First Big Ten Career Expo to hit Indianapolis

Big Ten students and alumni are invited to the first Big Ten Conference Career Expo on March 14 at Union Station in Indianapolis. The Expo, sponsored by the Big Ten Network, pairs scholars from the conference’s 11 universities with companies from both within and beyond Indiana’s borders.\nUpon first glance, the career expo might look like a typical job fair, but as the Big Ten Network’s Media Relations Manager Mike Vest suggests, that is not the case. The event, which will take place in conjunction with the 2008 Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament in Indianapolis, provides students with an opportunity to network with prominent companies, he said.\n“(The expo) is designed specifically for Big Ten students,” Vest said. \nThe number of companies that will be present stood at 30 as of Feb. 22 and is still growing, said John Dedman, director of communications for the Indiana Sports Corporation. Along with the Indiana Sports Corporation, the list of companies includes organizations such as the Indianapolis Colts, Pacers Sports & Entertainment, Liberty Mutual and Coca-Cola Enterprises, according to the Expo’s Web site.\nDedman said companies and students are both hoping for the same thing at the Expo: the opportunity to network. \n“(The Indiana Sports Corporation) is looking forward to meeting young men and women ... who are well prepared for the business world,” he said. \nHe said it was important for students interested in the Expo to visit the Big Ten Career Expo’s Web site and to consult the full list of participating companies.\nThe Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament is the reason why the Expo is taking place in Indianapolis, according to a press release from the organization. \nAndrea Williams, associate commissioner of basketball operations for the Big Ten Conference, said the career expo is part of an agreement between the conference and Indianapolis’ organizing committee to bring the Big Ten Basketball Tournament to the city through 2012. This year is the first year of that agreement.\nDedman said the Indiana Sports Corporation proposed the career expo as part of the contract to cap off an effort among local leaders, organizations, the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana to bring the tournament to Indiana.\nHosting the events brings good news for Indiana financially. Dedman said The Indiana Sports Corporation projects the Big Ten Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournaments to gross $10 million per year for Indiana’s economy.\nHe also said it presents Indianapolis to a national audience. \n“You can’t put a price on that,” Dedman said.