Courtney Sampson-Arango - 2/21/2012
Source: www.IndianaINTERN.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Statewide Group Celebrates Internship Excellence
February 21, 2012 (INDIANAPOLIS) — Indiana INTERNnet, the statewide resource for internship opportunities from the Indiana Chamber, has been helping connect students and employers across the state since 2001. Today, the organization honored excellence among interns, employers and career development professionals at its sixth annual IMPACT Awards luncheon.
The honorees:
Nancy S. Ahlrichs, SPHR, vice president of talent management and diversity for the United Way of Central Indiana, served as the keynote speaker for the event, which took place at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in downtown Indianapolis.
The 2012 Impact Awards luncheon was sponsored by Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana INTERNnet and the Indiana Chamber. For more information about the Indiana INTERNnet program, which helps retain Hoosier talent, visit www.IndianaINTERN.net.
Details on each of the winners:
Outstanding Employer Award of the Year (for-profit)
ExactTarget is one of the shining stars of Indiana business growth in recent years. Its unique internship program falls into the same category. The hiring process focuses on the individuals, not the roles that need filled. After students’ strengths, interests and future career goals are identified and multiple career planning discussions take place, those who are part of the Slingshot Internship Program receive their departmental placement. ExactTarget interns worked with Indiana INTERNnet to form an Indy Interns group last year, which participated in a community service event at Gleaners Food Bank.
Outstanding Employer Award of the Year (not-for-profit)
Internships are a way of life at The International Center. High school, undergraduate, graduate and international students (along with non-traditional interns) have been part of meaningful and relevant projects. Each intern helps customize their experience by outlining specific goals they wish to accomplish. All interns attend weekly meetings, guided by the chief operations officer, that focus on a variety of professional development topics. Students also walk away (or stay at the Center in full-time roles) with a portfolio of meaningful project work, networking opportunities and other external experiences.
Outstanding Career Development Professional of the Year
As director of the Career Development Center (CDC) at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Susan Gresham leads a staff that thrives on student success. Among the initiatives she has implemented: a learning contract completed by both the student and intern employer; site visits to every internship location within the state with site supervisors, through an evaluation; assigning a letter grade that accounts for 40% of the intern’s grade; actively recruiting employers to campus for class presentations, panel discussions and special events; and establishment of an orientation program.
Outstanding Intern of the Year (college; two individuals)
Josh Bloxsome served as a systems engineering intern at Raytheon Technical Services Company and worked on the HH-60G Helicopter Avionics upgrade project. When several experienced engineers on that task had to be reassigned, Bloxsome’s role increased – and with great success. The company reported he worked swiftly and accurately, and the project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget. Bloxsome is now CEO of BloxTech, an information technology support company, and still consults with Raytheon Technical Services as needed.
One of Ashley Herring’s major projects for the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce was developing and executing an online system to better manage attendee evaluations of programs and events. She also implemented a survey on a new event management software system and became the in-house expert on questions related to the software. As is the case with many interns, Herring did not have to look too far for her first job. She is now the events manager at the Indianapolis Chamber.
Outstanding Intern of the Year (non-traditional)
Indiana Humanities called on Alex Miser, who had graduated from Indiana University in May 2011, to oversee an important effort at the Indiana State Fair: the Food for Thought traveling exhibit. Miser, now the communications coordinator at BSA LifeStructures, went well beyond just securing the assistance to staff the booth, says Indiana Humanities. He prepared the partners for the volunteer experience, often meeting with them directly at the State Fair to provide extra support, and conducted post-event surveys to help improve the effort in the future.
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The Indiana Chamber of Commerce is the state’s largest broad-based business advocacy and
information organization, representing nearly 5,000 member companies that employ 800,000 Hoosier workers.
