On April 17, the Jack H. Brown College of Business and Public Administration at CSUSB hosted its second annual Business Career & Internship Fair. The Santos Manuel Student Union South Events Center was bustling from 2:30-5:30 p.m. as a crowd of eager students explored a wealth of career opportunities.

“I’m very excited to be here,” said Karim AlGabarty, a student in the Master of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation program, who is set to graduate in December 2024. “I'm hoping to meet a lot of potential employers today!"

The event fostered a dynamic exchange between almost 300 students and 48 regional employers representing a variety of industries. Jessica Chavez and Marina Kamel, the co-coordinators of the event, remarked on the impressive turnout. "We created this event to set students up for success after they graduate, and the response has been overwhelming,” said Kamel. “It has exceeded our expectations.”

Maria Gomez, MBA ’10 ’22 and an alumni mentor specialist at CSUSB Alumni Relations, shared her enthusiasm for supporting students on their career paths, while Jim Reyes of Southern California Gas commended the university as a source of driven and qualified candidates.

Representatives from corporate powerhouses and local organizations alike were in attendance. Denise Singler from Stater Bros. Markets highlighted the fair's value.

"This is our second year at the business career fair,” said Singler. “We didn’t have an internship prior to last year. Our first was through CSUSB. We had four interns, and we hired three of them. They’re still with us today, and they’re great. Right now, we’re offering summer internships in IT, marketing, procurement, supply chain, engineering, HR, accounting and finance.”

The diverse array of employers opened doors to various fields, from business intelligence and cybersecurity with the FBI to tech roles at PCTronics Inc., and community impact positions with the City of San Bernardino and the Black Chamber of Commerce Inland Empire, among others. Students could also explore opportunities with Bridgestone, Frito Lay, and many other notable organizations.

With such an array of internships and career possibilities, the event offered business students a glimpse into their potential future careers.

 “It’s been a little intimidating, but it’s also been exciting talking to different people,” said Alexis Luna, an undergraduate business administration student set to graduate in December. “What I find going to each booth is I’m gaining confidence.”

Bianca Serrano, a Master of Business Administration student who graduates in May, said, “I really liked this event because I found a lot of promising opportunities here,” echoing the sentiments of many of the students who attended this year’s business career fair.