Virgin Islands college students in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan region received a first-hand look Wednesday at what their futures might hold as management trainees with International Capital & Management Company.
In an effort to attract new college graduates back to the territory for employment opportunities, ICMC is hosting two recruitment events in Washington this week to promote the company’s Accelerated Career Development Program on St. Thomas.
The events are aimed at Virgin Islands students who are college juniors, seniors or have graduated from college within the past two years.
Day one of the two-day tour was hosted in the Blackburn University Center Auditorium at historic Howard University. A room full of eager attendees listened intently as current ACDP participants and organizers of the recruitment session gave detailed accounts of the high level consulting they provide to clients on a daily basis.
Kayla Joseph, from St. John, said that she originally had not intended to return to the Virgin Islands after college but that, upon learning of the ACDP opportunity, she applied and was subsequently accepted. Now she says moving home was the best decision she could have made.
“There is a lot going on St. Thomas socially and working with ICMC gives you the personalized development plan and high impact projects with a stateside feel here in the islands,” she said.
Her team member J.P. deJongh of St. Thomas says he wanted to “come back home” after studying at American University and that, after working with another employer, he learned about the development program. He encourages recent graduates to be proactive in pursuing the “many opportunities that exist with EDC companies in the Virgin Islands.”
Event participants received an insightful company overview by ICMC Chief Financial Officer Nichole Knight and ACDP program manager Melita Etienne.
The audience consisted of students from varied educational paths, each with their own reason for attending the program.
“To call it an information session was an understatement,” said Kwane Barthlett Jr. “This gave you a sense of working at the organization and, since you are working with Cancer Treatment Centers of America, you can’t say no to the type of work that they do,” said the sophomore majoring in justice and psychology at Howard University.
The second recruitment activity will take place Thursday at Washington’s Melrose Hotel from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
“As ICMC continues to grow and recruit talent, we want to ensure that Virgin Islands college graduates are aware of the opportunities we have to offer right here in the Virgin Islands,” said Melanie Gomez, director of talent for ICMC.
“The benefits extend far beyond our company when talented Virgin Islanders return home to put their education to work within our community.”
The two-year ACDP program allows recent college graduates from the Virgin Islands the chance to gain valuable on-the-job training, mentorship and professional development while rotating throughout various departments of the company. Upon completion of the program, the accelerated professional will be prepared for full-time placement in one of ICMC’s departments.
