Southern Miss School of Accountancy Hosts Business Meet-Up

Tuesday, September 10, 2024 – 10:59 a.m. | By: Bailey Harris Shoemake

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) School of Accountancy hosted its annual Meet the Firms event at the Trent Lott Center on Thursday, September 5. The event offers accounting students the opportunity to network with a record number of renowned firms and organizations from across the state of Mississippi and beyond.

Over 200 attendees attended this year’s event, with 32 different companies and organizations represented.

“We are grateful to the accounting firms, businesses, nonprofits and government agencies that provide our students with the opportunity to explore the many career options available with an accounting degree,” said Dr. Blaise Sonnier, director of USM’s School of Accountancy. “The continued support and participation of employers in our Meet the Firms event underscores that our students are ready to work once they complete our accounting program.”

Dr. Sonnier then shared some positive feedback he has received from professional participants about the quality of the school’s students. “It is gratifying to hear these employers comment on how impressive our students are and how well they do their jobs,” Dr. Sonnier said.

The event is coordinated by Julia Bradley, instructor and director of corporate relations, and Amber Hatten, professor of practice and director of the Master of Professional Accountancy (MPA) graduate program, with support from Amy Yeend, assistant dean for professional development and career success at the Southern Miss College of Business and Economic Development.

“Meet the Firms is an evening we look forward to each year. It is so exciting to see our students, faculty, university leaders, alumni and accounting professionals come together on the Southern Miss campus,” Hatten said. “Accounting graduates are in high demand and we are so grateful to have so many organizations supporting the School of Accountancy and working to meet, recruit and hire our talented students. We hope that the Meet the Firms event will result in many internship and full-time employment opportunities for accounting students as they prepare to enter the profession and begin their careers.”

Participating companies/organizations included:

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi

• Carr, Riggs and Ingram (CRI)

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

• Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

• Hannis T. Bourgeois (HTB)

• Harper, Rains, Knight & Company, Pennsylvania (HRK)

• Holt & Associates, PLLC

• Matthews, Cutrer and Lindsay, Pennsylvania (MCL)

• Mississippi Department of Revenue (DOR)

• Mississippi State Auditor’s Office (OSA)

• Mississippi Society of CPAs (MSCPA)

• Piltz, Williams, LaRosa & Co (PWL)

• Salt Marshes, Cleaveland and Gund

• Life at the Southern Farm Bureau

• Watkins, Ward & Stafford, PLLC

Click here to learn more about the School of Accounting.