2020 Best & Brightest: Jordan Verbeck, Christopher Newport (Luter)

Jordan Verbeck

Christopher Newport University, Luter School of Business

“I am a hard-working, driven, dog-loving gal.”

Fun fact about yourself: I have been to the southern-most point of Africa.

Hometown: Newport News, Virginia

High School: Manchester High School

Major: Finance, Marketing

Favorite Business Course: FINC 425 – Risk Management

Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College:

  • Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity
  • Beta Gamma Sigma (International Business Honor Society)
  • Student Sustainability Commission – Finance Committee Chair
  • Academic Sustainability Committee – Student Representative
  • Student Government Association – Former Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Where have you interned during your college career?

Smithfield Foods, Inc. – Asset Management Intern

My role included reconciling private investment funds, developing a new reporting system for private investments and implementing illiquid asset valuation models and peer group comparisons.

Beth Moore & Associates, CPA’s – Accounting Intern

My role included bookkeeping, preparing income statements and balance sheets, and preparing 1099 information for tax returns.

Virginia Beach Surf & Rescue Museum – Business Management Intern

My role included analyzing financial data from the last 10 years in order to pinpoint areas that affected net income and providing data-driven suggestions to increase profitability and sustainability.

Where will you be working after graduation? Deloitte & Touche – Government & Public Services Financial Risk & Advisory Consultant

What company do you admire the most? The company I admire most is RXBar. I value health and wellness and RXBar makes that a priority. Peter Rahal started the company in his parents’ basement and it took off shortly after, now reaching over $100 million in profits.

Who is your favorite professor? My favorite professor is Dr. Linda Ficht. Dr. Ficht is extremely dedicated to her students and to making a change in the local community. She has a wealth of knowledge and engages students in every topic discussed. She gives honest feedback, constructive criticism, and pushes students’ to better themselves.

What did you enjoy most about your business school? The Luter School of Business is where I found my home at Christopher Newport University. The environment of Luter is phenomenal; it is a collection of motivated students that encourage, push, and help one another achieve their goals. Being able to form personal connections with professors and colleagues allowed me to immerse myself in many topics and engage in meaningful discussions about a wide range of issues.

What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? The biggest lesson I have learned from studying business is to be actively engaged in every class. Engaging in many topics allows for application outside of the classroom, which is how I feel you truly learn something. Simply learning the material is not enough; being able to apply the material in multiple facets is crucial to success. Being in two very different majors, I have seen business through multiple lenses. Engaging in those lenses has rounded out my education and better prepared me for my career.

What has surprised you most about majoring in business? The thing that has surprised me most is the interconnectivity of the different areas of study. It amazes me how the lessons I learn in marketing classes pertain to finance topics. The material is relevant and easily applicable to multiple areas of business. Business requires an understanding of many perspectives which is challenging and exciting.

Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? The achievement I am most proud of has been my ability to maintain a 4.0 GPA throughout my time at CNU. I have been extremely dedicated to my education and it hasn’t been the easiest road. Seeing my hard work reflected in my grades makes me very proud, as has the personal growth I have seen throughout college.

Which classmate do you most admire? While I value the relationships I have with all of my peers, the classmate I most admire is Alyson Smith. Alyson is someone who is incredibly driven and dedicated to her education and future. She conducts herself professionally in every setting and is able to bring new perspectives to any situation. She is wholesome and kind; I value her friendship, opinions, and aid.

Who would you most want to thank for your success? I would like to thank my mother for my success. Her constant support and motivation have helped me through many times of doubt and she is my biggest supporter. She has given me the opportunity to pursue my passion for education and I will always be grateful for that.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? The top two items on my professional bucket list are to work internationally and to collaborate with a clean technology company.

What are your hobbies? My hobbies include hiking, paddle boarding, and spending time with my dog, Penny.

What made Jordan such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2020?

“Jordan stands out not just for her work in the classroom, but in everything, she does on our campus. She has the respect of her peers and our faculty through her strong character and her professionalism and positivity. She is an intelligent and motivated individual who will succeed in whatever she does with her life and career, and is a wonderful example of a Luter student.”

Reza Espahbodi, Ph.D., CPA
Professor of Accounting
Chair, Accounting and Finance

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