CofC Career Center Connects Students, Industry Leaders

^{Photos by Catie Cleveland}

On Oct. 29, 2024, the College of Charleston Career Center held its second annual Signature Industry Event, bringing students together with an exceptional group of local and global companies for impactful connections. Multiple companies came back for a second year to participate, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Cummins Technologies and Beemok Hospitality. Thus far, this program has placed a special emphasis on manufacturing, industry and engagement. 

“BMW Manufacturing was pleased to attend the second College of Charleston Signature Industry career event,” says Scott Trembly, BMW Manufacturing Co.’s communications for purchasing and supplier network in the Americas. “We appreciate the engagement of the faculty in being intentional about connecting students and companies with this platform. It is important that students have opportunities to apply their studies in a professional environment through internships and co-ops, and furthermore prepare for a career after graduation.”

Seven companies associated with the President’s Advisory Council on Industry and Engagement – BMW Manufacturing Co., Cummins Inc., Mercedes-Benz Vans, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, The Charleston Place of Beemok Hospitality Collection, Thorne HealthTech and Volvo Cars – set up tables in Alumni Hall. They were joined by 30 students from the Honors College, Launchpad for Success and scholar programs, who visited the tables to learn more about the companies and opportunities.  

“The College of Charleston Signature Industry Event was an amazing opportunity to improve my networking abilities and engage directly with recruiters,” says Elisa Penaloza, a marketing major and business Spanish minor. “Events like this are essential for making impactful connections and moving closer to a summer internship offer. I also really valued the Career Center’s help in the process. Their advice on choosing the right outfit and conversation tips made me feel ready to make the most of the event.” 

Saif Chaudhry, a computer science major and data science minor with the Honors College, attended the inaugural Signature Industry Event as a first-year student in the fall of 2023.

“I felt very lost as I had not taken any computer science classes yet,” explains Chaudhry, who took the opportunity to practice interviewing and networking. “This year, I gained more value from the event since I had more experiences to pitch. I now have research under my belt, computer science classes and hackathons. Seeing how my research aligns with what some of these companies are implementing is uplifting as it has reassured me that I can transition the skills that I am learning from research into the real-world workforce.”

The participating companies also benefited from being part of the event. 

“College events are essential for us at Mercedes-Benz Vans because they create a bridge between the energy and fresh perspectives of students and the real-world opportunities within our company,” says Lauren Ramel, lead recruiter and human resources business partner for Mercedes-Benz Vans LLC. “By participating, we connect with emerging talent, share our experiences and support students in discovering their career paths. These interactions are mutually inspiring and help us build a workforce that’s passionate, skilled and ready to shape the future together.” 

The number of companies and students are intentionally kept small to encourage deeper conversations. 

“This event exemplifies our commitment to bridging academia and industry, empowering our students with hands-on insights and inspiring students to make connections early and excel,” says Jim Allison, executive director of the Career Center. “Seeing these students engage with industry leaders truly underscores the strength and dedication of our community.”