Alums Partner with SBA to host Industry Night for Current Students
Connecting with alumni can give current students valuable insight into their chosen fields and a chance to build their networks early. Widener’s School of Business Administration hosts a series of Industry Night events each semester to bring alumni and students together for an evening of socializing. This fall, two recent alumni partnered to bring an Industry Night to their employer, The Springhaven Club.
CJ Ditterline came to Widener to continue his baseball career and chose the sport and event management major for its wide range of career paths.
“Whether it be through sports, hospitality, gold clubs, etc. There are a plethora of opportunities and people in this industry that can lead you to success,” he said.
For Ben Gordon, Widener was in his blood. He grew up in local Aston, Pennsylvania, and his father is also a Widener alumnus. He also chose the sport and event management major and started his college journey in fall 2020 during the COVID pandemic. He quickly became involved in various clubs on campus and found support from faculty members to help him find his way.
Both Ditterline and Gordon found faculty mentorship in SBA, notably from Jeff Lolli, professor and interim associate dean for undergraduate programs, and Brian Larson, professor and interim associate dean for graduate programs, and Instructor Samantha Kranyak.
“Dr. Lolli was a priceless mentor and advisor throughout my four years who taught me attention to detail and the value of networking, as well as Dr. Larson who was an amazing marketing professor and taught me to love what you do and how to seriously have fun with what you’re doing,” shared Ditterline.
Gordon added, “I also want to mention Professor Kranyak as another professor that allowed me to be myself and helped build me up and pushed me out of my comfort zone.”
Continuing the community connection
Ditterline and Gordon are both 2024 graduates and are now working as food & beverage managers at The Springhaven Club located just a few miles from the Chester campus. In this role they work to manage operations and staff for the club’s various dining options, as well as work with vendors to provide quality food and beverages for club members and guests.
Having both attended Industry Night events during their time at Widener, Ditterline and Gordon knew how valuable the opportunity can be to connect with and learn from those who are already in their fields.
“I attended a few Industry Nights and they pushed me out of my comfort zone to ask the people who are established in their industries what it’s like being out of college,” said Gordon.
“We saw the SBA Industry Night as a great opportunity to give back to Widener in a small way, because they gave us so much,” said Ditterline.
He continued, “Not only that, but we wanted students to get an understanding that there is also a path to club management in this industry.”
Students from the sport and event management program joined Ditterline, Gordon, and Widener faculty to learn about the club and the array of job opportunities in the country club field. They also heard firsthand how Ditterline and Gordon spend their time and got to where they are.
“The event went very smoothly. It was great getting to see all of my professors and students I used to be in class with. We would’ve loved to see more industry professionals attend, but I feel like the students who attended got a good amount of information. They also got to enjoy some great drinks and finger foods,” shared Ditterline.
Although they are part of the newest cohort of Widener alumni, they both emphasized the importance of keeping in touch and giving back to the university.
“It’s extremely important for alumni to stay connected with Widener and current students; the alumni network is something that should be taken very seriously. It was there for us as students, and that tradition should keep going,” said Ditterline.
To alumni who are considering reconnecting, regardless of how long ago they graduated, Gordon encourages them to take the leap.
“It costs nothing to establish the connection, and you never know where you could end up,” he said. “[I’m] really looking forward to working with Widener and the School of Business Administration in the future!”
