Business briefs for May 3, 2012

BRAC network links interns, businesses

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber on Wednesday initiated the Baton Rouge Area Intern Network to help area businesses in connect with local college students.

The program is designed to increase the number of internship opportunities and the amount of exposure that companies, especially small- and mid-sized ones, have with students.

BRAIN is a component of the talent retention under BRAC’s recently launched talent development program. The network can be accessed at http://www.brac.org/brain.

“Our universities and community colleges do a good job of helping their students find internship opportunities. BRAIN will build off of that success by encouraging companies to begin or expand internship programs, increasing the number of internships available in the Baton Rouge area,” said Adam Knapp, president and CEO of BRAC.

“More internships increase the opportunities for our talented students to remain in the Baton Rouge area after college through increased exposure to regional companies.”

The network was built in collaboration with LSU and Southern University and created through a matching grant with The Kresge Foundation and CEOs for Cities’ Talent Dividend Prize competition.

BRAIN’s resources consist of internship facts, sample job descriptions, evaluation forms, résumés and cover letters, videos for business executives and students discussing specific internship-related advice, and a free job board for posting internships.

Woman’s Hospital resets move-in date

Woman’s Hospital has set Aug. 5 as the expected move-in date for its replacement hospital, at Airline Highway and Pecue Lane.

“The additional time allows Woman’s team to fully prepare the new campus for the caliber of care expected at Woman’s,” Teri Fontenot, Woman’s president and CEO said in a statement.

She said the previously scheduled date of June 3 was revised because the building was not complete enough in April to allow adequate time to train staff for their new work environment and ensure that all clinical systems are fully tested. Woman’s administration, contractors, equipment suppliers, moving companies and Acadian Ambulance collaborated to set the new date.

From business staff