Business month wrap up One month, one broad major and many potential paths

JESSICA VAUGHAN Reporter @JVaughanRoundup

As November begins, this means the end of Pierce Business Month.

Last year, there was a similar event, Business Week, however some staff members agree that dedicating a whole month to business would be more beneficial for students.

There are a lot of students on campus that need more information about what their opportunities are, whether that is completing an associate’s degree at Pierce, or transferring to a four year university and knowing what their career options are.

The whole month consisted of five different workshops to help students understand their opportunities with the major.

The first workshop, led by business department chair Martin Karamian, I’m Taking Business Classes… Now What? was about helping students discover which pathway they would be interested in.

Money Making Careers in Economics was led by Kaycea Campbell, Associate Professor of Economics and department chair of Poli Sci/Econ/AJ/ and Chicano Studies (PEACh).

Aside from helping with general planning, Campbell coordinated, chaired, and developed this workshop. Professionals, past students and industry experts were able to explain how economics can be used to secure a money making career.

Wisdom From Business Gurus allowed students to hear from business professionals and how they got to where they are.

Navigating Business Colleges was similar to a college fair.

Representatives from the business departments of different universities were available to answer students’ questions and help them explore their options

Mingle With the Pros was all about networking and its importance. There was a speaker from LinkedIn who talked about the significance of the social network site. Students were also give the opportunity to talk to the professionals and put their networking skills into practice.

Campbell said she was glad to be involved with this event and was glad she was able to share her knowledge and show how useful economics can be.

“So many of our students want to do ‘business’. However, this is broad and big - they need a roadmap,” Campbell said. “They need to talk to people who have done it, those who are doing it, and experts letting them know what to focus on and what is important. This event did that.”

Counselor Norine Fine said that business is a major that is documented by many students as being of interest to them.

According to Fine, approximately five thousand students have indicated that either they are interested in the business major or a related major.

If a student was not able to attend any of the workshops, Fine advises students to make an appointment with an academic counselor to find out about academic planning, or see a career counselor to see if business is a good fit for them.

“A lot of the stuff in workshops is very informational in nature and the goal of it is really to expand students’ understanding of what the business major is all about, how to utilize that in their workplace and how to translate that into a career and so that,” Fine said. “Once they have that more globalized idea, then it’s really a matter of sitting down with a counselor and talking about the particular major they are looking at the particular emphasis they are looking at and then the schools that they are targeting.”

Though Fine was happy with the outcome of the month, she noticed that one of the challenges the coordinating team faced was knowing how to make the event relevant for students and make it an event that students would want to attend.

Fine said that the informal feedback they did get from students as they were leaving the event was really helpful. She was pleased to hear students express how they had relatively low expectations for the event and ended up having their expectations exceeded.

Wendi Meckler, Transfer Center director and counselor was happy with the turnout of the events.

“Each event met its goal in terms of informing students of additional information about business as a major and what careers that can lead to,” Meckler said. “Im hoping on the students end, they agree with that.” jvaughan.roundupnews@gmail.com to kick down our door and get in the booth,” Nogy said. “Thankfully, we moved Canoga to our side, so I’m in friendly territory.”

Nogy was also a sports editor for Canoga Park High School when they had a newspaper called The Hunters’ Call. He said that being on the paper prepared him for college. Nogy also taught history for 16 years in LAUSD. He then became a counselor. Currently, he’s a counselor at Columbus Middle School.

Nogy began his career at 18 for his college radio station.

"I practiced, and I got on the air just for a few seconds, and from there, it all worked out,” Nogy said. “About a year later, I was sports editor of the station."

Antony Villalobos, a health teacher and basketball coach at Canoga Park High School, runs the scoreboard for the games and has known Nogy for 21 years.

"Mark is a true sport's guy. He is much involved in Canoga sports history, but the way he remembers dates and facts regarding sports here is quite amazing,” Villalobos said.

“I barely remember what I had for breakfast."

Besides announcing the games together, Nogy and Villalobos played basketball against each other during high school.

"Our teams actually played each other in a tournament. We shook hands in the late 70s after the game," Villalobos said.

One of Nogy's best memories at Canoga Park High school was announcing the games.

"We had some good players, and we had some good teams. We had some guys going to Division I to play football,” Nogy said. “It was great to say I was there to see their games."

Former Canoga High football player David Parra knew Nogy from 1999 to 2003 because he announced the games.

"He's a great professor. I used to have him for class. He was a history teacher, and he was really cool, down-to-earth guy,” Parra said. “He knew me personally because I took his class.”

Nogy also announces the Canoga Park High School Annual Memorial Day services.

"Mark is responsible for it developing into one of the most respectable and impressive ceremonies around,” Villalobos said. “He always wants things done right and takes it personal if anything falls flat.”