ZIPD Business Conference to feature interview and hiring expert

Bloomsburg, a Commonwealth University, will host the Zeigler Institute for Professional Development (ZIPD) Business Conference Wednesday, Nov. 2, through Friday, Nov. 4.

The ZIPD conference provides students with a professional environment to practice their networking skills and learn from business professionals, many of whom are BU alumni.

ZIPD provides a comprehensive educational experience designed to build the personal and professional capacities necessary for career success. Students gain a competitive edge in the job market or acceptance into graduate and professional school via knowledge, demonstrated professional skills, and networking experiences. ZIPD was established through a gift from Terry '76 and JoAnn Schultz Zeigler '77.

The theme of the 2022 conference is "Get a Pulse on Professionalism" and will feature keynote speaker Joe Stimac, Creator of Interview Ready and CEO and founder of AccuHire Corp. Stimac's keynote, "Your Professional Best," will be held Thursday, Nov. 3, at 3:30 p.m. in Carver Hall, K.S. Gross Auditorium. Stimac will help student attendees understand how to present their transferable skills to reach their career goals. His Interview Ready program helps job seekers understand the job search process from the employer's perspective in order to improve their candidacy.

Stimac is a widely respected expert on competencies and competency-based selection. He and his associates have taken their knowledge and assembled a comprehensive suite of tools to help employers manage their human capital ranging from assessment to performance evaluation.

He is also the author of several books and numerous articles on employment and selection, including Winning Career Strategies, Mastering Job Interviews, and The Ultimate Job Search Kit. His clients include Hallmark Cards, StorageTek, PeopleSoft, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Proctor and Gamble, Marathon Oil, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and many others.
The conference will include ten virtual sessions on Wednesday, Nov. 2, and more than 70 in-person sessions on Thursday and Friday, Nov 3 and 4. Sessions will include recruitment breakfasts and luncheons by firms that include Geisinger, Sherwin-Williams, and Clark Associates. There will also be interviewing and resume review workshops for students.

"This conference is a hallmark event of the academic year for our Zeigler College of Business students," said Bashar W. Hanna, university president. "The university is fortunate to have so many alumni willing to give back and share their experiences with current students. We're grateful to Terry and JoAnn Zeigler, who have generously provided the funding, and support for this program."

This is the 12th year for the program.