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.