Seated on the stage at Butler Church, the panelists were asked questions via a prerecorded video from current undergraduate students as well as from the floor. Subjects ranged from money management to how to enhance a resume.
Kamps (BA '04) majored in business administration with an emphasis on marketing and management. She was also a basketball player and part of the track team. Kamps is currently a self-employed agent for Farmers Insurance.
"I knew that I wanted to go into sales because I love talking to people and I also wanted to be an independent business owner," Kamps said. "When I started really looking for jobs I realized that owning my own insurance agency would allow me to achieve both of these goals."
FPU equipped her with a solid ethical foundation, Kamps said. "It taught me how to apply that, along with the business knowledge we were taught, in my daily career. Through my classes at FPU I got a glimpse of what business in the real world was like, which helped prepare me for what I face on a daily basis," she said.
All business students should enhance their degree with internships, Kamps stated after the program. "They give you experience that complements the degree you receive from FPU to make you a better candidate for any job. They also expand your knowledge of the business world, as you get to put classroom knowledge into practice," she said.
Acree (BA '07) graduated with a major in organizational leadership through the degree completion program. He is a risk manager at the California Risk Management Authority. "I didn't exactly choose the field, I kind of fell into it," Acree said. He became a loss control consultant after trying several jobs. "Once I'd been in it about six months I knew I would do it the rest of my life. It allows me great freedom, I get to learn about a lot of different businesses and industries and I get to help prevent accidents and injuries."
The organizational leadership program at FPU gave Acree confidence at work and in school. "I would suggest to all business majors to do a couple of things," he said in a follow-up interview. "First, don't be afraid to try some different things before settling in on a long-term career. In these days, no one really stays with a company for 25-30-plus years. So, experiment. Secondly, when you’re in a job, accept any assignment and volunteer for everything. No experience is a bad one; they all build your training and experience."
Garcia is working on her master's in leadership and organizational studies. She is a healthcare ombudsman/mediator at Kaiser Permanente who has been in the healthcare industry for more than 25 years. When asked what students should do with the money they have, Garcia answered: "Live frugally today. Think about how you want to live your life. Save, and calculate the costs. Have a five-year, 10-year and retirement plan."
As a final insight, Garcia told students to find a job they really loved. "What class do you really get excited about?" she asked.