BIG RAPIDS, Mich. — Ferris State University’s School of Built Environment hosted a career fair in early February at The Granger Center for Construction and HVACR.

The Ferris School of Built Environment houses the architecture, construction technology and management, facilities management, and HVACR programs in the College of Engineering Technology.

The event brought representatives of close to 40 employers directly to students in Granger classrooms and gave students opportunities to meet them, research internships and full-time jobs, and sit for in-house interviews.

Visiting industry representatives included Atomatic Mechanical Services (Chicago), Clark Construction Co. (Lansing, Michigan), Copeland (St. Louis), F.H. Paschen (Chicago), Kasco (Grand Rapids, Michigan), Quality Air Heating & Cooling Inc. (Grand Rapids), and Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. (Detroit).

“I am continually impressed by the interaction between students and industry representatives during Career Day,” said Dan Flores, an HVACR sales engineer for Atomatic and a graduate of the Ferris HVACR program, and also a member of the Granger advisory committee.

“Each dialogue allows each side to learn much about the other, allowing a perfect amount of time to make a long-lasting impression. It certainly makes a difference when a student can discuss their career aspirations in a relaxed atmosphere with industry mentors,” Flores continued. “Ferris has a long history of putting people to work in unique, niche occupations.”

“What better way to jump-start your career than through work-based learning projects which also develop the necessary soft skills for students preparing for lucrative careers in heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration, construction, and architecture fields?” said Suzanne Miller, director of the School of Built Environment. “It is a win-win for students and industry alike.”