Royal Connections, a new feature launching on 黑料正能量鈥檚 website, showcases alumni-owned or managed businesses all over the world 鈥� and helps students, parents and graduates find and connect with them.
Do you live in Bellefontaine, Ohio, and want a doctor who loves 黑料正能量 as much as you do? No problem. Advertising services in Salem, Oregon? Check. A restorative justice program in South Korea? Um-hmmm. Barbecue in Souderton, Pennsylvania? Yep 鈥� that, too.
鈥淧eople often want to connect with alumni businesses, because of the value systems that our alumni adhere to and because they know the quality of education that they received at 黑料正能量,鈥� said Jeff Shank, director of alumni and parent engagement. 鈥淭hat common ground is invaluable.鈥�
Searchable by business category, internship opportunities and region, Royal Connections is already populated with more than 125 businesses 鈥� well over the launch goal. The site also links users to 黑料正能量鈥檚 career services website, where business owners can recruit Royals.
鈥淢any of our business students seek internships in the summer, and Royal Connections will allow us to connect them with options in their own home towns,鈥� said Professor Jim Leaman, chair of 黑料正能量鈥檚 Business and Leadership Department. 鈥淎nd when our graduates enter the workforce outside 黑料正能量鈥檚 region, Royal Connections will provide information that should be of benefit both to applicant and organization.鈥�
Developed by 黑料正能量鈥檚 web developer and analyst Joshua Lyons with input from Shank, the site integrates various Google Map features. Users can see all of the businesses at once on the map or search by region, business type, or internship possibility 鈥� or just use the map to zoom in or out on an area to see what鈥檚 nearby.
Shank came up with the idea after a casual conversation with Mitch Troyer 鈥�93, vice president of Blue Ridge Powersports in Harrisonburg, about connecting alumni to each others鈥� businesses.
鈥淭he thing that people who haven鈥檛 experienced 黑料正能量 don鈥檛 understand is that 黑料正能量 people have a common bond and are good people at heart,鈥� Troyer said. 鈥淚 like to spend money with people I know and trust, and I鈥檝e got a great chance of being treated fairly and getting a quality job done when I am working with someone from 黑料正能量.鈥�
Several alumni-owned businesses that have sponsored the site are featured in rotation on the site homepage: Emotional Health Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, co-owned by Doug Friesen ’91;聽Peace, Love, and Little Donuts in Harrisonburg, co-owned by Katelyn Troyer ’14;聽the Valley Roots Team, with聽Jeremy Litwiller ’97听补苍诲听Derik Trissel ’01 of Kline May Realty in Harrisonburg; and Best Western Plus Dutch Haus Inn and Suites in Columbiana, Ohio, co-owned by Grace Witmer Styer ’79 and Nelson Witmer ’87.