In March, the Nathan M. Bisk College of Business completed its inaugural Student Career Sprint program, a six‑week professional development bootcamp designed to bridge coursework with real‑world readiness through an immersive blend of coaching, workshops and employer‑focused skill-building.
Twenty students from across the college participated, from first‑year Panthers to graduating seniors. Throughout the program, they engaged in mock interviews, résumé refinement, strength‑based assessments, personalized coaching and workshops on business planning, entrepreneurship, salary negotiation, artificial intelligence in business and more.
The hybrid format, featuring four in-person evening sessions and supplemental virtual content, provided flexibility without sacrificing intensity.
A defining feature of the program was its strong alumni involvement. All nine mentors were Florida Tech graduates, and many of the workshop speakers were alumni. Several—including Connor Cassidy ’19, ’23 MBA, and Letwan Sutton ’20 A.S., ’20, ’21 MBA—also served as speakers for the college’s fall 2025 Business Connect event, which drew more than 180 students for hands‑on career preparation.
“I chose to mentor in the Career Spirit program because I wanted to share the kind of guidance I wish I’d had as a Florida Tech student,” said Cole Stubbe ’22. “The transition into the professional world can be a big shift, and I enjoyed helping the students navigate that change and move confidently into their next chapter.”
Florida Tech’s Office of Alumni Affairs and Career Services team brought Career Sprint to life after Saurabh Gupta ’04 M.S. proposed the idea to university President John Nicklow.
“By entrusting us with the opportunity to design and build this program from the ground up, President Nicklow gave us the chance to create something truly meaningful for our students,” said Gina Yates ’19, assistant vice president for the Office of Alumni Affairs. “It was an incredibly rewarding experience and far exceeded all our expectations.”
The program reached capacity only a few days into its launch, reflecting high student interest. And its impact was immediate.
“Because of the connections and networking opportunities this event created, I was fortunate enough to secure two operations internships,” student and Career Sprint alumna Caitlyn Keebler said.
Another student who participated has accepted a full-time position with one of the mentors in the program.
“It’s exactly the path I hoped to be on,” Keebler said. “And it would not have happened without the opportunities this program provided.”
Together, the Career Sprint program and Business Connect highlight the college’s growing ecosystem of professional development—powered by alumni leadership, dedicated volunteers and cross‑campus collaboration.
Students: Cohen Fagerstrom, Nilsu Demiran, Kevin Wolfe, Benjamin Bucci, Leylah Grimes, Danae Butler, Kyle Russell, Sean Monrreal, Brayden Bowen, Caitlyn Keebler, Eseroghene Oguma, Hannah Harris, David Krinock, Angel (AJ) Wydra, Natalie Rhodes, Caesar Menezes, Carl Mason, Kenneth Nguyen, Nicholas Feliciani
Mentors: Scott Lewitt ’82, ’85 M.S., Rick Horner ’90 M.S., ’93 MBA, Rebecca Menard ’03, Chris Parlier ’09 M.S., Connor Cassidy ’19, ’23 MBA, Jessica Applewhite ’21, Cole Stubbe ’22, ’23 M.S., Matthew Bowden ’23, Kendall Gavin ’25
Presenters: Emily Glatz ’15, Madison Hatzel, Melissa Patton, Daniel Rassoul ’17, ’19 MBA, Letwan Sutton ’20 A.S., ’20, ’21 MBA
