My name is Michael Tonner. I am a Junior in ACE with a concentration in Consumer Economics and Finance, with a minor in Leadership studies. Last semester I took ACE 199 Chicago Business Immersion Program. The class was structured as a 8-week class with a immersion trip to Chicago over Christmas Break. During class time, we heard from established graduates from U of I present their career and professional experiences. It was interesting to hear about all the diverse industries that ACE students could possibly enter into. Class time was also used to prepare for the trip as well. 
We learned personal and professional skills to aid us when asking questions during the trip. 
When December rolled around I was excited to see the companies and stay in the nice hotel in River North. Some of the really impressive companies we visited were CME Group, Chicago Board of Trade, OSI Group, Testa Produce, Kraft Foods, and Wirtz Beverage Group. I was blown away with all of the different state-of-the-art facilities. Testa Produce, in my opinion, was the coolest facility. They have a LEED-Platnum certification, meaning they are one of the most "green" buildings in the world. The building is also powered by a giant windmill outside the parking lot. Other personal favorites of mine included CME Group and The Chicago Board of Trade. At both places I felt like I was at the center of the commodity pricing world. At the Board we went onto the floor and saw how everyone was trading electronically. At CME Group it was a similar experience, but a less hectic environment. At the CME, their were hundreds of analysts in one giant room each sitting in front of eight computer monitors. I was impressed by their ability to understand and interpret all of the information that was being generated and shared so quickly. It wasn't all business either. Our class got to see a fantastic second city performance in the heart of Chicago. 
Overall, I loved the trip and I highly recommend ACE 199 Chicago Business Immersion to ever ACE student. As well as anyone that wants to understand more about the food industry and the other facets that interact with consumer markets.