Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC) Office of Alumni Relations is inviting ARCC alumni to teach current ARCC students a thing or two about informal business relations and networking and remind alumni of their importance to a vibrant college experience.

The ARCC Alumni Office and Business division will offer a monthly series of free lunches on the Coon Rapids Campus beginning Jan. 29. The series is featuring prominent speakers to encourage alumni in business to connect with each other and ARCC business students.

Along with lunch and the opportunity to hear prominent speakers, alumni will help up-and-coming students soon to be in the local business community, reconnect with the college and meet other local alumni involved in business. Students will interact with working professionals, learn about networking styles and gain an understanding of what to expect as their own careers develop and about what behavior is expected in an informal business situation.

“Walk through the halls of Anoka-Ramsey, or any college for that matter, and you’ll hear a need for help with the transition from the way the average student talks to friends and how they will need to talk to colleagues in an informal setting,” says Michael Wall, Director of Alumni Relations.

The networking series is the result of collaboration between Wall and ARCC business faculty John Ivanauskas, who teaches financial accounting and business math.

“Many times students are apprehensive about attending such events,” says Ivanauskas. “Some students think it’s a waste of time, others may not be comfortable meeting people and still others don’t understand how this kind of experience is going to help them. Of course us older wiser folks have learned life would have been easier if we had done some things people suggested we do, such as attending events similar to this.”

Wall calls this type of event a “hit-and-run” as it does not involve a long commitment. Alumni and students are encouraged to attend one, two or all the events. To defray costs, Wall is seeking event sponsors and one anonymous donor has come forward so far. Companies or individuals interested in sponsoring one of the events may contact Wall at the college.

“The start of the series also marks the end of the first full year of Anoka-Ramsey having an alumni program,” says Wall. “So this is a great opportunity to welcome alumni back into the fold. I hope that these events will lead some of our lost alumni to reconnect so that we know where they’ve ended up.”

The first event will be Monday, Jan. 29, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. featuring office-ethics expert, Nan DeMars, President of Executary Services, a Minneapolis-based consulting firm. DeMars is a consultant and author of “You Want Me To Do WHAT? When, Where And How To Draw The Line At Work.” She is a frequent guest on U.S. and Canadian radio and television, and has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, NBC Dateline, National Public Radio, and others. DeMars has also been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, The New York Times, The Washington Post and Business Week.

The Feb. 12 luncheon will feature Connexus Energy President and CEO, Rick Newland speaking about leadership through strengths. Connexus Energy is the largest electric distribution cooperative in Minnesota, serving more than 100,000 customers in the north metro region.

To register, contact the alumni office at alumni@anokaramsey.edu or 763-433-1597. Space is limited; reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis. Advanced reservations will be accepted.

For more information on Nan DeMars, visit www.office-ethics.com.

Alumni-Student Business Luncheon Series
Mondays
Jan. 29, Feb. 12. March 12, Apr. 9 and May 14, 2007
Free
Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids Campus
An opportunity for alumni and current students to come together over common business interests, converse and hear prominent speakers discuss topics related to business and leadership.
To register, contact the alumni office at alumni@anokaramsey.edu or 763-433-1597.

ABOUT ANOKA-RAMSEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Anoka-Ramsey Community College (ARCC), with campuses in Cambridge and Coon Rapids, has been a leading provider of higher education and training in East Central Minnesota since 1978 and the north suburban area of Minneapolis/St. Paul since 1965. Annually, the college serves more than 9,700 learners of all ages as they pursue associate degrees that transfer as the first two years of a bachelor’s degree, or certificate programs that lead immediately to rewarding careers. In fiscal year 2006, the Continuing Education and Customized Training division generated more than 6400 registrations in both credit and non-credit courses. Anoka-Ramsey Community College is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, which includes 32 institutions on 53 campuses.