Ergon leaders share experience, expertise with MC students during Fall 2025 Latimer Lunch

Ergon leaders, from left, Jana Branham, Ashley Yonker and Bonnie Chapman offer advice to MC students during the Latimer Lunch Sept. 25.

Three distinguished Ergon leaders, Jana Branham, Bonnie Chapman and Ashley Yonker, shared insights and experience with MC students, along with words of advice for MC students, during the Sept. 25 Latimer Lunch on the Mississippi College Clinton campus.

Hosted by the MC Women’s Council, the Latimer Lunch series offers MC students the opportunity to hear from accomplished industry leaders and network with Council members. During the event, students engage with professionals across a variety of fields, gain valuable insights and build relationships that can serve as a pipeline to career opportunities.

Students representing a variety of academic pursuits and affiliations, including the School of Business, Honors College and Choctaw Ambassadors, attended the fall luncheon. MC Women’s Council members and faculty and staff from the MC School of Business and the MC Foundation were on hand to interact with both students and the guest speakers.

Bonnie Chapman, Vice President – Product Stewardship for Ergon, Inc., began the program by highlighting her role and background, and sharing an overview of the Ergon family of businesses.

Jana Branham, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Ergon, Inc., while discussing how she transitioned into working in Information Technology, said, “I was not a computer science person, and a lot of people were surprised about that, but I raised my hand and said, ‘I want to learn more. I want to help with that.’”

The program transitioned into a meaningful question-and-answer session, with MC students engaging the speakers with questions about their industry and career paths.

When asked about balancing big goals with what is required of them each day, Ashley Yonker, Supply Chain Manager at Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, said, “I typically start my day by looking at my calendar.”

Yonker continued, “I pick one thing that is going to bring me joy, and I start my day with that. And what I do to end my day is that I find something that I can do to disconnect from my work life.”

All three speakers offered insightful advice for students as they transition from college life to career, with Chapman leading with advice from her father.

“My dad always said, ‘Get in the short line.’ And what he meant was to get in the line that other people aren’t in because the task may be difficult.

“If you’re getting in that short line, you’re going to set yourself apart,” Chapman said.

Branham fielded questions about Information Technology, the impact of AI, and discussed the nuances of her role as CIO.

Her guidance for students: “Don’t miss the opportunity. Reach out to people and make the connections.”

Yonker capped off the program with one final piece of advice for those in attendance: “Take the phrase, ‘That’s not my job,’ out of your vocabulary.”

The MC Women’s Council’s primary focus is growing MC’s endowment for scholarships for all MC students. An additional purpose is to provide leadership and mentorship programs for students through programs like the Latimer Lunch series.

For more information about the MC Women’s Council, visit https://www.mc.edu/offices/giving/womens-council.