Each summer, Ver-tech Labs, a manufacturer of soaps and detergents, offers internship opportunities for current college students and recent graduates. This year, four internships were offered—one chemistry and three marketing. Potential interns must go through an application process which includes: a cover letter outlining reasons why the applicant wants to work at Ver-tech, submission of a resume, and an interview at the company office. Prior to the interview, marketing candidates are expected to review the company website, online store, and YouTube channel. Marketing applicants are asked to provide constructive comments based on their review that may benefit the company. This year’s interns are graduates or current students of Northwestern University in St. Paul, the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities and University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio.
In the first few weeks of their internship, this talented, hard working group of young men and women have started numerous company marketing projects. They are a diverse group bringing fresh perspectives from a wide range of experiences. Nathan Otterson, a rising senior at the U of M, majoring in marketing, is the previous owner and operator of Otterson Brothers Lawn Care Service since 2006 where he was responsible for marketing to his own clients. Jamie Kent is a rising junior at the U of M, majoring in economics, is the current head coach for the fall dance team at Eagan High School and an administrative assistant at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities for the hematology, oncology and transplant division. Wyatt Satre a rising sophomore from the University of Dayton, majoring in business administration, is a current team member at Lifetime Fitness and Vice President of the Social Justice Club at the University of Dayton. McKenna Konitzer, is a recent graduate of Northwestern University in St. Paul, majoring in biochemistry. She has worked as a chemistry and biology private tutor, as a substitute teacher at Dassel-Cokato Public Schools, and would like to pursue her teaching credentials.
The interns are tasked with projects that expand our research database, improve our marketing strategy and improve company operations. The overall internship goal is to improve company marketing strategies to an ever-changing consumer market. Projects give the interns real world experience into what it is like working for a business to business company. Ver-tech Labs staff members provide interns with continuous, constructive feedback on each project. Some of the recent projects include:
- Completing marketing tasks for the introduction of a new product this summer,
- Launching an employee health and wellness program,
- Creating a promotional video about Ver-tech Labs,
- Updating company YouTube videos,
- Updating product media on the online store,
- Creation of multiple showcase pages on LinkedIn,
- Implementing a social media campaign, “A Closer Look at Ver-tech Labs”,
- Writing a standard operating procedure for metal corrosion,
- Surfactant research,
- Raw materials property research.
Projects are assigned to individuals and to the group as a whole. Each week the interns meet with Tony Vertin, CEO of Ver-tech Labs to brief him on their progress. Tony began the intern program at Ver-tech Labs because, “it gives the company a fresh perspective on marketing and the interns provide a window to purchase habits of future customers for the company.” Each weekly meeting is a learning experience for the interns because the group discussion uncovers, “a lot of unused talent in interns” and “ideas that many companies don’t take advantage of,” according to Tony.
The Ver-tech Labs environment supports professional growth of the interns and leaves them with practical business knowledge that they can use in the next stage of their career. The working environment is based on eight guiding principles created by Tony Vertin for each employee to live and work by. The eight guiding principles—integrity, customer focus, innovation, professional excellence, initiative, teamwork, swing for the fences, and having fun —have pushed the company past many of its competitors and created exponential growth over the past couple years.
The internship experience at Ver-tech Labs is very different from any other place that college students or graduates may get a chance to work for eight weeks during the summer. Interns are given numerous projects that force them out of their comfort zone and allow them to test their abilities. Interns are consistently challenged to think differently about the way businesses market to each other and how businesses work in general. The completed work by interns is “live” on the company social media channels, incorporated into the company website and implemented into the company’s daily activities. The Ver-tech Labs internship experience provides the intern with a true taste of the responsibility and work expectations of a full time employee.
submitted by Wyatt Satre, University of Dayton