Ogden Museum of Southern Arts!

In our last mentor meeting, Joe and Meg Bonavita brought us to the Ogden Museum of Southern Arts. The objective of the meeting was to learn more about how a business operates. The Ogden Museum is a non-profit business founded by Roger Ogden. Roger Ogden opened the museum with the partnership of the University of New Orleans in August 2003. The museum is filled with arts of southern aspects. The arts comes in the range of broken woods collected in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina to colorful blown glass.

Even the ogden Museum is a non-profit organization, it still operates like any other business. The Ogden have a total staff of twenty-two people with the addition of a few internship students. Their revenue is earned through many different sources. It is earned through the entrance fee, memberships fee, earnings from the gift shops, and even donations from different sources. This non-profit museum operates like any other business, but with a different goal in mind. Their goal is to broaden people knowledge about the South, not to gain the most money.

I thought the musuem was very unique in many ways. From the moment I step in the musuem, there was a live band playing right by the entrance. There was people sitting listening to the band while drinking alcohol from the bar.Yes, there was a bar in the museum. I was amazed to know that the building was made to withstand hurricanes. The exterior was made out of sand stone, plaster, and steel, which is reinforce with thick blocks of glass. The building is made to be hurricane-proof. Another thing I thought was interesting was how the Ogden Museum setup workshops and classes for those who wants to learn arts. They would have painting classes, after-hour specials, etc. They also have activities throughout the day for the younger kids.

Our group was suppose to meet Roger Ogden, the founder of the museum, but due to his work conflicts he was unable to make it. Instead, we met up with Richard Gruber, the director of Ogden Museum. He gave us a tour of the museum and answered our questions about the museum. He told us that in any business we have to work our way up. Even if it is a non-profit organization or internship, we can work our way up to our goals.

Events in February!

On February 12, 2009, we had our second mentor meeting. It was very exciting. The objective for that meeting was get some insights about business communication from our mentors. For our meeting, we went to Frank's and Johnny's, a local restaurant with Joe and Meg Bonavita. We discussed about how to properly communicate in the business world. They told us to start off with a good handshake and eye contact. It is also a good idea to prepare some questions to start the conversation. Last but not least, one should end the conversation by politely saying "It was nice meeting you."

In the past week, we had to do our CareerBeam for our business class. One of the objective was to discover our interests and occupation. My #1 interests was scientific. I thought this was interesting because my first choice in Major was Pre-med/Dentistry. I changed it because I thought business would be more interesting. My #2 interest was Logical. This is where an Accountant comes in. My majors are Accounting/Finance so this fits perfectly with my results. I like to be an Accountant because I am very good with numbers and I also like dealing with financial budgeting.

Next week will be Mardi Gras! I know that it will be exciting and fun even though I don't like the heavy traffic. This year, I just want to have fun with all the people I met at Loyola. I want to go to the best parades and collect the most unique beads. I want to have fun and not worry about school. I want to have as much fun as possible but also would like to avoid any dangerous or life-threating situation.

New Orleans is known for the partying during Mardi Gras. Like people say, "There no place like New Orleans when it comes to Mardi Gras." Its true. From the partying at Bourbon street and the King Cakes, everything is what makes Mardi Gras in New Orleans Mardi Gras. It is just a time to have fun and experiences the culture of New Orleans. With all the kings cakes and creole food. There is no other Mardi Gras like the one in New Orleans.

Loyola's Networking Event 2009!

This was the first week of school and I was not prepared for anything for an night like this. The College of Business hosted a networking event for all the freshman in the CoB. I was very nervous about this event and so was everyone else. I didn't know what to say or didn't know what to wear. As the day approach to the upcoming Thursday, I was getting more nervous. The professors taught us everything they knew to prepare us for this event, but the rest was on our own.

On the very night of this networking event, I was nervous as I approach the St. Charles' room. As I got to the door, my body unexpectedly became calm as I was greeted with some familiar faces. I saw the familiar faces of my mentors, Joe and Meaghan Bonavita. As the time passes by, the event was getting better. I met five successful business people and got each of their business card. These are the following people I have met:

1. Daphne Main - She is a Associate Professor of Accounting at Loyola University. At first, she attended Universoty of Vermont and obtained a Bachelor in Botany. Then, with a change in career, she graduated at Western Michigan University with a Masters in Accountancy. Later on, she got a Ph.D. in Accountancy and Management Information System. She worked at many universities before settling in at Loyola.
2. Brian A. Gueniot - Mr. Gueninot attended Nicholls State University and graduated with a Bachelors of Science Degree. After that, he coached and taught for 10 years at an high school. For the time period of twenty-two years, he was a sales person, instructor and instructor trainer at Dale Carnegie Training. The next nine years, he was the Director of Human Resources and Development at The Standard Companies, Inc. Currently, Mr. Gueninot is the founder of a comsulting services.
3. Joseph L. Bonavita - Josesph Bonavita started with a Bachelor Degree in Finance and Marketing from Fairfields University and then continued his education at Boston College for a masters in Finance. Mr. Bonavita is currently the Senior Vice President in a Investment Banking group, Capital One Southcoast. He had many titles before this one which consisted of working in a private placement group at Lehman Brothers and the head of transaction origination for North and South America.
4. John J. Zollinger - Mr. Zollinger attended Spring Hill College and obtained his Bachelors in Finance. He continued his education and received a Masters in Business Administration with Finance Concentration at University of New Orleans. Then, he graduate from the Graduate School of Banking at LSU. Mr.Zollinger holds many titles of Vice President at various banks, which consist of Whitney National Bank and Parish National Bank. Currently, he is the Senior Vice President and Marketing Manager at Regions Bank.
5. Meaghan Ryan Bonavita - Mrs. Bonavita is a origin of New Orleans. She attended Isidore Newman School. She recieved her undergraduate degree in Communication at Villanova University. After college, she got a job as a account executive at Lafayette 148 New York, Inc. Afterwards, she decided to obtain her Masters in Business Administration at Loyola University. Currently, she is a sales associate for Carlisle Collection.

It was exciting meeting and talking to these people. I am very surprised at myself for doing so well at this event. I did well at introducing myself, but I need to work on my conversation skills. I need to prepare some questions to start the conversation.

If I were to emulate one business person. It would be Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple.
He used his intelligence and skills to make the world fall in love with his Apple's products.


Here is a useful website that help one on networking skills : NETWORKING.