Last fall, the Business Alumni Chapter introduced alumni to its Traveling Happy Hour, a unique and fun way to network.

For a period of six months, alumni “traveled” with the Business Alumni Chapter as they hosted networking receptions throughout upscale locations in the Brickell and Coral Gables areas, including Tarpon Bend, Mendoza Restaurant, Bahia at the Four Seasons Hotel and Novecento.  Through the series, the chapter’s goal was to unite alumni and increase membership in the FIU Alumni Association and Business Alumni Chapter.

“Alumni of the college were very responsive to the Traveling Happy Hour.  Attendance exceeded our expectations, bringing an average of 70 alumni to each reception,” said Cristina Jaramillo, marketing manager for the college’s Office of Alumni and Partner Relations.

“These events provided me with a great opportunity to network with fellow alumni and business people in South Florida and stay in touch with the university,” said Traveling Happy Hour regular Alison Hegedus (BBA ’98), market research analyst at AvMed Health Plans.

Each time a member of the college’s chapter attended a Traveling Happy Hour, he or she automatically was entered into a raffle to win travel prizes. At the conclusion of the series, Betty Alvarez (BBA ’97) was the lucky winner of two airline tickets to anywhere in the U.S. courtesy of TraveLeaders, and Craig Kirsner (MBA ’04) won luggage sponsored by Carnival Cruise Lines. Elated, Alvarez said, “I definitely needed this!”

If you are not yet a member of the Business Alumni Chapter, visit our website today for a membership form http://business.fiu.edu/alumni/index.cfm. In addition to unique event programming, as a member of the Business Alumni Chapter, you also enjoy a variety of Panther Perks.  For a complete list of membership benefits, visit http://fiualumni.com.