Career Day Evolves With Return to In-Person Event

Career Day Evolves

WITH RETURN TO IN-PERSON EVENT

In November, the High School Career Day had a new format. Condensed into a fullday experience, students heard from two keynote speakers, attended two breakout sessions featuring Academy alumni, and participated in mock interviews. Also this year, the guidance department introduced the Interest Profiler so students could better gauge which presentations to attend. The assessment is based on Dr. John Holland’s theory that people’s interests and work environments can be loosely classified into six different groups: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising and conventional.

Students started their day with a keynote address from Academy of the Holy Names’ Board of Trustees secretary Kim Wilmath Hill ’05, who offered a message of perseverance, positivity, a growth mindset and ambition. Hill, who is now vice president for university communications and marketing and chief marketing officer for the University of South Florida, stumbled on her love for journalism as a scholarship student at the Academy. Her path to her current position has been far-reaching, including stops at St. Petersburg Times, the Florida Board of Regents and ReliaQuest. Of her focus on giving back, Hill said, “If you orient yourself around making a contribution, no matter what you do, you will feel a tremendous amount of job satisfaction. I think that is something the Academy really instilled in me.”

The 23 alumni guest speakers offered a broad range of backgrounds and interests, including diversity, finance, legal, STEM fields, entrepreneurship, hospitality and more. According to college counselor Lisa Kolar, beyond learning about a particular industry, it is more important for students to hear about the alumni’s paths in finding their careers.

“I think the most important part is to hear the journey of those that came before them, because the journey is just as important as the career. Not everyone’s journey to their career is a straight shot, and seeing the pathway filled with turns and surprises can help our students develop a positive mindset on their own journey,” Kolar said.

The time spent in mock interviews allowed students to think about how interviews are conducted and learn tips to be productive in an interview. Using sample scenarios and resumes, freshmen practiced for club interviews, sophomores practiced for internships and part-time jobs, and juniors and seniors practiced for college interviews and jobs.

Board of Trustees member Kalinda Campbell ’00 closed the day with a second keynote presentation. Campbell, who is featured on page 26, encouraged students to find their passion. “Do the work that you love. Do the work that you would do for free. Money and everything else will align when you are doing the thing that is heart-driven and purpose-driven.”

SESSION SPEAKERS

Jen Armas Azzarelli ’02 Founder & Owner of CAMP Tampa & Los Angeles Kalinda Campbell ’00 Talent Strategy and Governance, Nordstrom Ashley Arenas De Cubas ’02 Managing Partner, Choice Legal Group PA Theresa Ferlita ’62 Licensed Clinical Social Worker (retired) Meaghan Dunne Fernandez ’01 Mediator, Fernandez Mediations LLC; Of Counsel, Zinober Diana & Monteverde PA Christina Gerecke ’13 Business Analyst Lead, ReliaQuest Lisa Griffin Hodgdon ’90 Partner of Counsel, Dinsmore & Shohl Brian Housel B’89 Senior Vice President, IHT Wealth Management Nicole Howe ’01 Dermatologist/Mohs Surgeon & Practice Owner, Novem Dermatology Katherine Martinez ’08 Staff Software Engineer at Coinbase Kevin McLaughlin B’85 Partner, Wagner McLaughlin Christina Castellano-Mesa ’83 Owner & Sole Proprietor, Mesa Law PA

Heather Bingham Smithson ’91 “I believe that AHN, along with my parents, prepared me to stand up for what I believe, look out for others, and to never quit. They helped turn me into someone who is loyal, someone who will fight hard for those who cannot do so for themselves, someone who will stand up for what she believes, and someone who is not afraid to make some noise while accomplishing any of these things.” Sarah Port ’12 “Academy gave me an anchor of discipline and faith that helped me throughout college, my first job, and navigating the real world on a daily basis.”

Christina Gerecke ’13 “The Academy gave me the foundation and the tools necessary to grow and thrive throughout college and in my adult life. The Academy helped to make me the person I am today.”

Anika Myers Palm ’93 “The Academy taught me how to speak up for myself (specifically, not to be intimidated by anyone), how to contextualize information, and crucially, how to lead, a skillset that has been particularly important for me as a manager of a global team.”

Alisha Bhadelia Ozmeral ’00 Chief Financial Officer, USF Health Physicians Group Anika Myers Palm ’93 Director of Off-Platform Programming, CNN Sarah Port ’12 Quality Engineer, CONMED Jessica Emery Respondek ’91 Education Manager at National Dentex LLC Michelle Reyes ’11 Development Coordinator, Toni Everett Co. & Ritz-Carlton Residences Candice Reda Rodriguez ’01 Senior Programs Manager, Wells Fargo Sarah Shakespeare ’13 Operations Director, Scotch Institute of Ear, Nose & Throat Dina Busciglio Sheridan ’92 Partner, Busciglio Sheridan Schoeb Trial Attorneys Heather Bingham Smithson ’91 Veterinarian, Four Paws Veterinary Hospital Reneé Stoeckle ’05 Internal Communication & Mission Implementation, Empath Health Cecilia Vargas ’88, RN Team Member Wellness Clinician, Tampa General Hospital