La Plata, Md. — The College of Southern Maryland hosted its second annual Student Leadership Networking Summit on April 14, 2026, giving student leaders practical experience in professional networking, etiquette and career readiness skills.
Organized by the CSM Center for Career Development and Success, the event brought together students from campuses in La Plata, Leonardtown and Prince Frederick for interactive workshops and an etiquette dinner. Participants practiced handshaking techniques, professional conversation skills and confident management of hors d’oeuvres with faculty and staff.
Ralph Critten, director of industry engagement for the Center for Career Development and Success, emphasized the summit’s role in preparing students for the workforce.
“These students are our future business and professional leaders, and this summit is one way we can help them build essential soft skills and confidence,” Critten said. “We are honored to walk alongside their journey as they take steps toward reaching their potential.”
Cathleen Hanson, co-director and co-founder of the International School of Protocol, led the networking workshops. She demonstrated proper techniques for greetings, conversation and dining etiquette. Students then applied the skills in real-time practice sessions before moving to a formal etiquette dinner that simulated business meals or interviews.
CSM student Chanel Davis called the summit a valuable chance to strengthen networking abilities and form connections with peers, college leaders and sponsors.
“If someone is holding a door open for you, I recommend walking through it,” Davis said. “You don’t want to turn down an opportunity because you’re nervous or scared. It’s important to remember that everyone started the same place you are in now, and grew from there.”
Davis is pursuing studies in business administration and analytics. She plans to launch a business that helps young people develop confidence in professional settings and navigate career paths.
For Jeffrey Havenner, a CSM student and Navy veteran of 15 years, the summit was his first formal networking event. He attended to sharpen public speaking skills and connect with leaders and sponsors.
“It’s a great opportunity to get your foot in the door,” Havenner said. “You could also discover new opportunities or roads to go down. These events can help you on the journey you’re already on, but they can also open your eyes to new ones.”
Havenner will graduate this spring with an associate degree in business management and small business entrepreneurship. He intends to earn a bachelor’s degree and eventually start a nonprofit to assist Southern Maryland veterans in accessing local benefits and resources.
The summit aligns with broader workforce development efforts in Southern Maryland. St. Mary’s County Commissioners recently approved priority childcare enrollment for first responders and essential personnel at a new YMCA facility, addressing retention challenges amid housing affordability pressures noted in the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies 2026 report. CSM’s focus on soft skills and networking supports local employers seeking skilled graduates in business, public service and entrepreneurship.
Educational Systems Federal Credit Union, Shore United Bank and the Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. Center for Leadership sponsored the event.
The College of Southern Maryland serves students across Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties through programs that emphasize career readiness, including work-based learning coordinated by the Center for Career Development and Success. Officials said events like the networking summit help bridge classroom learning with professional expectations in a region where volunteer fire departments, government agencies and small businesses rely on confident, well-prepared employees.
Full details of the summit are available on the College of Southern Maryland website.
