Chamber holds Student-Leadership Luncheon

Several students from Huntington University and community leaders gathered Thursday for the Chamber of Commerce Student-Leadership Luncheon. Shown in the front row, from left, are Emma Hammond, Huntington University student; Jennifer Jordan, Duke Energy; Alice Lira de Oliveira and Eduarda Rocha de Mello, both Huntington University students. Shown in the back row, from left, are Mark Tipmongkol, First Command Financial Services; John Paff, Fort Wayne Marketing; Dr. Brock Zehr, Huntington University professor and Eric Meyer, Big E Promos. Not pictured in the photo are Brandon Kaufman and Ryan Smith, both Huntington University students. The Huntington County Chamber of Commerce thanks Jennifer Jordan and Duke Energy, for their continued sponsorship of this program.

The Huntington County Chamber of Commerce hosted a Student-Leadership Luncheon on Thursday, October 29, in the Forester Room at Huntington University. The event brought together Huntington University students and local community leaders to foster connections, encourage professional networking and provide students with valuable insight into career opportunities within the community.

The luncheon offered students an opportunity to engage with experienced professionals while allowing community leaders to connect with the next generation of local talent. Students attending represented a variety of career interests, including entrepreneurship, film production and marketing, accounting and finance, business and marketing and management.

Participating students included Eduarda Rocha de Mello, Alice Lira de Oliveria, Ryan Smith and Grace Hammond. Community leaders who shared their professional experiences and insights included Eric Meyer, owner of Big E Promos; John Paff, owner of Fort Wayne Marketing; Mark Tipmongkel, financial advisor with First Command Financial Services and Jennifer Jordan, community relations manager for Duke Energy. Also in attendance were Dr. Brock Zehr, associate professor of business and economics and MBA program director at Huntington University and Steve Kimmel, executive director of the Huntington County Chamber of Commerce. Brandon Kaufman, a student at Huntington University was unable to attend.

The luncheon began with introductions, giving participants an opportunity to share their backgrounds, professional experiences and career interests. Students discussed their career goals and aspirations following graduation, while community leaders offered perspectives on their educational journeys, career paths and the lessons they have learned throughout their professional lives.

Following the meal, participants broke into smaller discussion groups to encourage more in-depth conversations and personal interaction. Students asked questions and received advice from the community leaders, who also engaged students in discussions about their interests, goals and future plans. The conversations provided an opportunity for both students and professionals to exchange ideas, build relationships and explore ways to stay connected beyond the luncheon.

The Huntington County Chamber of Commerce extends its sincere appreciation to Duke Energy for sponsoring the Student-Leadership Luncheon and to Jennifer Jordan for her continued support of this initiative. The Chamber values opportunities to connect emerging professionals with community leaders and looks forward to continuing efforts that strengthen relationships between Huntington University and the local business community.