Steven Stark ’19: Smike Wallen Living – First, I would like to thank Wabash College and The Small Business Internship Fund for providing students like me this extraordinary opportunity to work for companies like Smike Wallen Living. For the past 5 weeks, I have worked for Smike Wallen ’90 and have been a part of the Smike Wallen Living Team. SWL is a small team of realtors, designers, and advisors that work with clients in and around the Greater Los Angeles area. The team works together to help ensure that their client’s goals are not just met but exceeded. I was joined with two other Wabash interns to assist and learn about their small, highly- successful business. Smike entrusted us with three significant projects, each contributing to a different part of the company. Even though we worked on each project as a team, each of us had our own unique skills to contribute.

I mostly contributed to the design aspects of SWL by designing postcards and mood boards, creating and executing a landscape design for apartment buildings, and having an artistic eye in interior design. Smike and Chad, both professionals, expanded my horizons in design for which I am grateful. The team also expanded my horizons by showing me parts of the business I have never experienced before. I had little experience about the real estate business coming into this internship. Now, I have learned what it takes to be financially self-sufficient by analyzing the professionals in their work environment and by completing hands-on projects in a real-life work experience.

Stark ’19 Enjoys a day off in Malibu

However, this internship has taught me far more than just work experience. Before landing my internship, I lived in Indiana my entire life. Now, I am living in a city full of diversity, 2,000 miles away from home. As a freshman, I thought that this possibility was far from my reach. I was wrong. I made the alumni connections, conducted my search fully, and finally earned the internship I was hoping for.  This experience as a whole has allowed me to grow exponentially on both a professional level and on a personal one. I have gained the confidence and the experience that will guide my career path and shape my future. I am beyond grateful for the SWL team, the Small Business Internship Fund, and Wabash College for believing in me. I have learned to appreciate these things and I encourage students to not waste an opportunity.           ​

Munir ’18 hard at work

Azlan Munir ’18- Analytics, Programming and Computer Science – Last semester, I was looking for an internship where I could apply my data analytics/programming skills in a vibrant business setting. Fortunately, I landed an internship with the Adorant Group where I did just that. The Adorant Group is a Chicago-based company which offers a software-based consumer finance platform which allows users to plan for retirement and other life events. During my time here, I’ve had a chance to work with some great people.Over the summer, I was assigned to work on three main projects. The first project involved predicting a consumer’s average case annual savings. Using data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), I conducted multiple regression analysis to predict an individual’s annual savings. This model is customizable so users can input their specific characteristics (e.g. income, housing, area of residence, number of earners) and have the results designed to their unique situation.

My second project was to predict a consumer’s annual net worth using other types of inputs. My model asks a consumer to input their age, marital status, investments in bonds, stocks, equities etc. and predicts their financial assets, liabilities and net worth. Using econometric techniques, we were able to narrow down an individual’s net worth using just a few inputs.

Finally, I incorporated these predictive models into our web platform using PHP programming language. My background in Java and Python certainly helped me learn and adapt to PHP environment. I was also fortunate to receive guidance from our CTO, an experienced software engineer himself. Other than the three main projects, I was also involved in UX testing of our platform and compared our platform’s mathematical models to our competitors. My work was crucial in providing a comprehensive financial picture to current and potential users of our platform.

Overall, this internship has been an excellent learning experience for me. I was exposed to multiple facets of consumer finance where I applied skills learned in and out of the classroom and learned new skills. The best part was working under a highly accomplished team, most with decades of experience under their belt. During this time, I also got a chance to experience Chicago city to the fullest which was refreshing in itself. I would like to thank the Career Services and the Small Business Internship Fund for this incredible experience.

Jordan Hansen ’18: Nantucket Bike Tours- As I searched for internships this summer, I knew I desired something that would directly impact my life. I was longing for an experience in which a person(s) would invest their time into me, propelling to reach my full potential. I was longing for an internship that prompted me to “buy into” the business in which I would become a part of. In doing so, I would be encompassed in an environment full of problem solving, lifelong lessons, team work, and influencing others.

The search came to an abrupt halt the moment I was introduced to the Nantucket Bike Tours internship with Jason Bridges ’98 and his wonderful wife, Courtney. To say it initially met my wants and need would be an understatement. Not to mention, I would be able to live and work on a beautiful island 30 miles off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean (Massachusetts) for the whole summer. With that, I couldn’t resist the experience and exposure to new things and opportunities all of which this internship would offer me. Thus, I jumped on the opening to apply for the position and luckily I was given an interview by Jason. He came back to interview potential interns on campus, and I accepted the next week. From there, the rest is history.

I am thrilled to inform you my Nantucket Bike Tour internship has thus far, five weeks and halfway, met and exceeded all my expectations. Expectations not just limited to the realm of small business but also leadership, and emotional intelligence (“EQ”).

Hansen ’18 and Hoekstra ’18 with Bridges ’98

With little to no prior experience with small business, I was intrigued to know that I would immediately be immersed in the environment. The hands-on exposure became our daily bike tour routine which included; control over the day-to-day operations of the business along with finances, communication, and logistics for each day. With that, I was engrossed into a new learning environment that provided beneficial insight into how to run a successful small business. Giving bike tours to hundreds of people around this 14×4 island has allowed me to learn many different things. With that being said, the first thing that I quickly learned that was that when running a small business, let alone a bike tour company, you are required always have a high-level of focus or be “on” at all times. Especially when coming into contact with many different people from all over the world, it is crucial that you are ready for whatever challenge that may be thrown at you. Whether you are involved with providing customer service, operating our bike tour booking system, or just walking through town, it is imperative that you are operating with a high-level of energy. In turn, it provides those you come in contact with a positive and memorable experience.

Along with high-levels of focus and energy, I have learned that a lot of what goes into small business “branding” goes back to community involvement and relationship building. Thus, becoming a part of a small business brand, Nantucket Bike Tours, we take pride in attending local events, charities, and any public outreach we can be a part of because not only does it give back to the town of Nantucket, but it positively voices what the Nantucket Bike Tours is all about. Our success in public branding boils down to — how well we can create relationships by remembering names, showing appreciation, and being genuinely interested in others in any public or private setting. Not only does this action help create new relationship you may not have had, but it also shows others you are taking the initiative to be a leader in your community.

One of my goals going into this summer was to refine and truly hone in on interpersonal skills. Skills within both simple listening and communicating in a business structured system, as well as maximize my potential as an all-around leader. Jason and Courtney make these personal objectives possible, along with delving into small business, because they make it a high priority to foster others personal growth. For example, at the beginning of the internship every summer Jason and Courtney present their interns with a copy of Dale Carnegie’s How to Make Friends and Influence People. Once given this book, as a team, we each read a chapter or multiple chapters a week and go into great detail the importance of the content and how to transfer that teaching into the real world. Some of the discussion we have had on this has been about your body posture, eye contact, how others will perceive you based on your reaction, and how genuine appreciation is always a key. Retaining all the information and discussing it is the easy part, but retaining it and then projecting it in a social setting is where the difficulty lies. However, after having two hour nightly conversations and debriefs about the material, along with making daily challenges to execute the lessons, it has allowed for much individual and team growth. Ultimately, not only does this make you more self-aware and more emotionally intelligent, but also it enhances your overall leadership and growth potential.

In addition to these great lessons and experiences, I have immensely improved my ability to make quick, confident, and effective decisions. I have learned that the business world is all about the hustle and work you put into your business. In this world, you cannot be complacent with where your business is. It is imperative that you train yourself so that when challenges or obstacles arise, you have a stable and set foundation for making decisions. With that, you have to become comfortable being put in vulnerable situations (as much as they may seem contradictory, it’s true). When you are put into a vulnerable scenario, it allows you to better understand your personal weaknesses. Becoming more calm, cool, and collected in vulnerable situations has truly allowed me to minimize personal weaknesses and become more self-aware. As a team, vulnerability may be depicted in a last minute booking, flat tire, or making a quick alteration to the tour route. However, by training myself and being open minded in vulnerable situations, I have been able to let my quick decision making ability flourish.

As I embark on my junior year at Wabash, and continue to ponder my career objectives, I cannot help but be fortunate to have this experience with Nantucket Bike Tours. I cannot thank the whole career service department, Mr. Scott Crawford, and most importantly the Small Business Internship Fund (SBIF), enough for providing me, and many other Wabash men, with these once-in-a-lifetime experiences and learning opportunities. You do not realize how positively impactful you are by providing each of us with opportunities through the SBIF program.

Experiencing Nantucket with Jason Bridges ’98 and his wife Courtney, as a whole, has provided me with copious amounts of insight and knowledge that will be crucial with me in whatever desired career path I take. Whether it’s learning how to properly introduce yourself, how to positively control a situation, or simply building relationships with different people, Nantucket Bike Tours has allowed me to engage and build a foundation to prosper as an overall leader and person.

George B. Pippen ’19: Smike Wallen Living- Although it is sometimes tough for freshmen in College to get an internship after their freshman year, Wabash, once again, defeats the odds. After my freshman year, I not only landed an internship, but it was paid for by a Wabash internship fund and was in Los Angeles, California.  I can honestly say that I do not know of any institution that has the same opportunities that Wabash Career Services provides. I started out as a timid freshman not knowing the difference between an internship, externship and a spaceship. After a few weeks of getting involved in Career Services programs, I had acquired skills that had allowed me to land virtually any internship that I desired (assuming I had the grades). Sure enough, internship season came along and I applied to those that I thought fit my aspirations. I ended up accepting an internship through Wabash’s Small Business Internship fund (SBIF) working for an alumnus who owns a real estate and design company in West Hollywood.

Pippen ’19 enjoys the California sunset with Stark ’19

Now, here I am 5 weeks into my internship realizing the opportunity that I have. Not many freshmen can say they spent their summer developing the essential skills to success while getting paid, in Hollywood. This experience has not only allowed me to grow in a professional aspect, but on a personal level. The purpose of an internship is to help build your resume and to decide if that profession is the one you want to hold onto for the rest of your life. And that is exactly what has been achieved. Learning the in’s and out’s of what it takes to run an extremely successful small business is an opportunity that not many people get to experience, especially at a location across the country. Although I have learned a lot about what it takes to run a small business and how to flip and design new homes, I believe that is not the most important aspect of the whole experience. The fact that I was given the opportunity to live on my own in a place that I had never been before, be given responsibilities that required me to take initiative, and most importantly pushed me to become a more driven, responsible, confident and adventurous person, helps me realize how amazing and unique Wabash College really is. Utilizing Wabash Career Services, in particular, has been a particularly invaluable experience for me, and it has paid off.   Programs, support, and opportunities Things like this Wabash College a special place and one cannot take that for granted.

James ’16 Displaying Product

Geno James ’16: StilL 630 – Over the past month thanks to the Small Business Internship Fund, I’ve had the opportunity to work with David Weglarz ‘03, owner and master distiller of the St. Louis distillery, StilL 630. I had absolutely no experience coming into the distillation business, and didn’t know what to expect. On the first day when I walked into the distillery, a heavenly aroma pierced my nostrils, and I was instantly captivated by all of the barrels and bottles and decor in my line of sight. The excitement hit hard, and needless to say, I knew this internship would undoubtedly be an unforgettable one.

I was not expected to learn every detail right away, but I knew I needed to in order to be an exemplary intern, and not an obstacle throughout the summer. Cleaning, mashing, fermenting, distilling, distilling again, barreling, aging, tasting, proofing, bottling, labeling, boxing and distributing are all such unbelievably intricate processes. If there is any kink in the system, it all falls apart. Every step is expected to be executed with absolute perfection, or else the spirits could be ruined. And the worst part? You won’t know for over a year once they’re done aging. It is all truly an art.
So, every day I come in to the distillery and begin the process of draining the contents of the still from the previous day, climbing into the still and scrubbing it until it’s spotless, transferring a fermentation into the still, then distilling that product. Some days involve throwing in a new mash to cook and cool then ferment for a bit, others involve several cleaning processes to make sure the tanks are clean. Occasionally, we’ll take samples from the smaller barrels that hold some experimentation products. Then, when we need, we’ll pull product from a barrel, proof it, bottle, label, and box it so it’s ready to be distributed to the market. But, every day is definitely a busy one. This internship keeps me on my feet and not behind a desk, and I’m very happy about that.
Earning this internship and working with David has definitely taught me that you really do have to find something you enjoy doing. Set your dreams high and your expectations higher. The first month has taught me quite a bit about running a business in whole, and unfortunately, I feel like the second half of my time here will come to a quick end. But for now, at least I’ve learned to appreciate and enjoy whiskey. And owning a small business.

Dorsuleski ’18 With a Client

Spase Dorsuleski ’18: CTS Pheonix – First and foremost, I would like to thank the Small Business Internship Fund and Commodity Transportation Services, CTS, in Phoenix, Arizona for giving me the opportunity to escape my comfort zone and broaden my horizons. I have attained a vast amount of knowledge about an industry I knew little about. What I have obtained at CTS is not just work related, but life skills as well.

There is no stronger tie than family, and that was shown throughout my time here at CTS. Whenever a task got difficult, there was always someone willing to help. Some of the tasks I have accomplished here with the family are covering loads of produce. There was a time where a truck bailed on me because they wanted more money, but the freight brokers here kept me motivated and we found a truck to cover the load. These loads, keep in mind, are produce such as watermelon, grapes, cantaloupes, etc. There is no time to waste because produce needs to get to and from a destination before it starts decaying. That is what makes the industry constantly changing and shifting. Sometimes rates were great, but the next week they would be unreasonable. That is where my patience was tested to try and find a truck where they wanted to drive at a rate where it was reasonable for me. See, I would describe myself at CTS as a middleman. I get loads from the customers, and then go try and find a truck that is willing to go to the customer, pick up the produce, and deliver it to a distribution center. It is crazy to believe freight brokers see none of this happening, but are in charge of getting everything delivered on time.

The job of a freight broker is challenging, but it feels good booking loads and receiving commission. As time progressed, the impact CTS has had on my career decision is priceless. I have enjoyed my time here in and out of the office. Furthermore, I recommend future students to take advantage of opportunities such as the one given to me. It will help create countless memories and friendships for life.