Saunders students, faculty, and staff attend the 2023 National Black MBA Association Conference

Saunders College and RIT were well represented at the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) 45^th Annual Conference and Exposition in Philadelphia, PA, September 12-16. In attendance were four Saunders MBA students; Bill Dresnack, associate professor and MBA program director; Maria Richart, RIT director of career services and cooperative education; Lisa Boice, Saunders assistant dean for student services; and Julio Talledo, Saunders assistant director of business development.

The mission of NBMBAA is to lead in the creation of educational wealth-building and growth opportunities for those historically underrepresented throughout their careers as students, entrepreneurs, and professionals. According to the NBMBAA website, “With 10,000 attendees expected from various industries and career levels, the conference is the premier event for Black business professionals and career candidates.”

This year’s event included workshops, networking sessions, and two full days of an MBA-focused career fair with over 300 companies in attendance.

The Career Expo was an exceptional opportunity for RIT and the MBA program to establish and begin to build relationships with numerous companies. RIT faculty, staff, and students connected with recruiters, talent management staff, and other employees from numerous companies. Richart alone met with representatives from:

Richart notes that several universities she spoke with at the conference make NBMBAA a must-attend event as part of their MBA curriculum.

She adds, “I am hopeful that now that we understand how this event works and see the benefits, as a Saunders Team, we can utilize this event to our advantage.