Research and Consulting
Connect with faculty for research and consulting opportunities.
The Socrates Partnership Program is a collaborative model designed for corporations and local businesses to invest in the College of Business. Partners receive exclusive access to to faculty expertise, student talent, applied research, special events, classroom projects, and more.
With two participation tracks—Corporate Partnerships and Local Business Partnerships—organizations of all sizes can find the level of engagement that best aligns with their goals, workforce needs, and community impact priorities.
Offerings
There are many ways that Socrates Partners can engage with the College of Business. Here are a few highlights:
Recruiting
Build your workforce from the best! Post your job and internship opportunities for Chico State students.
Executives in Residence
Support students through interview preparation, career advice, and more.
Campus Facility Access
Socrates Partners can reserve campus facilities such as interview rooms, event space, lecture halls, etc.
Project Management
Get help starting a new project and leading it to success with the Project Management Group's help and faculty guidance.
Guest Speakers and Workshops
Request a guest speaker or schedule a workshop with one of our faculty members.
Become a Partner
Both tracks offer multiple partnership tiers to help organizations identify the level that provides the right mix of visibility, engagement, and benefits. Becoming a Socrates Partner unlocks high-value collaboration opportunities that support student success while advancing your business goals. Becoming a Socrates Partner means you can take advantage of up to $320,000 in value!
Get in Touch
Interested in becoming a partner? Contact Thomas Villa with any questions or to become a Socrates Partner.
Thomas Villa
Executive Director
tpvilla@csuchico.edu
916-223-2171
Local Business Partnership Levels
Ruby
• Personalized flyers promoting your business at freshman move-in
• Access to 200-student kickoff event with three representatives each semester
• Access to all student competitions with up to 100 participants (opportunity to serve as judges)
• Recognition and engagement at three in-person events per yearSapphire
• Personalized flyers promoting your business at freshman move-in
• Access to 200-student kickoff event with two representatives each semester
• Access to one student competition with up to 100 participants (may serve as judges)
• Recognition and engagement at two in-person events per yearEmerald
• Personalized flyers promoting your business at freshman move-in
• Access to 200-student kickoff event with one representative each semester
• Access to one student competition with up to 100 participants
• Recognition and engagement at one in-person event per year
Corporate Partnership Levels
Platinum
The Platinum level offers the most comprehensive benefits, including exclusive research access, executive residency opportunities, event participation, premium marketing exposure, dedicated facilities, extensive recruiting advantages, and the highest level of student and alumni engagement.
Gold
The Gold level provides strong engagement with students and faculty, including classroom presentations, recruiting support, and marketing visibility, but with fewer perks such as one corporate-branded classroom instead of two, reduced business advising, and a lower scholarship allocation.
Silver
The Silver level focuses primarily on branding, student engagement, and recruiting, with fewer marketing placements, event access, and facility privileges. It offers essential research and consulting access but lacks premium benefits like dedicated classrooms or career center concierge services.
| Category | Platinum (Up to $320K Value) | Gold (Up to $180K Value) | Silver (Up to $133K Value) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty Research & Consulting | One free 60-day research project, fee-based research & consulting | Fee-based research & consulting | Fee-based research & consulting |
| Executive in Residence | One Corporate & One Faculty in Residence | Not included | Not included |
| Events | Exclusive mixer, keynote at Wildcat Welcome, freshman orientation, dinner with President & Provost, resume access, recruiting tables | Exclusive mixer, recruiting tables | Exclusive mixer |
| Program Input | COB Contributor | Not included | Not included |
| Marketing & Promotions | Logo on COB webpage, flyer, and 3 banners; Corporate Naming Day; social media; COB Digital Community; speech at graduations; sports venue promotions; two branded classrooms | Logo on COB webpage, flyer, and 2 banners; social media; COB Digital Community; one branded classroom | Logo on COB webpage, flyer, and 1 banner; social media; COB Digital Community |
| Facilities Access | Seufferlein Sales Center, classrooms, corporate parking, auditorium, library | Seufferlein Sales Center, library | Library |
| Student & Alumni Recruiting | 4 classroom presentations, top 10% resumes, waived Career Fair registration, concierge service, 2 interview rooms per semester, prioritized job postings, alumni access, 2 alumni communications, exclusive alumni events | 3 classroom presentations, top 10% resumes, waived Career Fair registration, concierge service, 1 interview room per semester, prioritized job postings, alumni access, 1 alumni communication, exclusive alumni events | 2 classroom presentations, top 10% resumes, prioritized job postings, alumni access, exclusive alumni events |
| Business Advising & Scholarships | Business advising for 10 employees, MBA scholarship for 5 employees | Business advising for 5 employees, MBA scholarship for 2 employees | Not included |
Research and Consulting
Our faculty look forward to collaborating with Socrates Partners to share research, provide consultation, speak at events, or host workshops for your employees.
Contributing Faculty
Angela Casler - consulting, research, and workshops.
- Expertise: sustainability strategy, certification, leadership, wage analysis, and performance management through focused training in change and strategic management.
Damon Aiken - research, workshops, and guest speaking.
- Expertise: advertising, branding, customer satisfaction, sports marketing, and cluster/segmentation analysis.
Matt Meuter - research and workshops.
- Expertise: technology in services, service design and innovation, service quality, and service blueprinting.
Kelly Graves - consulting, workshops, and guest speaking.
- Expertise: process consultation, conflict resolution, strategic planning, leadership development, generational transition, team building, and organizational facilitation.
Mitch Casselman - consulting, research, and workshops.
- Expertise: strategic management, decision making, design thinking, process improvement, creativity, and innovation.
Drake Brown - consulting, workshops, and guest speaking.
- Expertise: contract negotiations, salesforce management, performance evaluations, leadership coaching, goal setting, conflict resolution, and pricing strategy.
Kevin Kimbell - consulting, research, workshops, and guest speaking.
- Expertise: marketing, brand and product management, consumer research, ideation, and strategic planning.
Ghadir Ishqaidef - consulting, research, and workshops.
- Expertise: work culture, engagement, burnout prevention, and creating productive environments.
Robert Madrigal - consulting, research, and workshops.
- Expertise: consumer insights, statistical analysis, sports marketing, and corporate sponsorship.
David Agoff - consulting, workshops, and guest speaking.
- Expertise: employee morale, engagement, satisfaction, well-being, and personal development.
Project Management
Are you looking for help getting started with new projects? Our faculty and Project Management Group can support Socrates members.
Executives in Residence
Our Executives in Residence, EIR, are senior executives from companies who engage undergraduate and graduate student in real-world businesses to further the students education. This program encourages Socrates Partners to volunteer their time to further student success and expand their recruiting network.
Student Support
Executives in Residence provide Chico State business students with:
- One-on-one career counseling
- Mentor with successful person in the business world
- Professional and personal advice
Partner Support
Our Executives in Residence Program provides partners with:
- More engagement with students