The program was started in 1996 on a very small scale. It was a joint idea between a colleague and I to recognize our top marketing majors and give them a leg up in connecting with the business community for career positions, internships and special projects.

In the very beginning, special projects were an important part of this program - actually more so than networking, and we had some very fine projects that were done by students for different companies. One that I remember in particular was with Day Timer. It was a site location study to find out where Day Timer should be locating their distribution centers. Three of our really outstanding marketing students worked on it. When they went to deliver the study, the company was holding a board meeting and the company president said to the students, “we want you to come in and present your findings to the board of directors.” The students did make the presentation and the company doubled their fee.

Another student did a study for Helpmates, which is one of our corporate partners. This study resulted in a comprehensive marketing plan to start a new business. Helpmates ended up implementing the plan.

Not so much mentoring. It's really networking – giving our top marketing majors opportunities to develop relationships with our corporate partners in the business community. At the first breakfast meeting, we had more corporate partners than we had students. As it evolved, we got more partners, and the students realized that this program gave them a very personalized way to access companies to explore opportunities in a true networking environment and in ways that they cannot get elsewhere.

The students come to biannual breakfast meetings in March and October where the corporate partners present their current opportunities. Following those presentations, students meet with the partner representatives and discuss career opportunities, part-time employment and internships, and exchange resumes and business cards.

It's very formal - not in any way like a career fair. Students are required to wear business attire and the corporate partners appreciate this because they feel it makes the meetings much more professional. The primary benefit to the partners is that they meet the top marketing majors, the very best students in our department.

It will be held 7-9:30 a.m. tomorrow (March 14). At the last breakfast, there were 20 of our 24 partners represented and in excess of 60 students. So from our humble beginnings, we have ballooned to filling a room with almost 100 people twice a year at the Fullerton Marriott.