Corey Jones

Program: MBA

How did you first hear about the Coggin Graduate Alumni Network (CGAN)?
After I graduated from UNF with my MBA, I wanted to continue to stay active with the university, such as finding ways to give back, networking with other UNF alum, and participating in continuing education opportunities. I had asked around and linked up with Amy Bishop, MBA, who sent me some information on the newly launched CGAN. It was exactly what I was looking for, so I signed up and attended my first workshop, "Executive Presence.” It was an excellent educational experience where I learned some great best practices and met some other great folks, many of whom I’ve worked with on many different projects since then.

What are your favorite benefits of being in CGAN?
I really love the CGAN socials. Whether it be the UNF basketball game social, or the recent Jacksonville Icemen social, I’ve always had a ton of fun and it gives you a chance to continue building on existing CGAN relationships and meet new members.

What would you advise recent alum to do after graduation from their master's program?
My advice would be to take full advantage of programs like CGAN. There are so many wonderful, dedicated, and successful folks in CGAN, from various backgrounds and industries. Sometimes you get so caught up in the work when you’re progressing toward graduation that you miss out on making the professional connections that are such an important part of graduate school. CGAN has given me an opportunity to go back and make those connections, and it’s been a huge boost to my professional network.

How has CGAN impacted your career?
I’ve always been passionate about education and continuous learning, especially in the industry that I work in. CGAN gave me a unique opportunity to mentor a current UNF student to pass on the day-to-day strategies I’ve utilized to become a subject matter expert in my field and build a professional network around that expertise. I’ve conducted multiple 1-on-1’s with the student to discuss my day-to-day activities and invited him to attend several professional networking events with me. Through this experience, I’ve discovered ways to be more efficient, communicate better, and articulate what I do, knowing that I’d have to break things down well for an undergraduate student. Additionally, when the student attended these networking events with me, many folks admired his guts to put himself out there in a vulnerable environment like that. As a result, I’ve met so many new people who simply wanted to come up and meet him, learn about why he was there, and what he was studying.

What advice would you give current students and recent alum?
I advise current students to take advantage of all the professional networking opportunities available to them at UNF. Find folks in the profession you want to be in, meet them, build rapport, trade contact information, and give them a follow on LinkedIn. Periodically check in and interact with their LinkedIn posts so you stay top of mind. The more of these folks you can add to your network, the more direct connections you’ll have when a job opportunity arises at their firm.