The R-Cubed Sustainability Club is hosting a career forum at Southeast Missouri State University from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on April 24 in Crisp Hall Room 125.

R-Cubed was created at Southeast during the fall 2013 semester with the motive to educate others about utilizing green building and efficient living habits. Members organize events to promote sustainable living and community improvement and to provide education about things like recycling.

The career forum will offer awareness about green building and provide an opportunity for career development and networking for students in the sustainability and engineering fields.

"The idea is to allow students [at Southeast] studying these fields to learn about what their career will be like after college and to figure out what college preparation they need," Patrick Broyles, vice president of R-Cubed, said.

The purpose of organizing the forum is to provide an outlet for sustainable energy systems management and technology management majors to learn more about the careers that they want to obtain after college.

"The forum will give students an understanding of how green building and technologies can be implemented in communities," Dalton Webb, president of R-Cubed, said.

The event will consist of a line-up of speakers who will give presentations on topics such as renewable energy resources and carbon management. The speakers are career professionals involved in healthcare, engineering and LEED (education, utilities, and energy).

"Even if they think they [students] aren't going to get anything out of it they will. These are four amazing people doing really cool things," Shelby Hicks, adviser of R-Cubed and interior design instructor at Southeast, said.

Attendees will be allowed to participate in an open question and answer session with all of the speakers. Small group sessions with each individual speaker will commence after the open question and answer session to give students the opportunity to interact with the professionals on a more personal level.

Matt Huber, residential sales representative for Liberty Utilities-Mid States, will be one of the professionals speaking at the forum.

"I'm not too far from school, so I can definitely relate [to students]. I tried to take advantage of career forums and events like that, and I think it helped me get the job I have today," Huber said. "I got both my undergraduate and master's from SEMO. I probably wouldn't have got my masters if the people with jobs already in the field [utilities and energy] hadn't told me it was helpful. If I wouldn't have went back to school for my master's degree I may not have gotten the job position I am in now."

Huber stressed that learning from current professionals is helpful to students looking for career opportunities in the sustainability and green development fields.

"The more they know about the careers out there the better off they are," Huber said. "Now, some of the jobs they may apply for aren't even created yet. There are lots of jobs being developed and created. Staying updated on all new technologies is extremely important."

Although the event targets sustainability and engineering majors, all students are encouraged to participate. The forum will provide R-Cubed a chance to influence the student body to become educated by professionals about utilizing sustainable energy and technology.

"We've got four really motivated, exciting people coming to campus to share their thoughts regardless of what your major is," Hicks said.

Dak Kopec, director of Design for Human Health at the Boston Architectural College, will be another contributor speaking at the forum. Kopec is the author of three textbooks on green development, two of which are used in Southeast's curriculum. He has also given presentations for TED Talks, which are videos of live presentations featuring professionals discussing topics of all subject matter. TED is the nonprofit organization that shares the videos and also sponsors conferences across the world. TED was created to promote educational and inspiring talks, claiming the motto, "Ideas worth spreading."

Gwen Ivester, engineering project manager/BCP coordinator at Cassidy Turley, will present information involving engineering and LEED.

Dr. Adrian Cerezo, associate director of Conservation Education Research at St. Louis Zoo, will speak about the education field of sustainability.

Due to limited seating, anyone interested in attending the career forum should reserve their spot by signing the online signup sheet on the R-Cubed Facebook page.

"If they QR scanner the flyers it should take you right to the R-Cubed Facebook page. Students should be able to RSVP from there. If that doesn't work they can email me," Hicks said. "It's first come, first serve, but I want a full house."

You can reach Hicks by email at sshicks@semo.edu. Career Forum flyers have been posted on various bulletin boards throughout the Southeast campus. The reservation sheet will be available on the R-Cubed Facebook page until the day of the event or until all seats have been reserved.