My EDPA “University Affiliations Program” Experience (Part Two) by Kevin Carty, VP, Classic Exhibits Inc.

Kevin Carty
VP, Classic Exhibits Inc.

In late 2014, I participated in the Bemidji State University mentoring program. As a perceived leader in the industry I was invited to meet a student that was to be graduating in the upcoming spring and try to help them prepare for a career in the exhibit industry right through to their last semester.

In doing so, I met Katrina Broten. We connected weekly over the phone and discussed her plans and post-graduation strategy. We flew her out to our facility for a long visit over the Christmas break to get a feel for the day-to-day life in our business and industry….And after her graduation we actually hired her as a paid intern for the summer.

As that summer neared its end, we extended a full time job offer to Katrina to stay on board with our team.

Katrina brought another set of fresh eyes and thoughts to an already greatly creative team at Classic during her time with us. She showed us that Bemidji State was clearly preparing some talented people for the workforce.

For me, the most important thing I would like to articulate (in both parts of this EDPA Member blog) is that as an industry we have two AMAZING University  programs in FIT and Bemidji State, made available to us all via our relationships in the EDPA, with each school consistently preparing and eventually supplying our community with a wealth of talent. All the while giving our companies and the industry at large, many opportunities along the way to be a part of the shaping & formation of these talented minds and lives.