Among the principals on hand for the recent Future Friar Executives (FFE) Business Conference were, from left, Dr. Mark DeFanti, assistant professor of marketing and FFE advisor; Michael Cavallaro ’08, conference co-chair; Mathilde “Til” Levesque ’85, the keynote speaker; Kevin Higgins ’10, conference co-chair; and Dr. Sue Lehrman, founding dean of the School of Business.

“For a conference in its second year, they have made amazing strides.”

That is how Dr. Mark DeFanti, assistant professor of marketing, summed up “Pathways to Success,” the Future Friar Executives’ (FFE) Second Annual Business Conference. The event took place on March 29 in the Smith Center for the Arts.

The FFE is an undergraduate organization devoted to enhancing the career interests and professional development of business students at PC.

More than 100 students attended the daylong conference, which featured a keynote address, six workshops on business-related topics, and a closing panel on the liberal arts as a foundation for a business career.

With one exception, all of the workshop leaders were PC alumni in fields ranging from online marketing to investment analysis and international business.
 
“It’s very meaningful to let Providence College students see what alumni have done with their careers, and what they can do, too,” said DeFanti, who serves as FFE advisor.

The conference was presented in collaboration with the School of Business, the Office of Career Services, and the Office of Institutional Advancement, which all assisted in bringing the guest presenters to campus.

The conference’s keynote speaker was Mathilde “Til” Levesque ’85, president and market manager for Clear Channel Radio Detroit, who discussed key strategies for building a successful career in the business world.

Other alumni who presented or co-presented workshops were Rod Lichtenfels ’80, Glenn Butkus ’83, Frances Murphy ’85, Rob Polansky ’87, Neil Corcoran ’91, David Foley ’95, Lauren Tupper ’02, Shawna Hassett ’03, and Michael Vessella ’03.

DeFanti praised the members of the FFE for their commitment, and conference co-chairs Michael Cavallaro ’08 and Kevin Higgins ’10 in particular, noting the students played a major role in planning and executing the event.

“The number of students and level of interest far exceeded my expectations,” he said. “I’m immensely proud of them.”

One of the students who benefited from the conference was Ryan Reeves ’11, a management major from North Andover, Mass. He spoke glowingly of the two workshops he attended and of Levesque’s address.

“I felt Mrs. Levesque did a really good job at explaining what to expect in the job market and how to really be competitive when we leave school,” he said. “I think it is great how she really focused on selling yourself to get a good job and how she gave tips to do that.”