A group of PennWest University students had the chance to sharpen their professional skills and make meaningful employer connections during the 2025 CFA Society of Pittsburgh Career Fair, held Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Rivers Club in downtown Pittsburgh.

Ten students from PennWest’s Department of Business, Economics and Communication attended, representing both the Edinboro and California campuses. Seven traveled from Edinboro, while three joined from California. The trip was organized by Dr. Shaun Pfeiffer of Edinboro and joined by Dr. Nan Li from California.

Throughout the day, students participated in three career-focused panels. “The CFA Charter and Program Explained” introduced attendees to the three levels of the CFA exams and emphasized the career advantages of earning the prestigious certification. “Building Your Network – Networking and Making Connections for Career Success” highlighted strategies for effective professional networking, followed by an opportunity for students to practice those skills directly with employers. Representatives from top organizations including BNY Mellon, Erie Insurance, Federated Hermes, Waldron Private Wealth, C.S. McKee, First National Bank, Dollar Bank, Highmark Health, T. Rowe Price, PNC Bank and American Century Investments engaged with students in real-time networking conversations.

The final session, “Job Search Strategy Uncensored,” featured candid insights from a seasoned hiring manager and a recruiter, covering everything from resumes and interviews to preparing for the first day of work. Students were encouraged to ask questions about the transition from college to career.

Hilary Sissem, a junior finance and personal financial planning major from PennWest Edinboro, said the experience was invaluable.

“As a first-time attendee to the event, the information provided to me about the CFA designation and the tools needed to pass the exam helped me develop plans for a successful career after college,” she said. “I enjoyed being able to create connections with real employers and practice my networking skills.”

Eight of the ten participants are enrolled in PennWest’s personal financial planning or finance programs, with others representing accounting and integrated business. PennWest’s finance and personal financial planning program is one of only 14 in Pennsylvania approved to meet the rigorous CFP® curriculum requirements, preparing students to sit for the Certified Financial Planner exam.

For more information about PennWest’s personal financial planning programs, contact Dr. Michael Engdahl at 716-485-1409 or mengdahl@pennwest.edu. For details on finance programs, contact Dr. Christian Ola at 412-327-8386 or ola@pennwest.edu.

Pictured from left: (Back row) Sohrab Qarib, Austin Monica, Amina Baratova, Abbe Sito, Chase Weaver, and Tristen Waldier. (Front row) Dr. Shaun Pfieffer, Dr. Nan Li, Katelynne Langer, Elley Eastman, Hilary Sissem, and Grace Skerbetz.