![\"\"](\"http:\/\/business.fiu.edu\/newsletters\/BusinessNetworks\/2007\/04\/images\/catoggio.jpg\")
\nMonique Catoggio<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\u201cAmong the new projects we have developed for the Circle is the Faculty Linkage Program,\u201d said Executive Dean Joyce J. Elam<\/strong>. \u201cOne thing we saw lacking in the group\u2019s members was high-level interaction between them and our faculty members, who can bring them and their respective companies much closer to us and all that we do.\u201d<\/p>\n The program has to-date linked up approximately half of the Circle\u2019s members with faculty members in their desired areas of interest\/specialty with the hope of building relationships leading to increased student access, mentoring opportunities, speaking engagements, and research projects.<\/p>\n In addition to the Faculty Linkage program, Circle members are continuing to help the college build a program to assess and improve the business readiness of its undergraduate students, an initiative now housed within the college\u2019s Career Management Services.<\/p>\n Circle members also are meeting to establish an Investment Banking Recruiting Pilot program to assist students interested in this specific career path to find the right connections. This model, if successful, can then be used to address other career paths which may not be accessible to students.<\/p>\n \u201cA career like investment banking comes with few surprises,\u201d said Circle Chairman Demian Bellumio <\/strong>(BBA \u201900), who began his career on Wall Street. \u201cIf we can teach them the ins and outs of this business and really get them to understand what investment banks are looking for, I think we can find more success in placing our students.\u201d<\/p>\n Part of the Circle\u2019s mission also is to increase the impact our students and alumni make in the community through their community service. Last year, the Circle organized an awareness event for Teach for America, a national non-profit educational organization whose work is felt deeply in South Florida. The Circle\u2019s Community Service Committee plans to host an event on campus for business students, faculty, and alumni to provide opportunities for service and altruism.<\/p>\n \u201cAll in all, our Circle has risen to meet the challenges we have laid out for them,\u201d said Monique Catoggio<\/strong>, the college\u2019s director of alumni and partner relations. \u201cOur alumni really want to make a difference, and they understand that by helping us make positive changes, they, their organizations, and the business community at large will benefit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
\n \n ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/business.fiu.edu\/newsletters\/BusinessNetworks\/2007\/04\/images\/Bellumio.jpg\")
\nDemian Bellumio<\/em> <\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n