Connection Day: Oct. 4, 2024


Hope you will join us, on Friday, October 4, 2024 9:30 am-2:30 pm
Registration Information is Now Available

(secure your spot soon as this event always seems to fill up by August)


For Info/Question contact Event Director, Linda Thurman

Location: West Quad Fields

Our Multi-Industry Connection Day (formerly the Fall Picnic) is an annual tradition perfect for our 3800+ students and countless alumni to establish relationships, network, and discuss career options with engineering and technical professionals from a variety of technical industries.

Participating & Registered Employers & Companies, please see below for day of details.

STUDENTS & ALUMNI: Stop by and show the Engineering & Tech Employers why they should hire a 49er! Check out below who is attending and consider bringing copies of your resume if you are seeking an opportunity.
(New this year, we will be using Niner Engage for event details. Stay tuned!
As always, our event is open to all STEM majors/students, faculty, staff & visiting alumni)

Location: West Quad Fields, (sandwich between the Belk Gym, Arena & Cone Center Building and Parking Decks)

Field Layout-coming soon

2024 Event Program-coming soon

We encourage social media posts!

2024: will be listed in Niner Engage -coming soon

Highlight 2023 Video produced by Renegade!

Employer Parking & Item Drop Off

Parking: Parking Maps | Parking and Transportation Services | UNC Charlotte (if you need a map or info. on disability parking)

  • We will have yellow signs on our stake holders directing folks as best as we can to the event parking deck and field.
  • For those who are parking in the Cone Deck, we ask that you park and unload after you park. We will have volunteers up there to help you.
  • If you are parking in Union Deck, please drop off your items at the field then go park.
    We will give out the allotted number of parking passes (when we check you in) to EXIT the visitor deck, you do not need one to enter the visitor levels.  
  • Cone Deck and Union Deck (levels 4-6) are your best option. Visitor levels please, they are clearly marked so no worries there.
  • South Village Deck (level 1) and East Deck 1 and CRI Deck….offer visitor parking as well, they are a bit of a walk. You can also take our free bus if you want from some of these ‘farther away’ decks.

The CLT Light Rail also has a terminal stop on our campus, a bit of a walk but we also have a FREE Niner Transit bus service as well that you can pick up at the light rail station and it will get you to the West Quad fields/Cone Center building. To learn more visit: Niner Transit Bus Service | Parking and Transportation Services | UNC Charlotte

See Below for More Event Info.:

We always aim to have a balanced variety of industries represented.

Employers can start arriving typically by 8:00 am for a 9:30 am start and you can go straight to your table.

For Employer Participants

49er GOLD Level ($1050) 2024

  • Spots are very limited (0 spots) at this level
  • 10′ x 10′ White Tent *you can bring your own-just let us know
  • 6-ft display table with 4 chairs in a premium location
  • Can bring up to 4 people
  • 2024: A variety of grab and go lunches for up to 4 people
  • 2024: all day hospitality and employer-only water tent
  • Gold-colored table cover and table sign
  • Custom-made 49er Gold Recognition Banner to proudly display on your tent
  • Pre-printed name tag and college lanyard for each participant
  • 4 parking passes for the Parking Decks
  • PR, PR, and more PR!
    • Company write-up, logo, and website listed in our multi-page event program (electronic and printed)
    • Company name/logo on signs and on flat screen TVs in all engineering buildings
    • Company name/logo included in all event-related mass emails, and on the college Connection Day website.

Going GREEN Level ($550) 2024

  • 6-ft display table and 3 chairs*
  • Can bring up to 3 people.
  • 2024: A variety of grab and go lunches for up to 3 people
  • 2024: All day hospitality and employer-only water tent
  • Green-colored table cover and table sign
  • Blank name tag and college lanyard for each participant
  • 3 parking passes for the Parking Decks
  • Company name and website listed in our multi-page event program, on flat screen TVs in all engineering buildings, inclusion in all event-related mass emails, and on the college Connection Day website

    *You may bring your own small (8×8 pop-up tent, however, you cannot stake it into the ground and it MUST fit in your designated space). *If your tent is larger than this size, we will request you take it down to allow for traffic flow. (For those who violate/d this policy, we will not be able to extend you a future invitation).

What To Bring

You are encouraged to bring a large supply of marketing and product materials to interact with our students, alumni, and faculty. Because the event is located OUTSIDE, you may bring almost anything (short of explosives, weapons, and similar dangerous items) like:

  • product samples
  • prototypes & equipment
  • marketing brochures & business cards
  • giveaways & games

These are all great ice-breakers to interact with our attendees! Your employees who are UNC Charlotte alumni are also encouraged to attend as your representatives – they make great connections with our students!

Due to our limited space: we are no longer able to accept company items ahead of time. Please work with your local office or facility about having the items shipped there. *If you do not have a local office or facility, please contact Linda Thurman for options.

***Contact us prior to the event if you plan on bringing exceptionally large items to display as we will need to ensure they are allowed on our fields and we can accommodate you space-wise.*** We are not allowed to bring any vehicles onto the field (per our facilites and grounds dept).

Parking

***Reminder: Carpooling is recommended***

  • Park only in designated Visitor Parking areas. Cone Deck and Union Decks are the two closest parking decks to the event. This Campus Map will help you with parking options.
  • We will give out paid exit passes to participating EMPLOYERS as we check them in on the day of the event. You only need a parking pass to EXIT our decks. See the Benefits section above for the number of parking passes you will receive. Additional parking information will be emailed to employer participants prior to the event date.
  • Note: We are not able to provide paid parking passes to students and visiting/guest (non-employer participant) alumni.

We cannot be responsible for parking tickets.

Cancellation & Bad Weather Policies

Cancellation Policy:

Contact Ms. Linda Thurman As Soon As Possible if you are an Employer Participant who can no longer attend. Refunds cannot be issued if requested less than ten (10) days prior to the event date. All payments must be received 15 days PRIOR to the event date in order to participate.

Bad Weather Policy:

In case of inclement weather, we will move the event inside. Contact our main office at 704-687-1991 or 704-687-5024 to confirm the decision. If the event is moved inside, some modifications with employer tables/booths will need to be made. We will notify all participants as soon as possible if we have to utilize the indoor space.

Questions or Concerns?

Ms. Linda A. Thurman

Director of Student Professional Development and Employer Relations,
Student Professional Development Advisor and Co-op Coordinator
William States Lee College of Engineering
Office: Smith Building, 228F​
Email: lthurman@charlotte.edu
Direct: 704-687-5024

Thank you to our 2024 Participants

49er Gold

Sold Out


Going Green
  • American Airlines
  • Barrett Woodyard & Associates
  • Benesch
  • BMW Manufacturing
  • Bolton & Menk Inc.
  • Booth & Associates
  • Burns & McDonnell (EPIC Affiliate)
  • Caterpillar Inc.
  • CESO Inc.
  • Charlotte Water
  • City of Charlotte Storm Water Services
  • Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc.
  • CPH Consulting, LLC
  • College of Engineering-Graduate Programs
  • Crowder Construction
  • DELTA |v| Forensic Engineering
  • Dewberry
  • Doosan Bobcat NA
  • Duke Energy (EPIC Affiliate)
  • ECE Power
  • Energy Solutions
  • Energy United (EPIC Affiliate)
  • EPRI (EPIC Affiliate)
  • ESP Associates Inc.
  • Exult Engineering
  • Gerdau
  • Hendrick Motorsports
  • hep Solar
  • IDE Structural Engineers
  • Joint Warfare Analysis Center
  • Kimley-Horn
  • Little Diversified Architectural Consulting
  • MBP
  • McKim & Creed
  • Merrick & Company 
  • Midrex Technologies Inc.
  • National Gypsum
  • NC Dept. of Transportation (NCDOT)
  • Nederman
  • North Carolina Electric Cooperatives
  • Novo Nordisk
  • Pike Enterprises, LLC (EPIC Affiliate)
  • Power Engineers (EPIC Affiliate)
  • Power Relaying Solutions, PLLC 
  • RK&K
  • RoviSys
  • Sargent & Lundy
  • Schaeffler
  • Siemens Corporation (EPIC Affiliate)
  • Siemens Energy (EPIC Affiliate)
  • SKA Consulting Engineers, Inc.
  • Southern Industrial Constructors
  • STV
  • Trane Technologies
  • University of Tennessee Space Institute
  • US Conec LTD
  • Ward Vessel & Exchanger
  • Whitman Requardt & Associates LLP
  • Yokohama Tire

  • MAPS will be selling LCOE shirts at event