News Archives
Ben Verdi: Making an IMPACT
Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on Feb. 3, 2016, at the 10th Annual IMPACT Awards luncheon. Though the event is over and the winners have been announced, we are continuing to celebrate the nomineesâ successes.
These are their stories.
Ben Verdi is a second-year graduate student at Indiana University (Bloomington). He served as a Governorâs Public Service summer intern with the Department of Workforce Development.
Indiana INTERNnet: How did you become interested in government work?
Ben Verdi: I got interested in government for the same reasons I was initially interested in public service. I want to lend every skill and talent I’ve been fortunate enough to cultivate back to my community and country at large. Government work appeals to me as a wonderful way to go about making that kind of a difference in people’s lives, but it’s not the only way. People can be involved in public service …
Ontario Systems Grows Successful Internship Program
Indiana INTERNnet had the opportunity to hear Darla Brown and Andrea Weston present Ontario Systemsâ internship program model to the East Central Indiana HR Association. Ontario Systems is a software company in Muncie.
In the âwar on talent,â Darla Brown, director of talent acquisition and business partnerships with Ontario Systems, says internships are the best way to get students into your organization.
âThey can become your future employees,â she emphasizes. âThey come to love your culture and the work theyâre doing, and they want to stay. Then they share by word of mouth how great your organization is.â
In the fourth year of its internship program, Ontario Systems knows how to provide a great learning experience. The numbers speak for themselves.
40 interns in four years 46% working either part-time or full-time after their internship 110 applicants in 2013 249 applicants in 2016 (increase of over 126%)
Both Brown and …
Learning to Trust Your Abilities
Dylan Radford is a senior at Indiana Wesleyan University, studying Strategic Communication with a concentration in Public Relations. He plans to graduate in December of 2016. He is one of two Marketing & Public Relations interns at the Crossroads of America Council, Boy Scouts of America.
I canât begin to tell you the number of times that Iâve heard, âTake your student status as an opportunity to gain informational interviews, talk to professionals in the workforce and even shadow employers in their work environment. It wonât be as easy once you lose that status.â
Iâm currently more than halfway through my summer internship with one semester left of college. The amount of advice that Iâve received from a number of people in the office here at the Crossroads of America Council (CAC), Boy Scouts of America can sometimes be repetitive, but also rewarding in its own way. Sitting down …
Sarah Post: Making an IMPACT
Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on Feb. 3, 2016, at the 10th Annual IMPACT Awards luncheon. Though the event is over and the winners have been announced, we are continuing to celebrate the nomineesâ successes.
These are their stories.
Sarah Post will graduate from the IU Kelley School of Business-Indianapolis this May.
Indiana INTERNnet: What are some of the projects you did for the Office of Student Employment?
Sarah Post: I came up with content such as pictures, videos, etc. and posted daily on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. I did this mainly to draw attention to our office and get more students to realize there is an office on campus that will help them find part-time work while they’re in college, and also to advertise all the free services that are available to students, such as resume/cover letter building, job searching, mock interviewing, etc. I really loved …
Nominate Your Awesome Summer Intern for Intern of the Year!
Did you have a rock star intern this summer?
Recognize the great work they did by nominating them for Intern of the Year through Indiana INTERNnetâs IMPACT Awards!
The IMPACT Awards is an annual celebration of internship success stories. We accept nominations from the public in the categories of Intern of the Year, Employer of the Year, and Career Development Professional of the Year. Then, weâll recognize all nominees and unveil the winners at the annual awards luncheon on February 8, 2017 at the Ivy Tech Corporate College and Culinary Center in Indianapolis.
Last yearâs event was full of energy! We had more than 50 nominees with stories of accomplishment that we shared with nearly 400 attendees. Learn more about our nominees and winners in BizVoice magazine and on our blog.
This yearâs luncheon will be a âslam dunkâ with 6â2â hometown basketball legend (and former NBA intern!) Tamika Catchings …
Positively Impacting Youth through Scouting Internship
Pete Mackin is a public relations and marketing intern with the Crossroads of America Council (CAC), Boy Scouts of America (BSA). He plans to graduate from Butler University in August.
While I don’t have a particularly strong background in Scouting, I have worked with several youth organizations throughout high school and undergrad that made the transition to this position a little easier.
As part of my duties here at the council, I have the opportunity to assist in planning and execution of the upcoming fall recruitment of new scouts. It is very exciting to be involved in growing Scouting’s membership throughout central Indiana. Though I have only been here a little over a month, it is easy to see the positive impact Scouting can have on the lives of youth, and I hope that my efforts lead to more youth being exposed to the great lessons scouting teaches.
The …
Indiana’s Best: Small Towns Offer Big Flavor
With the growth of local pride and demand for “homegrown” products, there are many opportunities to experience true Hoosier culture. Whether it’s restaurants, attractions, shops or anything in between, we’ll showcase some of our favorite gems that make Indiana a great place to live and work.
It may be surprising even to native Hoosiers that a quest for fine candies and pastries would include stops in Union City, Winchester and Hagerstown. However, there are hidden gems on the eastern side of the state with fascinating business histories, interactive tours and delicious products that make for a âsweetâ daytrip.
Ghyslain: The art of chocolate (Union City)
Ghyslain Maurais and his wife, Susan, started Ghyslain chocolatier in a farm house in 1998, ultimately choosing Union City (Susanâs hometown) for its current location. Today, Ghyslainâs staff of 25 produces fine French breads and pastries in addition to gourmet chocolates, and the company …
From Yard to Office
Johnny Slivka is an HR/Business Development Intern with Milliner & Associates. He will graduate from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business this year.
Following my senior year in high school, as some may say, I entered the real world. The first Saturday of the summer is where it all started.
My first day of work â not sports, not school â but real work. On this day instead of strapping up my cleats or tying my shoe laces, I was lacing up my boots and was ready to get after it. I was working as part of an installation crew planting trees. Some may not understand the process of planting a tree, but itâs very hard work. From digging the hole to moving the tree to cleaning up, it is all physically demanding.
Fast forward four years later and every day I can Iâm lacing up my boots …
Finding Value as an Intern with International Floral Distributors
Brittany Ulman is a senior Creative Writing student at Ball State University with minors in Professional Writing & Emerging Media and Spanish. Currently, she is the marketing intern for International Floral Distributors (IFD). She will write press releases for the company and its Flower Trend Forecast, as well as work on projects to enhance distributor services for IFDâs vendor partners.
My internship at IFD has definitely been a whirlwind to say the least.
Even though I was not completely prepared for the way in which I was propelled into the previously foreign world known as the flower industry, that exact phenomenon is one of the reasons why I have enjoyed my time at IFD.
There is something about not knowing all of the details and the need to learn more about those unfamiliar technicalities that makes this internship so valuable. Simply put, my college education, though wonderful and well-rounded, cannot teach me as much …
Katy Robinson: Making an IMPACT
Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on Feb. 3, 2016, at the 10th Annual IMPACT Awards luncheon. Though the event is over and the winners have been announced, we are continuing to celebrate the nomineesâ successes.
 These are their stories.
Katy Robinson is a student at Butler University studying Strategic Communications: PR & Advertising and minoring in Digital Media Productions. She plans to graduate in 2017. Learn more about her internship with the Wayne County Area Chamber of Commerce.
Indiana INTERNnet: You produced marketing materials for several Chamber events and initiatives. How did it feel to be given that responsibility as an intern?
Katy Robinson: The Chamber gave me a lot of freedom and independence to use my own skills, which allowed me to get creative and think outside of the box. Because of this freedom, I was able to improve my time management and communication skills. I would send …
Addie Pike: Making an IMPACT
Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on Feb. 3, 2016, at the 10th Annual IMPACT Awards luncheon. Though the event is over and the winners have been announced, we are continuing to celebrate the nomineesâ successes.
These are their stories.
Addie Pike is a student at Ball State University majoring in Computer Technology with a minor is Business Management. She completed an internship with Ontario Systems when she was a student at Yorktown High School.
Indiana INTERNnet: An internship could be intimidating for a high school student, but it sounds like you jumped right in and welcomed challenges at Ontario Systems. How did you do this?
Addie Pike: My high school actually offered an internship coordination with local businesses. The school day was split into four classes called âblocks,â which are about an hour and a half in length. The first semester of my senior year I left during fourth …
Angelique Cassell: Making an IMPACT
Indiana INTERNnet celebrated internship excellence on Feb. 3, 2016, at the 10th Annual IMPACT Awards luncheon. Though the event is over and the winners have been announced, we are continuing to celebrate the nomineesâ successes.
These are their stories.
Angelique Cassell is a recent graduate of Calumet College of St. Joseph.
 Indiana INTERNnet: How did you become interested in banking?
Angelique Cassell: I was first introduce to banking when I volunteered to job shadow at Centier for a school project. I was intrigued to learn that banking is more than just money safekeeping. There I met with the vice president of HR, and she explained how they are very active in the community.
I applied to become an Enterprise Expansion Opportunity Network (EEON) Associate for internships, and when I learned about the opening at REGIONAL Federal Credit Union, I was so excited. Here is a company dedicated to providing great …
Intern-to-Hire: Christina Heberer
Christina Heberer recently earned her masterâs degree in Wellness Management from Ball State University. After a semester-long internship with the Wellness Council of Indiana, Christina was hired as the full-time program coordinator. The Wellness Council is an affiliated program of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.
Indiana INTERNnet: How did you become interested in wellness management?
Christina Heberer: I get asked this question a lot since many people have not heard of this field! I was attracted to wellness management because of its blend between health and business and thought this would give me a solid foundation for impacting the health and wellbeing of employees. I was also drawn to the wellness management program at Ball State because they looked beyond exercise and physical nutrition and indicators of health and considered how an individualâs community, financial situation, social support systems, and lifeâs purpose impact a personâs wellbeing.
IIN: Why is …
Indianaâs Best: 231 Feet Above Indy
With the growth of local pride and demand for “homegrown” products, there are many opportunities to experience true Hoosier culture. Whether it’s restaurants, attractions, shops or anything in between, we’ll showcase some of our favorite gems that make Indiana a great place to live and work.
On my lunch break one day, I decided to hike up 331 steps to the top of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument for a birdâs eye view of our great city. The elevator was an option for a minimal fee, but I decided to sweat it out.
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Once I stopped wheezing and moaning about impending death (I can be a little dramatic), I was able to enjoy a pretty spectacular view. From 231 feet in the air, I still had to crane my neck to look up to the top of Chase Tower. I could see Salesforceâs roof-top lounge area on …
Intern-to-Hire: Ben Gerig
Ben Gerig is a 2015 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a mechanical engineer at Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Company. He completed several internships with the firefighting and fire protection equipment manufacturing company before being hired full-time upon graduation.
Indiana INTERNnet: What attracted you to intern at Elkhart Brass?
Ben Gerig: My girlfriendâs father at the time (now father-in-law) worked at Elkhart Brass as the Production Control Manager. After my freshman year in college, he offered me a paid internship position with the promise that after interning in his department that year, I would be able to intern in the engineering department the following year.
IIN: What learning experiences and projects did you have during your internships?
Gerig: While interning in Production Control the first year, I learned a great deal about how a company runs and how the different departments within a company interact. My major responsibilities …