Innovision Spring 2019

SPRING 2019 | 13 CLUB FEATURE FINANCIALMANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION The Financial Management Association (FMA) is a student-run organization intended for finance and business majors. The club focuses on hosting finance-related professionals so they can network and speak with students on how to stand out above the competition. The Financial Management Association is run under the guidance of club advisors Dr. Keshav Gupta and Dr. John Walker. “The Finance Club has hosted speakers from a variety of established companies in the current school year such as, Barclays, SEI Investments and BlackRock,” Finance Club President, Wesley May, said. The club hosts these speakers during a free hour. Generally, the club invites Kutztown University Alumni to speak to the club members about their current position, how Kutztown prepared them for their career, how to best distinguish themselves from their competitors and how to attain employment post-graduation. BothDr. Gupta andDr.Walker want each clubmember towork toward their future careers and try to get ahead of the game as much as possible. “Both advisors have consistently advocated to attend all internship and job fairs, to practice soft and technical skills for interviews related to the financial services industry and to expand our networks by reaching out to Kutztown University alumni in the hopes of attaining career placement.” Wesley said. Right now, the board members see the club as being in a transitional stage.Taking club trips has become one of the main goals for the future of the club. “Currently, the finance club has not taken any trips, but with a growing budget, we hope to arrange club trips to finance-related industries like the Federal Reserve and company campuses,” saidWesley. Besides taking trips, the Finance club has several overarching goals: to increase undergraduate student involvement, to increase awareness of the vast opportunities post-graduation throughout the financial services industry and to create an environment that is both educational and professional. Wesley believes that joining the FMA while an undergraduate will benefit a student in the post-graduation career hunt. “Students who join the FMA as members develop soft skills that are needed for employment. They also grow their network by connecting with alumni, which has proven to be helpful with employment,” saidWesley. Wesley is pleased to see juniors and seniors getting involved in the FMA, but he and the other executive board members hope for more undergraduate level student involvement. He says, “Participating in the FMA throughout an undergraduate career shows employers the level of commitment one has to their specific field. It not only highlights the candidate’s ability to work within a team, but also showcases their leadership skills, which is highly relevant within the financial services industry.” For more information about the Financial Management Association, there is contact information and posted meetings on FMA flyers hanging up around the DeFrancesco building. You can also follow the FMA on Instagram at @ku_finance_club. Left to right: Zach McGowan, Jaylah Johnson-Pringley, Keith Torres, Wesley May, Justin Hayer, Dr. John Walker “Participating in the FMA throughout an undergraduate career shows employers the level of commitment one has to their specific field.”