IABC chapter visits Dollar General headquarters, attends career panel

Members of the WKU chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) traveled to Goodlettsville, Tenn., on April 2 where they toured Dollar General headquarters.

Following the tour, IABC Nashville hosted a career panel for WKU, Middle Tennessee State University and Austin Peay State University students at Amerigo’s restaurant on West End Avenue.

Members of the WKU chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators recently toured Dollar General headquarters in Goodlettsville, Tenn. Front row from left: Bobby McCandless of Glasgow, Carmen Trimpe of Crestwood, Nicole Lyons of Louisville, Stacy Wells of Bowling Green. Back row from left: Caleb Johnson of Russellville, Caleb Parrigan of Caneyville, Laura Chaney of Florence, Michelle Morrison of Bowling Green, Amanda K. Belcher of Auburn, Colton Wherry of Goodlettsville, Tenn. (Not pictured: Kristen Callaway of Sturgis and faculty advisor Donna Renaud of Bowling Green).

Guest panelists included Paul Lindley, director of communications at St. Thomas Hospital; Mike Machak, director of public relations for Crye-Leike and former Channel 4 TV news anchor; Brenda Ellis, information officer for the Vanderbilt University Department of Engineering; and Marcia Colburn, manager of corporate communications at Caterpillar Financial Services. Each panelist presented his or her top five pieces of advice for students in an informative yet entertaining exchange.

“Our chapter members were pleased to offer events focused on career advice and networking opportunities for the professional and enthusiastic WKU students,” said IABC Nashville Area Chapter President Glenda Betts. “By participating in these types of events, students are getting insights from leaders in the profession, making valuable contacts, and supplementing academic education with practical training to have a competitive advantage when starting their careers.”

Eleven WKU students and one recent graduate attended these events. Students who attended were: chapter president Nicole Lyons of Louisville, Amanda K. Belcher of Auburn, Michelle Morrison of Bowling Green, Carmen Trimpe of Crestwood, Laura Chaney of Florence, Kristen Callaway of Sturgis, Stacy Wells of Bowling Green, Caleb Parrigan of Caneyville, Caleb Johnson of Russellville, Bobby C. McCandless of Glasgow, and Colton Wherry of Goodlettsville, Tenn. WKU alumnus Andrea Collins and faculty advisor Donna Renaud also attended. WKU’s IABC chapter has 32 active members.

Nashville IABC’s Betts, who is also senior project manager for TVA Economic Development, noted: “The International Association of Business Communicators is a premier organization that offers networking and professional development for business communicators.”

Founded in 1970, the IABC provides a professional network of more than 15,500 business communication professionals in more than 80 countries. IABC’s Nashville Chapter serves as the parent chapter for WKU’s student chapter within the Department of Communication.

Contact: Jim Turner or Donna Renaud at (270) 745-3296.