Coo Business Club

By: Elizabeth Schmidt

The Coo Business Club at the University of Sioux Falls is a student focused club that aims to expand students’ knowledge of businesses in Sioux Falls, grow the network of peers within the business program at USF and engage in community service work. The Coo Business Club usually meets once or twice a month, hosting a variety of events such as guest speakers, workshops, business tours, service events, and social events. Dr. Joy Lind, Professor of Business Administration, is the Faculty Sponsor
for the club, and she started the Coo Business Club a year and a half ago. Lind’s favorite part about the club is interacting with the participating students. Some previous events that the club has held are a Microsoft Excel Workshop, Feeding South Dakota service project, CaveGamers tour, First Bank & Trust workshop, a pizza/game night, and tour of POET. They have had multiple guest speakers from banks, local businesses, and sports teams as well. Lind’s favorite event was the CaveGamers tour that the club members went on last spring. CaveGamers is owned by Bobby Brockmueller, one of Lind’s former students. “It was so cool to see a USF alumni, who happened to be a former student of mine.” This was truly a full circle moment for her, she said.
Lind had previously been the faculty sponsor for the math club and USF student dance team. She enjoyed these opportunities to connect with students outside of the traditional school setting. When she heard some students talk about an interest in a business club, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity. She has enjoyed meeting with the Coo Business Club officers and has benefited from the advice, wisdom, and discernment that the officers have provided. Lind’s biggest take away from helping start up the club is her involvement in facilitating events with the officers. “I have enjoyed working with the officers to establish the programming.” She enjoys hearing their perspectives and ideas on
events and decisions within the club. Interested students should join the
Coo Business Club because of the professional development help they will receive. Lind facilitates networking with local Sioux
Falls businesses by setting up tours, obtaining guest speakers, and finding unique opportunities for students to participate
in. The club also helps students build their internal network. It enables students to get to know each other well in the USF environment; because when they graduate, they will all be part of each other’s professional
network. The Coo Business Club embraces USF’s Culture for Service by participating in service activities. Students who are looking to join the Coo Business Club should email Joy Lind at Joy.Lind@USiouxFalls.edu and
follow the club Instagram, @coobusinessclub.