Students from Appalachian State University traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina on March 15 to spend the day with executives in the newest BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) retail center.
The 13 students are female business majors at Appalachian, members of the co-curricular group Women of Walker in the Walker College of Business. The students had previously met with BCBSNC representatives on campus during the opening of the company's Boone retail center.
View WOW's Spring 2019 online photo album
Beginning with a tour of BCBSNC's 4,000 square foot retail center, the group first interacted with Mr. Chris Peronto, Vice President of Enterprise, Strategy and Innovation for BCBS, who provided a company overview.
To facilitate member health and fitness management, BCBS has opened the new retail centers to support BCBS members as they purchase new plans during open enrollment and provides a year-round site to work with agents to resolve issues. BCBS also offers mobile flu shot clinics, mammogram units, nutritional counseling and on-site fitness classes through the centers.
The Appalachian students also participated in a panel discussion during the visit during which they learned from the experiences of Director of Stakeholder Escalations Aisha Ponds; Senior Vice President, Chief People Office Fara Palumbo; and Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary Danielle Gray.
BCBSNC and the Walker College of Business are in their first year of a pilot program to provide Appalachian business students internship experiences in the BCBSNC retail centers.
About Women of Walker
The mission of the Women of Walker is to accelerate professional development, personal growth, and leadership abilities for female business majors at Appalachian State University through networking, career exploration, travel, and professional development workshops and seminars.
Students from Appalachian State University traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina on March 15 to spend the day with executives in the newest BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) retail center.
Women of Walker, Appalachian State University