{"id":2486,"date":"2019-05-28T17:07:38","date_gmt":"2019-05-28T22:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/business\/?p=2486"},"modified":"2019-05-31T07:50:40","modified_gmt":"2019-05-31T12:50:40","slug":"students-explore-career-opportunities-in-northwest-arkansas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/business\/students-explore-career-opportunities-in-northwest-arkansas\/","title":{"rendered":"Students explore career opportunities in Northwest Arkansas"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>In March, several students from Rankin College of Business traveled to Fort Smith, Arkansas as part of the RCB on the Road program. The students visited The Don McDonald Group, Arc Best, and First National Bank of Fort Smith. Business Advisory Council members and alumni Don and Jennifer McDonald hosted the students.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really wanted these students to get to a different part of the region\u2014to see what options are out there,\u201d said Jennifer. \u201cFort Smith isn\u2019t the largest city, but we do have a lot of businesses and a lot of opportunities. It\u2019s a great fit for SAU students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Don and Jennifer were married right out of high school. Both attended SAU and graduated with finance degrees.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cWe both had academic scholarships,\u201d Don said. \u201cI worked in the oil fields to make a little extra spending money and Jennifer managed the married housing at SAU.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jennifer graduated in 2.5 years and went to work after graduation in accounting.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was actually Jennifer\u2019s idea that students from South Arkansas (University) might find Fort Smith attractive,\u201d said Don.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had some business acquaintances who all thought (inviting the students here) was a great idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

Don went to work for Merrill Lynch immediately upon graduation. In May, he celebrated 30 years with the company.<\/p>\n

During the trip, the students spent a few hours with staff at Merrill Lynch learning what each member of Don\u2019s team does day to day, he said. Friday morning they went to Arc Best and then First National Bank before heading back to Magnolia.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy team shared their roles and responsibilities with the students and then our market executive provided more information on what job opportunities and options are available within the firm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Don and Jennifer also hosted the students at their home for an evening meal, providing an opportunity to talk to the students in a more relaxed atmosphere.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were able to talk to them more about the other parts of the job that are important like writing thank you notes, getting to work early and staying a little late\u2014not just doing what is asked and being respectful of others\u2026Jennifer and I really enjoyed it.\u201d Don said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

According to both Don and Jennifer, the students made great impressions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey had good questions and were professional in their interactions,\u201d Don said. \u201cIt was a very positive experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through the RCB on the Road<\/a> program, the college hosts a travel program in which students in each major, at least once every two years, have the opportunity to engage with business leaders and tour business operations related to their field of study.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne thing we really wanted was to show these young adults opportunities outside south Arkansas,\u201d Jennifer said.<\/p>\n

Don agreed, adding that the ability to travel makes the world smaller and can offer different perspectives.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve also contributed to the travel fund to help these students go to different places and give them different experiences,\u201d Don said. \u201cWe just want to be able to give back and make a positive difference in the lives of others.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In March, several students from Rankin College of Business traveled to Fort Smith, Arkansas as part of the RCB on the Road program. The students visited The Don McDonald Group, Arc Best, and First National Bank of Fort Smith. Business Advisory Council members and alumni Don and Jennifer McDonald hosted the students. \u201cWe really wanted… Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":564,"featured_media":2498,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[64447,23941],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2486","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-featured-stories","8":"category-news","9":"entry"},"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/business\/files\/2019\/05\/IMG_5329.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/business\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/web.saumag.edu\/business\/feed\/podcast\/lets-talk-careers-2","embedCode":"

Students explore career opportunities in Northwest Arkansas<\/a><\/blockquote>