Allison Bowman: Making an IMPACT

Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on Feb. 5, 2014, at the 8^th Annual IMPACT Awards luncheon. Though the event is over and the winners have been announced, we are continuing to celebrate the nominees’ successes.

Like a fine wine, some internships just get better with time. Allison Bowman will tell you that.

The Rose-Hulman senior has been an intern with BAE Systems every summer since graduating from high school in 2010. She performed a different rotation each year, broadening her skills and knowledge.

In her last year as an intern with BAE, she volunteered to be the sourcing intern, which in the past had rarely been a successful internship due to the lack of necessary skills and knowledge of the business. She volunteered for this post so she could see the big picture of the company as a whole and learn more about the business side.

“Allison was tasked with working closely with sourcing engineers, vendors and customers to ensure cost, quality and delivery commitments were met for sourced components and materials,” Rebecca Spuller, human resources business partner at BAE Systems, wrote in Allison’s IMPACT Awards nomination. “Because Allison had spent previous summers at BAE, she was able to quickly integrate herself into the role and was providing a substantial value to the business from her first week on board.”

In her first year with BAE, Allison worked with the Power Supply team, troubleshooting and organizing the parts room. Her second year, she worked on the Surface Mounts manufacturing floor, helping make a certain process more efficient. Her third year, she worked in the Failure Analysis Lab, troubleshooting broken or nonconforming parts.

Spuller said last year Allison also served as a project team lead on a multi-site intern project, which required virtual planning and a presentation to senior executive leadership. She also got involved in the local Wellness Committee and helped with last-minute needs like plant tours and setting up cross-site meetings.

BAE Systems had 12 interns last summer, and for most it was their first time with the company. Spuller said Allison acted as a mentor, especially in the first few weeks, helping the interns get acclimated.

“I enjoyed getting to know all of the new interns every year, so I shared as much knowledge and information as I could with them,” Allison said. “I wanted them to have the great experience at BAE that I had.”

Allison will graduate this May. She said she’s had offers from various companies but has not committed to anything yet.