NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s College of Business and Technology hosted the Walter Porter Experience April 11-14 week with a series of speakers and events designed to bridge the gap between the college campus and real business experience.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana human resources experts Dr. YaSheka Adams and Greg Rizzuto spoke to students at the Walter Porter Experience. From left are Dr. Mary Edith Stacy, dean of NSU’s College of Business and Technology; Kevin McCotter, chairman of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Board of Directors; Adams and Rizzuto.

 

NSU invited personnel from industry partner Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana to speak to students on business etiquette, human resources issues and health insurance, concluding the week with a field trip to Baton Rouge.

The Walter Porter Experience, formerly the Walter Porter Forum, began with an etiquette lunch April 11 featuring 2013 NSU alum Ryan Owens who spoke to students about business etiquette and networking. Owens is a senior data analyst for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.

Michael Bertaut, a certified health consultant and professional of the Academy of Healthcare Management, spoke to Business faculty, students and other guests to April 13.   Bertaut is the senior healthcare economist and exchange coordinator for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana where he is responsible for predicting membership activities for over 1.8 million Louisianians who carry a Blue Cross card.

Speakers for a student forum were Dr. YaSheka Adams, director of Organizational Development and Effectiveness at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, and Greg Rizzuto, the company’s Total Rewards director.  Each spoke from the perspective of a human resources perspective on what students can expect in the workplace in a corporate environment.

Students concluded the week with a field trip to Brown Eagle in Baton Rouge, where they learned about the company’s packaging, warehousing, material handling, logistics and labor from company owner and CEO Lela Mae Wilkes.  Wilkes is a graduate and long-time supporter of NSU’s School of Business.

Michael Bertaut, a senior healthcare economist at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, spoke to Business faculty, students and other guests.