EGL’s annual Professional Development Chicago Trip was a great success with 47 EGLs attending! We visited three engaging companies (see below!) and ended the day with an alumni dinner sponsored by the Tauber Institute for Global Operations! We are grateful to the companies, alumni, and Tauber Institute who supported us and helped make this great learning and networking opportunity possible.

The Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field

The day started off in Wrigleyville where we took a quick tour of the world's best venue to watch a baseball game, Wrigley Field. After a brief stadium tour and our group picture, EGL students participated in a panel discussion with members of the Chicago Cubs data science and software engineering teams. In this panel discussion students were able to learn how they can apply the engineering lessons they have learned here at Michigan and translate them to the field of sports entertainment. We were able to ask questions from team members in Baseball Systems (internal software to support team development), Baseball Technology (physical technology used for team development), and Baseball Analytics (think Jonah Hill in Moneyball). Through this panel discussion students were able to ask about what technology brings home championships, what skills sports teams are looking for, how we might be able to join the team at the Cubs, as well as some fruitless attempts to learn more about moves the Cubs plan to make in the offseason. This was an eye-opening experience for the students to see just how many places an engineering degree and analytical mindset can take you.

SpiderRock Advisors

After the Cubs we had the amazing opportunity to meet with Eric Metz (EGL Alum from the Class of 2003) and his team at SpiderRock Advisors, a Chicago based company focused on reducing the barriers to options trading through software solutions. Here, students were able to learn a lot about the origin, goals, and team that Eric has built at SpiderRock Advisors. In this presentation students were able to hear Eric's story all the way from his introduction to finance as he went through EGL, his time working on trading floors, and how all of that inspired him to start SpiderRock Advisors. Student's asked a variety of questions around the solution's SpiderRock is developing, the companies SpiderRock works with, and the potential ways EGL students could support the goals of SpiderRock if we were to work there. Similar to the experience at the Cubs, many students left SpiderRock amazed by the opportunities that can come when you combine a Michigan Engineering education with EGL!

The Keystone Group

The third and final visit of the day was The Keystone Group is a management consulting firm based ut of Chicago serving mid-market manufacturing and distribution clients and their stakeholders, focusing on growth strategy, operational improvement, turnarounds, and mergers and acquisitions. At the Keystone Group, Sam Dion (EGL Class of 2017) took us on an office tour, introduced us to his team members, and gave a company presentation. EGL students were eager to learn about the opportunities, benefits, and challenges that come with working at a boutique firm vs. a larger consulting firm as well as the key things that set The Keystone Group apart from its competition. Following the presentation students were able to meet with other team members from around the office to hear more about a day in the life of a Keystone employee. Whether it was the milkshakes, the view of Chicago, talking to current employees, or the work done at Keystone, all of EGL left excited about what they had learned during the visit.

Alumni Dinner at Lou Malnati’s

To wrap up the day, we hosted 12 alumni and their partners at the Lou Malnati’s in Gold Coast. The dinner was a great opportunity for current EGL students to interact with EGL alumni informally and learn more about how many amazing paths we can take! We are grateful to the Tauber Institute for Global Operations for sponsoring this event.