Are you planning on transferring to a university? Considering starting a business? Trying to pick a major? Are you looking for an internship? Deciding on which classes to take next?
Join Us for the Business Café Series!
GRCC Business Faculty want to help you! We are offering periodic advising, informational and skills-based presentations and workshops for interested students this fall. Please join us to participate in our Business Café Series!
Throughout the semester, at different days and times, a GRCC Business faculty member will be available to discuss various topics related to academic advising, transferring, careers in business, skill building, and more. In addition to the Business Café Series, we provide advising sessions for currently enrolled students and students thinking about joining one of our programs. Our faculty are also available to answer questions during regularly scheduled office hours. Call the Business Office at (616) 234-4220 for more information.
- Phi Theta Kappa: What’s in It for You?
- Cooking the Books: Unmasking the Secrets of Fraud
- Teams and Groups and Projects: Oh My!
- Entrepreneurship and Starting Your Own Business
- Running Your Own Business: Keys to Small Business Success
- Accounting Careers with Dolinka, VanNoord & Company
- Careers in Marketing and Management
- Writing Center Resources for Business Students
- Careers Within Financial Planning
- Personal Finance: How to Budget, Manage Debt, and Plan for Retirement
- Careers in Law
- Turn Your Ideas Into Money: MWest Challenge
- Acing the Job Interview
- Accounting Careers with Robert Half
- I’m Not Sure About Math: What Class Do I Need to Take to Transfer to a Business School?
How to Register
To participate in any of these events, click on the appropriate registration link(s) and provide the requested information. We ask that you register for the event(s) at least 24 hours in advance. You will need to be logged into your GRCC email account to be able to register.
Business Café Series
Phi Theta Kappa: What’s in It for You?
- Virtual Session
- Sept. 21, 2026
- 3–4 p.m.
- Ann Alexander
In this virtual session, Professor Ann Alexander will introduce Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges, and explain how membership can support your academic and professional goals.
Students will learn about transfer scholarships, recognition on diplomas and transcripts, leadership and service opportunities, and the supportive community available through Phi Theta Kappa. Membership can open doors to scholarships, leadership development, and experiences that help prepare you for future success.
Cooking the Books: Unmasking the Secrets of Fraud
- 213 Cook Hall
- Sept. 24, 2026
- Noon–1 p.m.
- Andy Schut
Join us for a fun and eye-opening discussion about the wild world of "cooking the books"—no aprons required! We’ll dive into how some companies bend the rules (or break them entirely) to make their numbers look better, and what happens when they get caught. With real-life scandals, creative schemes, and ways to spot fraud, this session will give you a behind-the-scenes look at financial trickery. We will also look at employment opportunities in forensic accounting and fraud investigation.
Register for Cooking the Books
Teams and Groups and Projects: Oh My!
- Virtual Session
- Sept. 29, 2026
- 4–5 p.m.
- Ann Alexander
Register for Teams and Groups and Projects
Entrepreneurship and Starting Your Own Business
- Virtual Session
- Oct. 5, 2026
- Noon–1 p.m.
- Felix Pereiro
Turn your dreams into a reality! There has never been a better time to start your own business and be your own boss! This session will focus on taking your idea and turning it into a successful business. Receive personalized coaching on your business idea.
The best employers rank an entrepreneurial mindset as one of the top things they are looking for in candidates. This session will also discuss the important role entrepreneurship plays in economic development, job creation, and prosperity for a nation.
Whether you start a business or go to work for someone else, this session will get you one step closer to making your dreams a reality!
Live the life you truly deserve. Be rewarded for your ideas and hard work. If you truly want to become wealthy and successful, then come to this powerful virtual session.
Running Your Own Business: Keys to Small Business Success
- Virtual Session
- Oct. 5, 2026
- 1–2 p.m.
- Felix Pereiro & David VanValkenburg
There has never been a better time to own your own business and be your own boss! Running your own business should be the best decision you have ever made in your life. Learn what it takes to keep your dream alive and not let it turn into a nightmare.
Join GRCC’s Professor Felix Pereiro and Adjunct Professor David VanValkenburg for this virtual session, which will focus on what it takes to run your business successfully and avoid the common mistakes made by small business owners. Receive personalized coaching on your small business.
Live the life you truly deserve. Be rewarded for owning your own small business. If you truly want to become wealthy and successful, then come to this powerful virtual session.
Register for Running Your Own Business
Accounting Careers with Dolinka, VanNoord & Company
- Virtual Session
- Oct. 7, 2026
- Noon–1 p.m.
- Jennifer Wangler
In this virtual session, Professor Jennifer Wangler and representatives from Dolinka, VanNoord & Company will talk about accounting careers, CPA requirements, and skills you can build now to prepare for success. Whether you’re just beginning to explore accounting or already pursuing the major, this session will give you valuable insights.
Register for Accounting Careers with Dolinka, VanNoord & Company
Careers in Marketing and Management
- Virtual Session
- Oct. 12, 2026
- Noon–1 p.m.
- Felix Pereiro
If you love people and want to change the world, then marketing and management careers are right for you! Marketing and Management professionals are in big demand in today’s competitive job market. Learn more about the exciting world of marketing and management and its high paying careers.
If you are interested in living a life filled with adventure, travel, challenge, and excitement, then a career in marketing and management is right for you. Marketing professionals take an initial idea within an organization and bring it to market. We are curious, analytical, creative, and innovative problem solvers. We help people live happier lives by providing solutions to their daily problems. Management professionals organize, plan, lead, control, and direct the most valuable resources within an organization—people and capital—to meet objectives.
This virtual session will provide individualized coaching to help you make the right decision on which careers in marketing and management best fit your life goals today and tomorrow. If you love working with people and want to help make this world a better place, then marketing and management careers are right for you!
Register for Marketing and Management
Writing Center Resources for Business Students
- Virtual Session
- Oct. 20, 2026
- 1:30–2:30 p.m.
- Ann Alexander & Daniel Sullivan
Register for Writing Center Resources for Business Students
Careers Within Financial Planning
- Virtual Session
- Oct. 21, 2026
- Noon–1 p.m.
- Jennifer Wangler
In this session, GRCC will welcome team members from Northwestern Mutual to share what a career within financial services looks like—including both internship and full-time opportunities. If you’re entrepreneurially ambitious, have a curiosity for sales, are looking to make an impact, and have thought about a career in financial advising, this event is for you.
You’ll learn about the types of roles available, how Northwestern Mutual develops young adults and career changers, and the mindset and skills that lead to success. Our financial representatives, who come from varying academic backgrounds and experiences, have the unique opportunity to build a financial planning practice while engaging local and nationwide experts, selling exclusive financial products, and having the support of a Fortune 500 company. If you’re interested in learning about comprehensive financial planning, what it takes to become a financial advisor, and what the industry looks for in our selection process, please join us for this session.
Register for Careers Within Financial Planning
Personal Finance: How to Budget, Manage Debt, and Plan for Retirement
- 513 Cook Hall
- Oct. 26, 2026
- 1:30–3 p.m.
- Kevin Stuart
In this on-campus session, Professor Kevin Stuart will focus on building strong financial habits for lifelong stability. Students will learn how to create and stick to a budget, understand credit scores, manage debt wisely, and plan for retirement. The session will provide practical strategies for avoiding common financial mistakes and taking greater control of your financial future.
This session will provide practical strategies to avoid common financial mistakes and help you take control of your financial future.
Careers in Law
- Virtual Session
- Oct. 28, 2026
- 9–10 a.m.
- Garry Brand
In this virtual session, Professor Garry Brand will explore multiple paths from GRCC to law school and legal careers. Students will learn about educational options, law school preparation, and opportunities in the legal field. There will also be time for Q&A.
Turn Your Ideas Into Money: MWest Challenge
- Virtual Session
- Nov. 2, 2026
- Noon–1 p.m.
- Felix Pereiro
In this virtual session, Professor Felix Pereiro will discuss the MWest Challenge competition, a student venture competition designed to create cross collaboration between students that span across several universities from West Michigan. Through this experience, entrepreneurially minded students are able to develop and grow new ventures based on their own ideas.
Acing the Job Interview
- Virtual Session
- Nov. 9, 2026
- 3–4 p.m.
- Ann Alexander
In this virtual session, Professor Ann Alexander will share practical strategies to help you succeed in interviews. Learn how to prepare effectively, highlight your strengths, and respond confidently to challenging questions.
You’ll gain practical tips to help you stand out and make a lasting impression in today’s competitive job market.
Register for Acing the Job Interview
Accounting Careers with Robert Half
- Virtual Session
- Nov. 11, 2026
- Noon–1 p.m.
- Jennifer Wangler
In this session, Professor Jennifer Wangler will welcome representatives from Robert Half to talk with students about careers in accounting and related fields. You’ll hear about current job market trends, in-demand roles, and the skills employers are looking for right now.
The discussion will also focus on how students can position themselves for success, including steps you can take while still in school to strengthen your resume, explore career paths, and prepare for long-term growth in the accounting profession. Whether you’re just starting out or planning your next move, this session will offer practical guidance and insight.
Register for Accounting Careers with Robert Half
I’m Not Sure About Math: What Class Do I Need to Take to Transfer to a Business School?
- 201 Cook Hall
- Nov. 18, 2026
- 11 a.m.–noon
- Brent Spitler
During this in-person session, Professor Brent Spitler will explain the current degree requirements at partner business colleges and universities. Transfer agreements and math requirements can be confusing, but understanding them is a crucial step in planning for a successful transfer.