by Amanda Pittman | Sep 29, 2011 | Careers In..., COBA Events, Current Students, Special Speakers
Earlier this month we hosted our first Career Connect event of the fall semester. We were honored to welcome two very successful wedding and event planners – Luanna Cole of The Plantation House in Pflugerville, Texas and Rachel Hollis of Chic Events based in Los Angeles, CA. Event planning and hospitality are two industries that our students have become very interested in lately. As two seasoned and successful entrepreneurs and veterans of the wedding and event industries, Luanna and Rachel brought lots of stories, wisdom, advice and encouraging words to our students.
Luanna and her husband, Norris, has been owner/operators of The Plantation House for 17 years, having hosted over 700 weddings, receptions and corporate events at their venue. Rachel begin Chic Events almost 8 years ago in her basement and has planned and styled weddings, corporate events and parties for various celebrities, motion picture studios, non-profit organizations and magazines. She was named one of Inc. Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30 Entrepreneurs in 2008.
Event Planning panel featuring Luanna Cole (L) and Rachel Hollis (Center)
We sat down with two students who attended the event. Calli is a sophomore journalism and mass communication major from Carrollton; Kelsey is a senior management major from San Angelo.
1) What’s one thing you learned (or that really stuck with you) about the business of wedding and/or event planning?
Calli: “One thing that really made an impact on me about the business of event planning was how much of your time you have to invest in order to be successful, therefore those with passion for the business will most likely be more motivated to devote themselves to their work.”
Kelsey: ” I found it interesting that a common misconception in regards to event planning is that it is a glamorous line of work. Hearing Rachel and Luanna talk about their experiences allowed all of the girls in the room to recognize that a great amount of time, energy, and hard work is placed into their event planning jobs. I enjoyed learning tactics that each of the women used to balance their careers and family lives. It was interesting to hear that from an early age, Luanna involved her children in the process of setting up events at their home. Her stories about her daughters ending their dates by inviting the guys over to help set up an event were quite comical. It was neat to see that each member of the family contributed in some way to ensure the success of their family owned business.”
Career Connect: Event Planning
2) Did you learn something that will change how you approach the rest of your time here at ACU or has encouraged to try something you wouldn’t have otherwise?
Calli: “Yes. I learned that I want to attain as much experience in the field as possible before I graduate so that I feel prepared for the “real world”.
Kelsey: “I was encouraged to dream big just as Rachel and Luanna did, but to realize that with big dreams comes great responsibility and time commitments. Pursuing a career that you are passionate about has many phenomenal rewards but comes with a lot of hard work.”
Luanna Cole shares with ACU students interested in event planning
3) Did these events encourage you to pursue this career track? If so, how?
Calli: “I definitely want to get more hands on experience. Both Rachel and Luanna encouraged us to work in all sides of the field such as the florists, rental companies, caterers, photographers, etc.”
Kelsey: “I am not drawn to this particular career track, but I feel like the speakers gave great advice that can be carried over into any future career.”
Rachel Hollis sharing with ACU students
4) How does hearing from industry professionals (no matter the industry) enhance what you are learning in the classroom?
Calli: “I have never really heard experience first hand like this so I was incredibly inspired to hear what they had to say. It affirmed every idea i had about the field and reassured that this is exactly what I want to do with my life.”
Kelsey: “Hearing real life experiences straight from a successful business person, enables us (students) to learn far more about a specific industry and/or valuable life lessons that could not be communicated as effectively from a textbook or lecture. One of my favorite parts about listening to the “powerful” speakers that ACU brings to campus, is hearing how the individual overcame a variety of failures and conflicts to get to where they are today. The wisdom that we receive through hearing about other’s past failures gives us the opportunity to avoid making the same mistakes and the ability to put into practice the tactics that the speaker has found to be the most effective. We are encouraged to live humbly just as the speakers do. It seems like usually one of the main differences that sets ACU speakers apart from other successful career people is the fact that the speakers we listen to are so down to earth and exhibit humility as they share their stories with us.”
by Amanda Pittman | Sep 8, 2011 | COBA Events, College Decisions, Current Students, Faith Infusion
From Dr. Don Pope, chair, Department of Management Sciences:
A Christian Business School
Students and parents choose a university based on several possible criteria. For those students majoring in business at ACU, some possible reasons would include our faculty – undergraduate courses taught, not by graduate assistants, but by faculty who are qualified both academically and by business experience. Our accreditation with AACSB places us in the select category of the best business schools in the world. Our size – ACU is large enough to offer a broad range of quality programs in excellent facilities, but small enough that our students are not lost in the crowds of larger schools. And for students selecting ACU, an extremely significant difference at our College of Business Administration is the integration of Christian faith and learning.
To some people, the words “Christian” and “business” sit uncomfortably in the same sentence. The word business is sometimes taken to mean self-serving and self-seeking at the expense of others – just the opposite of the others-first philosophy taught by Christ. And then you throw in the word “school”, then what does that all mean?
To the faculty and staff at the College of Business Administration at ACU, a Christian business school means the integration of faith and learning in ways that are lived out and not just talked about. In the classroom, it might involve a discussion of ethics or prayerful concern for a student. Beyond the classroom, it involves living out our faith in the market place, whether in towering office buildings in cities or with people living in poverty, anywhere in the world. Our faculty and students build homes and help feed the hungry in garbage dumps in Honduras, provide medical care for people in the remote areas of Zambia, establish and support orphanages in India and Ghana, volunteer for Meals on Wheels, assist the elderly with tax preparation, and countless other acts of service.
Our mission is great – to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world. Our faculty and staff are capable to that challenge. Our students dream big dreams. Come join us in this journey together.
Faculty members praying over the newest inductees of Beta Gamma Sigma
Faculty praying over graduating seniors at our annual Senior Blessing lunch
by Amanda Pittman | Sep 4, 2011 | City of Abilene, COBA Events, College Decisions, Current Students
ACU’s chapter of Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE – a national organization formed by Sam Walton) does several projects with and for the community, using their business skills and knowledge to serve others. One project they do each year is with the elementary students over at Abilene Christian Schools. They set up a ‘little town’ in their school gym, with a bank, retail stores, a grocery store among others. Each student has a chance to earn a specific amount of money, and then they can turn around and either spend the money or save it at the bank – all under the guidance and teaching of our SIFE students and two business professors, Dr. Jinkerson and Dr. Vardiman.
The Abilene Reporter News recently did a story on teaching kids the value of money, and featured our SIFE team and professors. Click here for the full story. We’re proud of Dr. Jinkerson and Dr. Vardiman and the good work they are doing with our students!
by Amanda Pittman | Aug 3, 2011 | Careers In..., COBA Events, College Decisions, Current Students, Special Speakers
The College of Business Administration is excited to announce our Fall 2011 Distinguished Speaker Series special guest. On Thursday, November 3, Cheryl Bachelder, the President of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and chief executive of AFC Enterprises, Atlanta will be visiting our campus, teaching in a Consumer Behavior course, engaging students in one-on-one mentoring conversations and will speak at luncheon in the Hunter Welcome Center.
Cheryl Bachelder via New York Times, Dan Dry
We couldn’t be more thrilled and honored to host Mrs. Bachelder. Take a few minutes to read more about her in this recent New York Times article and here, in this article in the Franchise Times Magazine. Mrs. Bachelder has worked for Proctor & Gamble, RJR Nabisco (general manager of the LifeSavers division), and Domino’s Pizza. We are looking forward to hearing from Mrs. Bachelder and we hope you can join us for lunch on Thursday, Nov. 3rd.
by Amanda Pittman | Jul 27, 2011 | COBA Events, College Decisions, Current Students
You might remember when we told you about our students in the Digital Marketing class having the opportunity to do a market research project for ROOTS, the Canadian based apparel company. At the end of the semester, the students presented their findings to the VP of E-Commerce, Digital Marketing and New Media for ROOTS. You can read our blog entry about it here. And we were thrilled to see a nice write-up about the class, presentation and findings in the ROOTS Summer 2011 magazine. Click on the magazine cover above and a window will open on the Roots article about the class.
by Amanda Pittman | Jun 20, 2011 | COBA Events, College Decisions, Current Students
Riding the train from Oxford to London
Last Friday, COBA in Oxford hopped aboard our very first train to London. Excitedly, we stepped onto the platform of Paddington station. As we separated into groups, we were given our itinerary and left to explore the city until mid-afternoon. Most of us decided to take the tube (the subway) to the British Museum. We stood in the bustling station, confusedly trying to decipher the different lines and stops necessary to get there, as well as trying to avoid all the people who actually knew where they were going. Amidst the confusion, two of us were separated from the rest of the group. I happened to be in the minority.
Do not be concerned. My fellow derelict, Leigh Foith, and I did arrive safely at the British Museum, only to find our classmates visiting the ancient Egyptian pharaohs! This was a pleasant surprise, considering the magnitude of the museum itself, not to mention the traffic of visitors wandering its varied exhibits. After taking our individual allotments of history, different groups of us left to find some lunch. We then met, professors and all, at Trafalgar square to begin our tour of the Palace of Westminster, otherwise known as the Houses of Parliament.
Waiting in the rain for the Parliament tour
Dr. Pope and Dr. Phillips
We went through security and emerged into a huge stone building, with high wooden ceilings and steps leading up to Parliament itself. Our tour guide explained the history of the palace, and how it has affected England’s political system throughout hundreds of years. That huge stone building we first came into had been standing for almost 1000 years. It was so interesting to hear the history of England while we stood on the spot of its occurrence. And the art! The Palace of Westminister was extravagantly built by Queen Victoria; the richness and details of murals, carpeting, sculptures and the throne itself were astounding.
Our tour over, most of us took the train back to Oxford, and several left for Edinburgh, Scotland. The next day, a group of us girls went back to London for some shopping and the Queen’s royal birthday parade. We found the royal family, Portabello road market, and the lovely Hyde Park. A perfect combination! It was a busy, but unforgettable weekend.
Mrs. Pope at the Portabello Road Market
