"Future Fridays" Series Helps Students Network
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A panel discussion series helped Huntley College of Agriculture students network with industry leaders this fall despite coronavirus restrictions.
The college started the “Future Friday” series of panel discussions with industry leaders in early October. The panel discussions were held over the Zoom video conferencing platform on Fridays at noon over a seven-week period, each featuring a different industry.
“We know that the safety precautions are preventing us from meeting in person, but we also know that our students want to meet leaders to learn more about their industries and possible careers,” Interim Dean Lisa Kessler said. “So, we devised this way to facilitate that.”
Finding industry leaders to participate wasn’t too difficult: most of the panel speakers serve or have served on the Dean’s Advisory Council.
The first session on Oct. 2 focused on the agribusiness industry and featured Karen Caplan, president and CEO of Frieda’s Specialty Produce; and Jeff Burch, managing director Southwest food and agriculture for Bank of the West. Fifty-eight students attended the event.
“Students benefit a great deal from interacting with executives who are active in agri-food industries, like learning about career pathways and factors currently affecting firms,” said Professor Jon Phillips, chair of the Department of Agribusiness and Food Industry Management.
Burch and Caplan also offered the students career advice, he added. Burch talked about the need for students to know their strengths and weaknesses, while Caplan talked about the importance of networking.
The next session on Oct. 9 covered the food science industry and featured Mike Real, owner of Real Food Marketing LLC, and Niyati Parikh, vice president of product development with Kola-Plant Powered Nutrition.
The dietetics panel discussion on Oct. 16 featured Carol Sloan, the health research director of the California Walnut Board & Commission, and Suzanne Kellon, associate director of nutrition services at San Antonio Regional Hospital.
Natali Mendez, a senior in foods and nutrition from Santa Paula who hopes to become registered dietitian, said she enjoyed hearing Sloan’s and Kellon’s experiences and how they succeeded.
“I am careful to listen to every detail about their journey because although I might not follow their steps nor want to go into exactly what they went into, their stories open new doors to me,” she said. “It is inspirational to hear how individuals who studied the same as I am - are working in many diverse careers.”
Frances Harder, owner, Fashion for Profit Consulting, and Susan Kellogg-Bell, former executive, Contemporary Brands at VF Corp., spoke to apparel merchandising and management students at the Oct. 23 session.
Jazz Hudson, a graduate student in the new master’s degree program in apparel merchandising and management, appreciated Harder’s opinion that including sustainability and smart technology in apparel education would be essential in the future.
The panel discussion “allows students to stretch their imagination when seeking careers,” Hudson added.
Two different animal professionals presented on Oct. 30: attorney and rancher John Resich (’69, business), who also is a board member at Green Hills Memorial Park; and Paige Hashimoto-Lizardo (’94, animal science), veterinarian and owner of Beach Boulevard Pet Hospital.
“I was impressed by the different and diverse careers there are beyond the veterinarian field,” said Kevin Chen, a second-year agricultural science major. “It did further solidify that I don’t need to be in the veterinary field to work an animal science job or career.”
The series concluded on Nov. 13 with a panel discussion on plant science. Terry Noriega, founder and president of Mariposa Landscapes Inc., and Landon Massey, vice president of Preferred Landscape Inc., shared their career paths and experience in the landscaping field.
“The student response to this event was very positive,” Kessler said. “We will continue with more Zoom events to connect our industry partners with our students this spring semester.”