Business | North Central College

Cameron Bechard

International Business major

Two areas of study were necessities for Cameron during his college search: international business and Chinese. He chose North Central because it offered both and many opportunities to get involved.

By the end of his first year, Cameron had already plunged into the North Central experience. He became co-president of the Chinese Club and got involved with the Entrepreneurship and International Business Organization. He landed an internship at an Internet marketing company through campus networking and, in his second year, studied abroad at Peking University in China.

Cameron says his international business major is a “natural combination of my interests, skills and ambitions,” and looks to set a...

Jessica Andersen

Accounting major

“I chose accounting to learn more about business and be prepared to own and operate my own business. I chose North Central so I could develop relationships with my professors and classmates and not be just another face in a crowd.”

From the start, Jessica discovered the many options for accounting majors through the Student Accounting Society (SAS). Involved her first year, she became the club’s vice president her senior year.

“It was through SAS events that I learned about the different career paths open to accountants. The club was a great way to make friends, work on group projects and network with professionals outside the school. Being an officer was one of my best experiences.”

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Ricky Gacek

Finance major

Ricky has good instincts. He chose North Central because he knew he'd have the chance to build relationships with his professors in small classes. He quickly got to know Andy Whitaker, professor of economics and finance, whom he credits with helping him land an internship with the financial services firm Robert W. Baird. "Professor Whitaker knew the managing director and put in a word for me, which led to an interview," he says. "That's just one example of the networking opportunities at North Central. Our professors have diverse and rich backgrounds in finance, so get to know them as soon as you can. It pays off!"

Katherine Hoekstra

Management and Entrepreneurship/Small Business Managment double major

After taking a management course, Katherine began to see the business world as a blank canvas, waiting for her to make her mark.

An internship in retail management at American Eagle, a popular clothing store, gave her firsthand insight into the dedication and preparation it takes to effectively run and manage a business. “It’s one thing to learn in the classroom and ace all your tests, but the best kind of learning comes from firsthand experiences.”

In addition, Katherine and two other students worked with a local small business to develop a strategy for selling its products in a new international market.

“North Central doesn’t limit me to one area of study. I’ve been involved in an...

Allison Paschold

Marketing major

Allison conducted the ultimate "taste test." With the help of North Central’s Career Development Center she obtained two summer internships. One involved working in production and design at Sourcebooks, Inc., a publishing company; the other required serving as an events and promotion intern at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium. "Both experiences were valuable and helped me decide what to look for in my career,” she says. "I broadened my background and got a taste of two different fields, both related to marketing/advertising in a sense."

Kelsey Brummel

Marketing major

Kelsey created lots of marketing buzz as a student. She helped develop an international marketing initiative for a small business to distribute and sell its baby products to Chinese markets.

She and members of her team, who are part of the College’s Entrepreneurship and International Business Organization, designed an exporting strategy and presented it to the business and at North Central’s undergraduate symposium. Team members have plans to travel to China to follow the initiative.

“North Central’s marketing department does a great job of implementing real-world projects into the curriculum. The projects helped me develop a feel for what marketing is all about and confirmed I’ve chosen the right...

Dana Schluseman

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management major

Dana plans to turn a hobby into a dream job by opening her own handmade jewelry boutique. "For me, a major reason for coming to North Central was its large number of business-related clubs and organizations," she says. North Central's location also appealed to her. "There are lots of small businesses right down the street, and their owners are often willing to talk with students and share their knowledge and advice," she points out. "My internships have given me real-life experience and an understanding of business operations."

Caroline Hirsch

International Business major

Carolina’s international business major combined her passions for language, culture, travel and business.

While attending North Central, Carolina studied in France and China. She also worked in Mexico on an Entrepreneurship and International Business Organization (EIBO) project. As part of a three-person team seeking a Mexican distributor for a U.S. elevator company, she met with distributors, advised the company about using services provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce and served as translator. "That was probably my most interactive, hands-on business experience at North Central,” Carolina recalls. She ultimately wants to consult internationally or open new business locations in overseas markets...

Claudia Chlebek

Economics major

When she arrived at North Central, Claudia knew she wanted international travel to be part of her college experience. By her senior year, she had logged 63 weeks of study abroad. She spent much of her time overseas immersed in economics research, and during one of her trips she began to ponder the significance of the free movement of people between countries that ultimately became the basis of a Fulbright Grant research proposal.

Claudia’s proposal was one of 11 chosen for work in the European Union. Just 36 hours after hearing this good news, she learned that she’d also won a second prestigious award–the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship, which funds a two-year master’s degree in economy, state and...

Stephanie Ryding

Management, International Business and Spanish triple major

Stephanie chose management as one of her majors because she loves to work with people. While at North Central, she discovered "a love for the personal interaction involved with education and mentoring.” This year she is combining her management degree with those newfound passions as she pursues a master's in higher education administration at Marquette University. Ultimately she hopes to work at a small liberal arts college "just like North Central."

Andrielle Baggett

Human Resource Management major

Andrielle’s passion for human resource management began as an outgrowth of her internship as a human resources intern for Blue Sales and Marketing in Schaumburg, IL. She has grown to love the field even more as she explores its many aspects, including sociology, psychology, speech and business. “I learn so much in my business courses,” she says. “I enjoy participating in class discussions to better my understanding.” Andrielle has expanded her knowledge outside the classroom as well. Taking a leadership position as co-president of the Black Student Association has helped her grow professionally. “The opportunity helped me as an human resource management major to learn more about planning, development and...

Matt Adorjan

Management Information Systems major

"When I saw that North Central offered a management information systems degree that combined my love of technology with business, I was pleased; it seemed like the perfect fit," recalls Matt. He currently serves as the Oswego School District’s Webmaster. "Working with the school district has shown me that I want to stay in an educational environment, where I can help students learn more effectively by using technology."