Mount students learn from professionals

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Print

NEWBURGH – With the demands of the business world constantly evolving, Mount Saint Mary College Business professors recruit industry leaders to discuss cutting-edge practices with their students. Anthony Scardillo, assistant professor of Marketing, invites practicing professionals to many of his classes each semester to discuss how their industries are applying the topics he teaches in class.

Recently, Anthony Church, vice president of Client Services at Interact Marketing, spoke in Scardillo’s E-Commerce class. Church has worked in online marketing since 2001. He is a certified Google Analytics professional who has authored several articles on the topic. Many companies use Google, Bing, and Yahoo with the goal of being one of the first three search results, so Church discussed the value of Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and provided advice on optimizing search engines for drawing in web traffic. Church also provided the students with and explanation of many of the terms used today, such as “pay-per-click.”

Mount alumnus Ryan Reeves, director of Selection for Northwestern Mutual, spoke to Scardillo’s Consumer Behavior classes. Reeves provided students with valuable insight into the effects of personality traits on consumer buying habits. He also distributed a personality test to the students, the Culture Index survey, a business-focused personality test that gives HR personnel a snapshot of the candidate’s potential and business fit. Afterward, Reeves spoke with the students individually, explaining their results.

Earlier this semester, Michael Fox, assistant professor of Business Law and Pre-Law advisor at the Mount; the college’s Pre-Law Society; and the Student Business Association teamed up to bring three attorneys from the large Hudson Valley law firm Drake Loeb PLLC, to campus to share their insights. Jennifer Schneider, Esq.; Nicholas Pascale, Esq.; and Aaron Fitch, Esq. spoke with a group of nearly 20 students.

“It was wonderful to have three experienced, Hudson Valley attorneys share their knowledge and advice with students interested in the profession of law – particularly volunteering their time on a weekday evening,” said Fox. “The commitment and caring of community partners means so much to the students and the entire Mount campus.”

Schneider, the managing attorney of the firm, discussed business management, financial matters, hiring and employment issues, and provided advice to students with regard to identifying a career and building a résumé that stands out from the crowd.

Pascale, a litigation partner and former town justice, spoke about the role of litigators in the legal profession, what it means to serve as both an attorney and counselor at law, and the importance of the legal profession in the larger society.

Fitch, a transactional associate, addressed what it is like to work with clients in negotiating business deals and coordinating real estate transactions, spending time in the boardroom and conference room to ensure that when a deal concludes, it represents the best outcome for the client’s business needs.

All three attorneys advised students about paths to law school, the myriad opportunities that exist for those with a J.D. degree, and the role of attorneys in society, in addition to personal anecdotes related to their own law school and career experiences. Attendees asked numerous, thoughtful questions of the guests, Fox said.