Launch of 2019 Summer Internship Program
May 28, 2019
Sixteen students are taking part in the MKC Summer Internship Program. The students are spending 12 weeks working across multiple MKC locations, numerous departments with an array of experts to experience MKC firsthand.
On May 20, the interns started their internship by attending Co-op 101, hosted by the Kansas Cooperative Council. The two-day training hosted in Topeka, Kansas, provided interns with in-depth knowledge about the cooperative system. The interns were able to understand better how local cooperatives operate as a real business, while also learning about national cooperatives that they may already be buying products from in their day-to-day lives. MKC’s interns participated in activities to better understand patronage and how earnings can be returned to member-owners. The program gave them the chance to network with other interns around the state and build relationships through the cooperative system.
After the conference concluded, interns attended the official two-day summer intern orientation hosted by MKC. On day one, interns were greeted and welcomed by MKC Senior Vice President and COO, Erik Lange. Lange encouraged the interns by reminding them that success often looks easy, but what people don’t see are the failures along the way. Along with Lange, interns were welcomed by Bill Sroufe, senior IT support specialist; Anne Warren; senior vice president and CHRO; Dave Spears, senior vice president and CMO; Jeff Jones, director of southern operations; and Scotty Yerges; TMA crop insurance manager. To conclude the day, interns heard from Danny Posch, senior vice president and CFO, who told the interns the best way to predict the future is to create it.
On Thursday, interns met at the Sundstrom Center in Lindsborg to meet their mentors for the first time. They discussed their summer internship project with their mentor and spoke about expectations for this upcoming summer with MKC. Projects range from managing wheat with the Field Forecasting Tool to digital transformation. Brandon Entz, an operations management intern, will be researching the costs of driving verse trailering rigs. Entz says, “I’m super excited for my summer project this year because it allows me to expand on projects I have completed in the past for MKC through the Collegiate Career Development Program. By looking at our rig efficiencies and maximizing our machines, we can better serve our member-owners. I know that the project has a direct impact on the strategic plan and that I can help be a part of MKC’s efforts in innovation.”
Intern orientation continued with Communications and Brand Manager Nichole Gouldie presenting on the cooperative’s communications efforts and social media. Interns are encouraged to share their internship experience using #mkcintern. The day concluded with Jeff Eubanks, Safety and Compliance Officer with Kansas Farm Service Agency to train the interns with safety procedures.
Friday entailed the first day the interns were at their permanent locations for the summer. Operations intern Tyler Cloud described his first day by saying, “I was really excited to start my first full day at the Haven location and soak up as much as I could. Getting to see how the elevator in Haven operations in one day is a lot to take in, but I feel a lot better after taking a few hours to do so. After today, I know what little I know and all the things I still need to figure out and learn. I’m even more eager to learn and get after it after my first day with my mentor.”
Good luck to all the interns this summer and welcome to the MKC family!
On May 20, the interns started their internship by attending Co-op 101, hosted by the Kansas Cooperative Council. The two-day training hosted in Topeka, Kansas, provided interns with in-depth knowledge about the cooperative system. The interns were able to understand better how local cooperatives operate as a real business, while also learning about national cooperatives that they may already be buying products from in their day-to-day lives. MKC’s interns participated in activities to better understand patronage and how earnings can be returned to member-owners. The program gave them the chance to network with other interns around the state and build relationships through the cooperative system.
After the conference concluded, interns attended the official two-day summer intern orientation hosted by MKC. On day one, interns were greeted and welcomed by MKC Senior Vice President and COO, Erik Lange. Lange encouraged the interns by reminding them that success often looks easy, but what people don’t see are the failures along the way. Along with Lange, interns were welcomed by Bill Sroufe, senior IT support specialist; Anne Warren; senior vice president and CHRO; Dave Spears, senior vice president and CMO; Jeff Jones, director of southern operations; and Scotty Yerges; TMA crop insurance manager. To conclude the day, interns heard from Danny Posch, senior vice president and CFO, who told the interns the best way to predict the future is to create it.
On Thursday, interns met at the Sundstrom Center in Lindsborg to meet their mentors for the first time. They discussed their summer internship project with their mentor and spoke about expectations for this upcoming summer with MKC. Projects range from managing wheat with the Field Forecasting Tool to digital transformation. Brandon Entz, an operations management intern, will be researching the costs of driving verse trailering rigs. Entz says, “I’m super excited for my summer project this year because it allows me to expand on projects I have completed in the past for MKC through the Collegiate Career Development Program. By looking at our rig efficiencies and maximizing our machines, we can better serve our member-owners. I know that the project has a direct impact on the strategic plan and that I can help be a part of MKC’s efforts in innovation.”
Intern orientation continued with Communications and Brand Manager Nichole Gouldie presenting on the cooperative’s communications efforts and social media. Interns are encouraged to share their internship experience using #mkcintern. The day concluded with Jeff Eubanks, Safety and Compliance Officer with Kansas Farm Service Agency to train the interns with safety procedures.
Friday entailed the first day the interns were at their permanent locations for the summer. Operations intern Tyler Cloud described his first day by saying, “I was really excited to start my first full day at the Haven location and soak up as much as I could. Getting to see how the elevator in Haven operations in one day is a lot to take in, but I feel a lot better after taking a few hours to do so. After today, I know what little I know and all the things I still need to figure out and learn. I’m even more eager to learn and get after it after my first day with my mentor.”
Good luck to all the interns this summer and welcome to the MKC family!