Committees
What is BEST?
Chamber volunteers (Mentors) will be in a position to act as a coach, teacher, and professional guide. Mentors will have the opportunity to teach and advise students about career opportunities in a safe, honest and supportive environment.
BEST will become a valuable resource for students as they transition into the workforce. BEST is a multifaceted program providing a variety of services to meet differing needs for both new and returning students regardless of age.
Opportunities for Students:
- Explore different career opportunities through interaction with local business professionals.
- Familiarize themselves with corporate protocol.
- Identify long-term professional development needs.
- Realize the value of networking.
Opportunities for Mentors:
- Help students transition into successful careers.
- Serve as “career navigators” for members of the community
- Contribute to the professional development of the future student workforce.
- Identify potential interns and new hires for their organization.
- Give something back to their community and profession.
Committee Interest Form:
Fill out the form below for more information.
Program Administration
BEST provides two programs for the Students: Group Mentoring and Individual Mentoring.
- These programs will be managed and coordinated by a member of the Chamber’s Board of Directors
- This person will serve as the Program Coordinator, organize Group Mentoring events, oversee the Chamber Mentors, and serve as the liaison between the local schools and the Chamber.
Program Evaluation
In order to ensure that the BEST Program is meeting its objectives, it is important to maintain open communication with all participants and actively solicit feedback on the results.
- Chamber will follow up with participants to ensure that Students have been able to connect with needed Chamber resources, volunteers, programs and events.
- Program Coordinator will meet periodically with college / school administrators to share feedback, discuss needs of students, and work with schools to improve the program and Student experience.
Group Mentoring
Group Mentoring activities provide networking groups and events for those students who may not be inclined to participate in an individual one-on-one mentoring process. Mixers, workshops, tours and job fairs can be scheduled and arranged to benefit varying needs of students.
- This provides students to interface with business leaders in a group setting by introducing LGBTQ+ students to members of the RSCC business community.
- The events can be structured in different way, e.g., business panels (diverse), individual industry presentations (specific focus), workshops (skill-based), or casual networking mixers.
- SRCC may set up workshops lead by business leaders to facilitate work-related skills
- Examples of workshops include: resume writing; interview skills; etc.
- Students can discuss issues and/or ask questions of business professionals in a safe/open forum.
- SRCC may set up support groups for students and mentors can discuss current challenges.
- Examples of support groups include: textbooks exchanges; access to technology;
- SRCC may work with LGBTQ+ student groups to organize tours of local businesses.
- Students will have a first-hand opportunity to meet industry leaders and learn about the location and work environment of national, regional and local companies.
- SRCC may work with local businesses and campus Pride Centers in support of local job fairs.
- This will provide students with an opportunity to learn about different companies and industries and meet local business representatives.
Individual Mentoring
Individual Mentoring is based on a one-on-one relationship between a Mentor and a Student. The BEST Program will utilize the two tools described below with respect to implanting an individual mentoring program. Our goal is to maintain a current list of mentors available to support student needs.
- This gives students the opportunity to self-select business leaders who they would like to work with, connecting students to Chamber members interested in working with students.
- The Resource List will include Chamber members from different industries and fields of interest.
- Mentorship connections will develop based on the needs and interests of both parties.
- SRCC will work with LGBTQ+ student groups to promote internships with local businesses.
- Students will have a first-hand opportunity to meet industry leaders and learn about the location and work environment of national, regional and local companies.
BEST Committee:
- Andrea Weathington
- Melissa Muganzo Murphy
- Tara Franks
Drag Queen Bingo (DQB) Committee
Roles could include: working the door (during COVID, we require a vaccination or proof of testing, selling bingo cards, announcement throughout the game, giving instructions to the business sponsor, and working with “Do-Me-More.”
The time commitment is from about 4:45pm until 9pm the night of the event.
Drag Queen Bingo Committee:
- Paul “Do Me Moore” Crouch
- Samuel Jones
- Fred Palmer
- Paul Weubbe
