The Career Panel: Professional Development for the Junior Class

Throughout the year, the Junior Class participates in a series of professional development events, organized by our Service Learning Coordinator, Kaytina Mills ‘17. One of those events, the Career Panel, took place in the Upper School on April 11th. Speakers, ranging from alumni to friends and parents of the school, volunteered to represent their industry in one of five sessions: entrepreneurship, business, medical, law, and architecture/interior design. Almost the entire junior class participated in the event and attended a session based on their individual interests. 

These professional development events culminate in the summer internship program, in which juniors have the opportunity to spend a few weeks working with an individual in their industry of interest. According to Kaytina, the panel precedes the internship program “to provide our students with the opportunity to hear from people about their professional experiences and journey so that our students can better understand their passions and career interests.” This year’s panel included individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds with a broad range of interests, but every person had invaluable words of wisdom to share with the students. 

The Entrepreneurship Room was represented by Kathryn Norwood ‘85 and Kelly Baird, mother of former students Christian ‘18 and Cameron Baird ‘20. Kathryn and Kelly have made immeasurable impacts both on CCES and the community of Greenville. Kathryn is the Chair Emeritus of Jasmine Road’s Board of Directors, which is a two-year residential program for adult women survivors of human trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. Under her leadership, Jasmine Kitchen, a restaurant on Augusta Road that employs the program’s participants, was opened to support Jasmine Road. With over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience in the Upstate, Kelly has owned and operated seven businesses, trained with four Fortune 500 companies, and serves as the Director of The Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Furman University. Needless to say, both women have a wealth of experiences and advice to impart on their listeners. 

In the Business Room, Story Cosgrove ‘06 and Jamie Bryant, mother of current students Chessie ‘29 and Alex Aquino ‘27, shared their experiences in the business realm. Story recently embarked on a new journey as a real estate agent with Sotheby’s International Realty after working as the Vice President of Operations for Piedmont Petroleum Corporation for over ten years. Jamie previously worked as the full-time Director of Marketing and Public Relations at CCES while running her store, Plum Home Décor & Gift Boutique. As business has ramped up, she now runs the day-to-day of the store full-time. 

The Medical Room was packed to the brim with students curious about the field, and the speakers provided an insightful and honest perspective on their time in medicine. Kendall Huguley ‘83 discovered her passion for healthcare later on in life after first working in pharmaceutical sales. For almost a decade, she has served as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Parkside Pediatrics, and she immensely enjoys her role as a parent’s cheerleader and patient advocate. Students also heard from Francie Todd, a nurse anesthetist (CRNA) who works at Prisma. Francie loves the diversity of surgeries and procedures found in her job, the flexibility it allows, and the opportunity to be present for patients during difficult times in their lives. Both women encouraged their audience to consider the wide variety of jobs available in the medical field; and when asked what healthcare needs right now, Francie quickly responded, “caring and dedicated workers.”

The Law Room consisted of two alumni – Ellison Johnstone ‘10 and Ricky Davis ‘09 – both of whom did not need any assistance finding their way across campus. Ellison graduated from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 2017 and has since practiced law both in Charlotte, NC and Greenville, where she currently resides. She currently serves as in-house counsel with Concentrix, a leading global provider of customer experience solutions and technology. Ricky graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2016, and now works as a Senior Associate at Nelson Mullins.

Last but certainly not least, the Architecture/Interior Design Room captivated the creatives of the class. Meg Terry, parent of current student Maggie Terry ‘29, shed light on the field of architecture as an expert in the Upstate area. Meg has spent her career (over twenty years) with DP3 Architects and serves as the Principal and Vice President of Business Development. She is a leader in the field and provided a unique perspective on the changing landscape of architecture in terms of flexibility. Students also heard from Katherine Selvy ‘89, who owns her own Interior Design company, KRS Interiors. She spoke about the importance of relationships in interior design. “When designing projects, it’s important to know your clients. I don’t want to implement my style on a space, I want to deliver what the client wants.” Both women leave their projects with newfound friendships and a sense of excitement. 

As students move towards graduation, opportunities like this are invaluable for their personal and professional development, and we are grateful for members of our CCES community who are willing to donate their time and expertise to this cause.