Tabor College business students are ready to immerse themselves in their future careers.
“The Week of Business” will commence on Tuesday, Oct. 25, and feature three guest lecturers and/or panels and wrap up with a Career Fair on Friday, Oct. 28.
The week’s activities are designed to give Tabor business students the opportunity to network with regional, national, and global companies. Each speaker(s) for the three evening events is set to give a firsthand glimpse at industry from different viewpoints.
The events are primarily planned by the Entrepreneurship Experience class, which is taught by Dr. Melinda Rangel, associate professor of business administration. Students included are Marisa Vallejo (SR, Gilbert, Ariz.); Sasha Wasinger (SO, Hays, Kan.); Jazmin Sandoval (SR, Las Vegas, Nev.); Sydney Takash (JR, Galt, Calif.); and Ashly Johnson (SR, Lee’s Summit, Mo.).
Entrepreneurship Experience Students
“The coolest part for me is that all the speakers share the common goal of being faith-driven,” Vallejo said. “It’s cool to see how faith works in different industries, and I’m glad we’ll be able to show that to other Tabor students.”
Speakers for the three lectures include:
Fayola Oyatayo, Oct. 25
David Loewen, Oct. 26
Ashley Williams, Oct. 26
Terry Ens, Oct. 26
Chris Rangel, Oct. 26
Jalen Coleman-Lands, Oct. 27
More information on the speakers can be found below.
Wasinger is especially proud of the job diversity amongst their speakers.
“We have a bunch of different people who have taken so many avenues of entrepreneurship,” she said.
The Career Fair, which is set to include 31 businesses, will conclude the Week of Business.
Career Fair Participants (subject to change)
Ranging from accounting, food production, insurance, manufacturing, broadband service, sports management, healthcare, and more, students will have the opportunity to network through many different branches of business. The list also includes multiple returning entities.
“A lot of the people who came last year are excited to be back,” Wasinger said.
Each event is sponsored by the Business Department for business students. Funds for travel were covered by the Dean A. and Carol Nachtigall Lecture Series on Entrepreneurship.
“I could not have imagined the experiences and opportunities that I would be given at Tabor,” Vallejo said. “I never thought I would be this hopeful going into the workforce and my professional career. I feel secure in my abilities and the business professors have truly set us up for success. They are amazing.”
Week of Business Guest Lecturers & Speakers
TUESDAY, OCT. 25
Fayola Oyatayo
CEO of Fay Solutions
media personality/entertainment/public relations
Oyatayo is a media personality and entrepreneur who is partnered with some of the most recognizable national brands. He has landed major brand deals alongside Disney, Orangetheory, Kendra Scott, Chicken N Pickle, Old Navy, and more. Oyatayo is also a talk-show host and founder of the No. 1 social media talk show in Kansas. He’s the official in-game host for the University of Kansas Athletics. He is the CEO of Fay Solutions, a public relations, marketing, and production company. Oyatayo is a 2017 graduate of Sterling College.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 26
David Loewen
Owner, The Igloo
Ashley Williams
Owner, Legacy Farms Coffee
Terry Ens
Previous owner/restaurant business, Dairy Queen & Quizno’s
Chris Rangel
Owner, Ultimate Martial Arts
THURSDAY, OCT. 27
Jalen Coleman-Lands
Founder, Athelites House
Coleman-Lands is the founder of Athelites House, which sets out to redefine the financial cultural atmosphere and experience for student-athletes, fifth grade and higher. Their vision is to be the primary financial system that mends the relationship between unbanked/underbanked communities and financial institutions. Coleman-Lands was a member of the 2022 national championship team at the University of Kansas, and also played basketball at Illinois, DePaul, and Iowa State.