KINGSTON, R.I. — October 20, 2016 — Scores of business alumni will return to the University of Rhode Island for a different kind of homecoming — one that really shows business students what networking is all about.
On Friday, Oct. 28, the College of Business Administration’s 11th Annual Career Day will bring many alumni back to their Ballentine Hall roots to share words of wisdom with more than 2000 undergraduate and graduate business students currently working to earn their degrees. The event will feature a keynote address, breakout sessions, and skill-based workshops throughout the day.
Ben Navarro ’84, founder and chief executive officer of Sherman Financial Group, will deliver the keynote address, “Confessions of an Entrepreneur,” at 8:30 a.m. at Edwards Hall. The Sherman Financial Group is the nation’s largest privately held consumer finance company with over $2 billion in revenue expected in 2016.
Sherman and its affiliates, with over 1,500 employees, originate, purchase and service consumer debt in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the UK. Sherman’s business strategy is to leverage its intellectual capital, operational depth and financial resources to meet the needs of consumers who are underserved by traditional financial institutions.
From Charleston, S.C., Navarro received his Bachelor of Science degree in finance from the University of Rhode Island. He is passionate about education and the belief that all children, regardless of where they live, deserve the opportunity to attend a great public school. His primary philanthropic venture is Meeting Street Schools in South Carolina, which is a network of independent and public schools bringing educational opportunity to over 900 under-resourced students. Meeting Street is becoming a critical “proof point” of what is possible when a culture of excellence is paired with the appropriate resources.
After Navarro’s speech, business alumni, including representatives from many companies and industry, will then share in Ballentine Hall real world tips on career paths and the job search, followed by several hands-on workshops for juniors and seniors. These talks will include informational and mock interviews, resume workshops, professional LinkedIn photos and more.
New this year is the College of Business Young Alumni Board informational interviewing event hosted on Thursday Oct. 27th from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union Ballroom. CBA alumni representing the graduating classes of 2006 to 2016 will conduct informational interviews with current CBA Juniors. This event launches a mentor movement connecting young alumni with current students.
With an emphasis on innovation and collaborative learning, internships and on-site career resources, undergraduate business students may major in accounting, entrepreneurial management, finance, general business, global business, marketing, supply chain management, textile marketing and textiles, fashion merchandising and design. Graduate students may seek: an MBA in Strategic Innovation, General Business; or a Master of Science in Accounting, Finance, Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design, Labor Relations and Human Resources; or a PhD in Business Administration.
The URI College of Business Administration, with more than 2,000 undergraduate students and 350 graduate students, has served as the leader in business education, research, and outreach for the State of Rhode Island since it was founded in 1923. It is the first accredited business school in Rhode Island (1969) and has the first accredited accounting program at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the Northeast (1993).