The Corporate Retail Association, a new club at MSU, was created fall 2015. Maddy Rodriguez, a supply chain management sophomore and one of the club’s presidents, said it aims to provide members the opportunity to expand their network and gather resources in the retail industry.
The club brings in representatives from large retail companies that often don’t come to campus and connects them with club members.
Meetings begin with presentations about corporate culture and what it’s like to work for these companies. Representatives then discuss jobs and internship opportunities and mingle and network with club members.
Rodriguez, along with her co-founder and co-president supply chain management sophomore Colleena Peng, came up with the idea for the club after MSU added a retail management minor. They thought this club would benefit students with the minor by connecting them with companies other campus business-related clubs don’t.
“I’ve always been interested in retail and going into the fashion industry,” Rodriguez said. “I know retail is much more than that. It’s just kind of one little specific thing. We started to kind of bring more retail companies to campus and kind of give MSU students more of an opportunity to interact with recruiters and things like that, (to) hopefully get jobs, internships, stuff like that.”
Many MSU business-related clubs, because of campus’ close proximity to Detroit, bring in representatives from the auto industry, Rodriguez said. She wanted to give students who were interested in companies besides the auto industry the chance to network.
During fall 2015, the club’s most notable visit was from Target.
This semester, it has visits planned with Apple and Amazon and hope to confirm a meeting with Nordstrom as well.
Along with being an excellent chance for networking, this organization also has many leadership opportunities. There are seven e-board positions and the club is holding elections later this spring, Peng said.
The club’s e-board is committed to assisting their members and hold resume critiques and workshops in order to do this.
Though the majority of members are majoring in a department within the Eli Broad College of Business or the College of Communications Arts and Sciences, students with any major are encouraged to apply.
In order to apply, members are required to pay $25 for an entire year and $15 for one semester. Those interested should visit http://www.msucra.com
The club meets at 6:30 p.m. every other Tuesday, starting Jan. 19, in room 106 Bessey Hall.
