The current issue of BizVoice® magazine features employers that adapted their internships during the pandemic. Some transitioned to a hybrid format (a mix of office and virtual work) or fully remote. Their perseverance and innovation led to unique and impactful work-based learning opportunities.
The businesses:
- Orthoworx, a community-based initiative in the Warsaw area that works to cultivate the best possible environment for talent attraction, talent development and innovation in the orthopedics industry
- Valeo Financial Advisors, headquartered in Carmel
- Toyota Material Holding (TMH), based in Columbus
The interns:
- Danielle Van Buren, Paige Sanfelippo and Austin Wodock, Valeo
- Sarahy Dueñas, Orthoworx
- Elizabeth Vernier, TMH
Recalling the unique experiences of their internships, the group exuded enthusiasm, gratitude and pride.
Dueñas: “My expectations were obviously that I would meet the CEOs of all of these big companies and it would be a huge networking thing, but … we just had to adapt. I was happy with the way the program went. Nichole (Rouached), my supervisor, didn’t give up. She tried to make the best of the program for us interns. I’m really thankful for that.”
Van Buren: “It’s been very easy to work remotely because people are really good at communicating – especially the people I work with on a day-to-day basis. People are understanding of my schedule and I’m understanding of theirs. I think it (working remotely) can be very efficient.”
Sanfelippo: “I’m so fortunate that Valeo is a company that prioritized normalcy with us coming into the office every day (when state guidelines allowed). Valeo has done a great job during COVID of having social events for us to feel connected and to experience the company culture that’s so strong – (feeling) like a family and working toward a common goal.”
Wodock: “Valeo really does an awesome job making sure that interns are super integrated into the actual process of working with our clients. It’s really an in-depth, complex comprehensive internship that exposed me to a lot of different things that other companies wouldn’t let me get within a 10-foot radius of. It holds a special place for me – the people that believed in me and obviously believing in themselves that they could maintain this program even with all of the hardships COVID has brought to clients and employees.”
Vernier: “I benefited from interning at TMH by working on real-world projects that allowed me to positively impact TMH, while simultaneously building my skills in marketing. Rather than giving me busy work, the marketing team at TMH utilized my strengths, valued my input and provided me with resources to succeed. …
“The coronavirus pandemic has altered life as we know it and has had devastating impacts on companies globally. TMH made a commitment to interns well before the pandemic and despite the obstacles, TMH followed through on that commitment. TMH was flexible during a time of great uncertainty. By pivoting the internship to a virtual experience, they were able to remain faithful to their duties and offer incredible internship programs during the pandemic.”
Symone Skrzycki is the senior communications manager for the Indiana Chamber. She is also a senior writer for the Chamber’s award-winning BizVoice magazine and has been with the organization for 21 years.
