Monday, March 27, 2017

Nota Bene: Our New Corporate Leaders Council

Virginia Wesleyan College held its first meeting of the new Corporate Leaders Council (CLC) on March 16. The CLC is comprised of business leaders from Coastal Virginia who embrace, embody, and similarly align with the College’s vision and values in their management practices. Their personal and professional influence and support ensures that our students are strategically positioned to participate in opportunities that will prepare them for a meaningful life and career.

It is our vision to connect our Corporate Leaders to our students through several channels. First and foremost is to foster the relationship between our Corporate Leaders, The Lighthouse and Mollie Robertson Dunmyer to develop experiential learning opportunities for our students like internships, externships, mentoring, mock interviews, resume advising, participation in VWC career fairs, and more. We will also look to our Corporate Leaders to engage with students in the classroom by serving as guest speakers or "Shark Tank" panelists during the Marlin Prestige Business Conference. Finally, our Corporate Leaders are in positions of influence to positively project the quality and versatility of a liberal arts education at Virginia Wesleyan, which increases the value and name recognition of a VWC degree as new graduates enter the workforce.

During our meeting, we were honored to welcome Joe Ruddy '83, Chief Innovation Officer at The Port of Virginia, as our guest speaker. In a presentation called "The Power of Interns," Joe gave the CLC a high-level overview of the Port and its future and how interns from Virginia Wesleyan College are helping to shape that future. We then heard from VWC senior Amanda Baxter, who spoke about her internship at the Port of Virginia. Amanda explained how her time at the Port helped her grow professionally and feel ready for what comes next after graduation. Senior Amber Gaines spoke about her internship at the Pentagon, where she learned the value of proving yourself and networking to gain opportunities. Amber looks forward to starting a full-time position in Washington, D.C. after Commencement.

Thank you to our Corporate Leaders Council, listed below, for taking time out of their busy schedules to connect with the College and our students in such an important way. We are grateful for their support and special leadership as we build bridges for students to help inspire and prepare them to become impactful citizens in the global community.

Julie R. Anderson '96, TowneBank
John S. Burton, Esq. '95, J.S. Burton, P.L.C.
Dr. Samantha Coleman '98, Chiropractic Solution Center
Karen Corrigan Cowherd '97, Corrigan Partners, LLC
Rob W. Gillikin II '00, Rutter Mills
Kaddy Hamilton ’85, WC Carpenter Commercial & Residential Floor Coverings
Joe Harris '94, Equity Prime Mortgage NMLS
Lynette Harris ‘78, TowneBank
Kevin Hughes '01, Seventh Point
Mark E. Jones, Jones Printing Service, Inc.
Tracy Keller '04, Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast
Daniel Mason '88, Nationwide Insurance
Eli Miller '00, Exit Realty
Mavis McKenley '11, AMG National Trust Bank
Joe Ruddy '83, The Port of Virginia
Karen Thomas '88, Southern States Cooperative