Bankers Bring Real-World Experiences to the Classroom
Finance
SUMMARY: Students studying commercial banking had the opportunity to network with local bankers and learn about industry practices.
The College of Business strives to offer opportunities to engage students with business professionals in the community. Recently, students in the FIN460 Commercial Banking class learned about issues such as lending practices and trends in banking regulation. They also gained valuable career advice and enjoyed networking with the professionals.
The guest panelists were:
- Jonathan Comer, market president at Blue Ridge Bank and JMU MBA graduate
- Thomas Rea, market president at Bank of the James and JMU MBA graduate
- Scott Brown, vice president and mortgage loan officer at Bank of the James JMU graduate
- Matt Findley, loan officer at Farm Credit of Virginias
“This panel event is definitely a highlight of the semester,” says finance professor Carl Larsson, Blue Ridge Bank Faculty Fellow. “Having these accomplished professionals visit the classroom is a great opportunity for students to hear and see how local community bankers are putting textbook concepts into action.”
