education Coordinator,Child Abuse Prevention Council of CCC | 7 students. |
| 13 | City Manager | 1 hour Informational with possible tour | Gary Pokorny, Retired City Manager for City of Walnut Creek | 7 students. For students considering careers in the public sector. |
| 14 | Postmaster | 1 hour Informational TBD | Layton Hansen, Retired Postmaster for Walnut Creek Post Office 94596 USPS | 7 students. |
| 15 | Sales Engineer for Telecommunications Company with businesses as clients | 1 hour Informational TBD | Steve Lemler, Sales Engineer CBeyond | 7 students. |
| 16 | Lawyer | 1 hour Informational at 11am | Dess Benedetto, Esq. FamilyTrustLaw.com | 7 students. |
| 17 | Scout Executive/CEO | 1 hour Informational TBD | John Fenoglio, Scout Executive/CEO, Mt. Diablo Silverado Council, Boy Scouts of America | 7 students. |
| 18 | Videographer and Business Owner | 5 hours Observational, Experiential 7:30am-1:30pm | Kelly Campbell, Owner/Videographer, Guava Films | 1 student will assist the videographer while captures video footage for a short promotional piece. |