More than 30 businesses and several hundred students will be taking over Hyland Hall on Friday, Oct. 26 for the American Marketing Association’s Fifth Annual Regional Conference.

As a prerequisite, all of the businesses attending will be hiring for jobs or internships.

AMA faculty adviser James Peltier said the event is a great way for students to learn and network.

“This is a chance for students to building relationships with employers before they graduate,” Peltier said.

A $20 fee will get students: breakfast, lunch, a t-shirt, a chance to participate in the sales competition and a chance to win prizes through a raffle.

Most importantly, paid attendees get access to the career corner, where they can sit down with prospective employers.

There will also be speakers that students can attend, even if they do not pay. Topics include business to business relations, financial services and retail management.

Those who do not register can still attend the keynote speakers, representatives from AT&T and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Peltier encourages students to register and said the experience is worth it.

“You can get involved at any level you want, even if it’s just for the free presentations,” Peltier said. “It’s always fun to bring people together.”

New components of this year’s conference include a lunch, where students can interact with business professionals, and a sales competition.

The conference takes place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the competition will run throughout the day.

Students will have the chance to pitch an idea and receive critique on their performance. Winners will receive cash prizes.

The presence of business professionals, as well as students from nearly a dozen universities, presents a valuable networking opportunity.

AMA Vice President Kelsey Krueger said students are at school to get a job and this is a chance to find one.

“The businesses are coming to UW-Whitewater because they see our potential for great employees,” Krueger said. “It’s cool that UW-Whitewater can host something of this size.”

Krueger also said that universities outside of the U.S. will also be listening to the speakers over Skype.

She said Carrol Scovotti, a UW-Whitewater professor currently abroad in Germany, might facilitate an international question-and-answer session.

Registration information and a schedule of the day’s events can be found at amauww.com, and any questions can be directed to Krueger.