After his experience, Gross formed the China Business Tour, which gives students a chance to network with business professionals in China. The program, a part of Broad China Business Society, has taken place annually since Gross’ trip to China in 2006.

“Our group creates pathways to internships at an international level,” Gross said.

“It leaves it up to the students to make these connections, and is a unique opportunity in a business environment.”

The program parallels MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon’s Land Grant to World Grant vision, which sees MSU as an international example of higher learning, Gross said. The tour previously visited businesses in cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Dongguan and Shenzhen.

“This helps as far as getting a global education and to see what business has been done elsewhere,” Gross said.

MSU has the advantage of being the center for international business education research, group adviser Jeff Yingling said.

“We have the world headquarters and we’re very fortunate,” said Yingling, who also is coordinator of admissions, scholarships and information technology for Broad College of Business.

Tiffany Lung, president of Broad China Business Society, said the tour gives students a firsthand look at global businesses.

Lung said she hopes to involve 20 to 40 students in the 2008 summer tour and wants to get the word out to make students aware of the trip.

“Since this is our third year doing this, we’ve had the most time to prepare,” Lung said.

The business tour is not only available for the group’s members, but also for any student interested.

“Anyone who wants to learn about China can come,” Lung said. “It’s an excellent opportunity to meet new people and see how businesses run and how people interact within the culture.”

After this summer’s tour, Gross will pass on the title of director of the tour to Brandon Laventure, a Chinese and supply chain management junior.

Laventure is in the process of letting people know about the tour.

Participants in last summer’s tour included Motorola Inc., Boeing Co. and Delphi Corp. Several companies from past years and new additions are expected this summer, Laventure said.

“We are trying to access every student who will be in China for the summer, whether for an internship, study abroad or a Chinese native who is living there again,” Laventure said.