March 15 | 12:00 pm ET

Clienteling is a technique used by commission based retail sales associates to establish long-term relationships with key customers based on data about their preferences, behaviors and purchases. Clienteling does not specifically apply to a sales person or a sales type of environment. All organizations could benefit from implementing these simple tactics into the culture of their business. Creating a better overall happiness at work for both the employee and the patron, or the teacher and the student. There are a number of tactics and practices used to achieve this goal - tune in to learn more!

March 20 | 2:00 pm ET

With the launch of the first-ever NACAS Research report, DJ Pepito, Director of NACAS Research, and Don Penrod, CEO of the 49er Shops at California State University, Long Beach, will share insights from the research process and discuss how NACAS is exploring ways to show auxiliaries’ impact on student success. Pepito will also elaborate on the NACAS Research collaboration with Long Beach State and the initial findings that indicate 49er Shops student employees’ graduation rates for first-time freshmen are out-performing the general campus population. What factors impact students’ decision to work while going to school? What associations do students make with on-campus versus off-campus jobs? Do students believe their jobs help them succeed academically? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this NACAS Research webinar.

April 4 | 12:00 pm ET

Join Rikki Turner and Dr. Thomas E. Bunton from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock as they share tips and experiences for navigating difficult conversations with business partners. Whether you need to address performance deficiencies or terminate a contract, this webinar will prepare participants with best practices for identifying problems, preparing for the conversation, addressing the issues, and following up on the desired outcomes.

April 10 | 2:00 pm ET

Join Corey Salem, Director of Member Engagement of NACAS, and NACAS Membership Committee volunteers as we explore the breadth of your NACAS membership and all that it has to offer. From reviewing benefits to discussing future benefit launches, this webinar will serve as your A-Z, soup to nuts guide to making the most of your NACAS membership. Learning outcomes: NACAS members will develop a deeper understanding of their NACAS membership and the benefits that come with it.

April 26 | 3:00 pm ET

Lauren Ross and Michael Mendoza of the University of Houston will discuss their institution’s farmers market and how to leverage campus partnerships to overcome challenges. This webinar will provide a case study on planning, implementing, generating revenue, and connecting with local businesses to bring a farmers market to the campus community and further a commitment to sustainability and wellness.

May 10 | 2:00 pm ET

Join NACAS CEO Kelsey Harmon Finn as she dives into what distinguishes great leaders from good ones using Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence skills as her guide. The summer is a great time to reflect on the school year and look forward to what lies ahead. What can you bring to the table this fall that will make this year better than last? There are five components to Emotional Intelligence that help maximize performance and assist in helping you live life in the flow. Through understanding, practice, and persistence you can build upon and strengthen each of the five components to be a better leader. The first of this five-part summer series will focus on self-awareness: knowing one's strengths, weaknesses, drives, values, and impact on others. Join in to see how you can enhance your skills, making this year better than the last.

July 26 | 3:00 pm ET

Join Kelsey Harmon Finn as she chronicles her journey from what she thought she would be to NACAS CEO. As she shares, we encourage you to reflect on your own journey - What are your setbacks and challenges? What decisions did you make along the way? What advice do you have for others? In a society where men typically dominate executive positions, how can we empower young women to become great leaders? Spend time listening and discussing why words and every interaction matter. Kelsey will share her experience and provide insight to these questions as she dives into her story, the Road to CEO.

Listen to former astronaut/pro-football player Leland Melvin tell his story of overcoming career challenges at NASA and the NFL. Hear his fascinating story of perseverance and how he ultimately traveled off-planet twice on Space Shuttle Atlantis to help build the International Space Station. The Pro Football Hall of Fame honored his athletic and academic accomplishments by placing his Detroit Lions jersey under glass in Canton, Ohio. Through these professional experiences working on high stakes teams, he developed a deep and nuanced understanding of effective team dynamics.

The average college student is not the same as they once were. They represent a diverse range of races, socio-economic classes, religions, ages, and preferences. They think and act differently. As auxiliary services professionals, it's our duty to make sure we are reaching each unique student and telling their stories. In her general session, marketing guru Kelly McDonald will provide tips and actionable takeaways you can use to ensure your marketing efforts are reaching every student. These steps will help you build a better experience for students on your campus.

Jared Ceja, CASP, serves as the Director of Store Services at California State University, Long Beach.

1. What steps has your campus store taken to support social justice?

Social justice has recently been an area of particular focus for our organization. A few of our most significant initiatives may be found below:

- The University Bookstore Division team works diligently to make sure our workforce is well-rounded and representative of our student population. This is achieved primarily through broad recruitment and outreach. Our roughly 300 student associates bring their talents from nearly every corner of our campus community. They provide diversity in perspective that helps make us a better store.

- We actively participate in the Fair Labor Association (FLA), an organization devoted to improving workers’ rights worldwide. It starts at the top with our 49er Shops’ CEO serving on the FLA Monitoring Committee. It continues with the FLA student intern position we maintain as part of our Licensing Department, a role that seeks to trace our products all the way back to the factory where they were produced. We can now proudly say that our apparel was produced in a socially responsible manner.

- Far too many students attempt to pass courses without required materials simply due to cost. Our store works tirelessly with faculty, campus partners, students, and business partners to drive course material prices down. Used books, rentals, digital materials, course packs, OER, and the Day 1 Digital Access program are all important components. The effort has paid off with the average course materials price dropping 30% since 2011.

- Food and housing insecurity has impacted a number of students on our campus. The 49er Shops aids the campus effort to alleviate the issue by providing financial and logistical support. We offer an annual monetary donation to the CSULB Emergency Fund, do POS fundraising and donate surplus food to the Food Pantry, and our ID Card Services arm facilitates the Feed A Need drive where residential students are able to donate meals to their fellow students in need. Last semester’s Feed A Need effort raised over 1,300 meals.

- The investment of reserves is yet another opportunity for social justice. Our company is currently exploring revisions to our investment policy focused specifically on socially responsible investing. Additionally, we provided $100,000 in seed money for the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF). Students now manage a portion of our portfolio, turning classroom education into tangible results.

2. Student employees provide a lot of the daily support for the store on most campuses. What are ways you recommend campuses leverage this labor force while also meeting the student employees' academic, social, and financial needs?

Students are the heart and soul of the 49er Shops. They hold the vast majority of the positions in our company. If you walk into one of our locations, nearly every smiling face you see is a Long Beach State student. My recommendations fall into four main areas:

- Student associates need to understand that work is a priority, but school comes first. Be reasonably flexible with their schedule and never ask them to skip class for a shift. To be genuine about student success we must start with the success of our own.

- Stores should set high standards for their student associates and motivate them to meet or exceed their goals. We do a disservice to our students if we simply provide an easy job free of any real responsibility. It would be irresponsible for us to let them think it is okay to be late, miss shifts, goof off, surf the web, provide poor service, or otherwise do anything that will not be acceptable in future careers. They are best served if we help prepare them for life outside of campus.

- Hope and opportunity can drive results. Give that to your students through growth opportunities at modest wage increases. Our auxiliary maintains elevated student roles including shift leads, buyer’s assistants, marketing associates, accounting support, technicians, and more. Even my assistant is a student, and she does an amazing job!

- Consider ways to further develop student associates for current and future results. The 49er Shops offers a New Leader Training series that combines classroom style learning with practical on the job application. This opportunity is offered to those individuals identified by management as possessing great potential.

Ultimately, we all have the luxury of a college educated workforce at our doorstep. Take good care of them while letting their talents help grow your business.