Zach McMann ’20 Commodity Transportation Services – To start things off, I want to thank everyone who has made this astounding experience possible. Thank you to Wabash College for the opportunities given to me. Thank you to the Small Business Internship Fund for making this internship possible. Thank you to my friends and family who have supported me through every aspect of my journey making it to the point. The past month has been nothing but a massive learning experience for me. Helping some of the logistic brokers in the office has taught me more than I could imagine. I have gained confidence in multiple areas of communication, logistical analysis, and brokering. Erik has taught me how to lead conversations while on the phone with other brokers and customers. The other brokers in the office have taught me valuable skills in analyzing spreadsheets and creating my own. One of the most interesting things that I have learned would be communication with truck drivers. There is a science to it for sure. A large aspect of speaking to them is realizing that they are humans too. They are people who make mistakes and at the end of the day, communication is the most important detail in life. Without communication, Commodity Transportation Services would be non-existent. Another aspect of this business that I have learned is organization. I have never been an organized person and that has truly caught up with me since I have been working here. I have made mistakes because I did not have my work in any order. The other gentlemen the office have taught me valuable skills such as spreadsheet creation or file coordination to keep me on my feet. To them, I am forever grateful because I know that these skills will come in hand through the rest of my three years at Wabash. I know I will be using my communication skills in the future as well. When I began working at CTS I wasn’t sure how to talk on the phone or communicate effectively with others that I did not know. After a few weeks and some training, I have learned how to sound more confident while conversing business. It has made me realize that other people want to make money as well so it has made it easier for me to influence whether or not they want to accept my offers. Bartering is a large part of this communication so learning how to read people’s voices has truly helped me succeed. Another portion of the job that I will value throughout my time at Wabash will be the note taking. I have learned how to take quick yet effective notes while here in the office because there is often times little information that is given to us. The opportunity given to me from the SBIF and Wabash College has been humbling to say the least. I will be eternally grateful for the people that have made this available to me and my fellow Wabash men. There is no amount of thanks that can be given to truly express these opportunities.