Seventeen students from five area universities and colleges are working with project managers and program leaders to solidify and expand skills and experiences – the kind of work that will benefit them in careers ahead and benefits Baker Group now. 

Russ Acton, Project Manager, Sheet Metal Business Unit, and Diane Mech, in the Human Resources Department, manage the internship program and describes two types of internships offered by the company. Some interns join the company just for summer months. Some work under a co-op agreement, taking a semester off from classes to work.  This year all interns are based at the Ankeny facility.

2020 interns are Collin Blatchford, Aaron Brown, Jimmy Carter, Sam Connett, Jacob Dodge, Ryan Farrell, Henry Fischer, Nathan Fromm, Eulises Landa, Riley May, Jordyn Newton, Samuel Pape, Dhruvita Patel, Cole Perkins, Joshua Vance, Felipe Varela Carvalho and Andrew Zimmerman.

They attend Iowa State University, University of Northern Iowa, Des Moines Area Community College, Dordt College and South Dakota State University, and they are working across the company in Electrical, Engineering, Mechanical, Sheet Metal, Automation, Industrial, Technology, Service and IT business units or departments.

“One of our goals,” Mech says, “is to keep the best and the brightest talents close by.” The relationships built can benefit both students and the company, she explains.

Russ Acton represents the full circle that is possible within the program. Acton was an intern and co-op student over five years as he studied engineering at Iowa State. He now helps select and mentor students, beginning with his presence at the university career fairs.

“I had such a good experience with the program and want the next generation to have a similar, if not better one,” he explains. “Interns have the opportunity to be involved with all aspects of a project, from how we develop our business and estimate projects, to communicating with our craftsmen and closing out each job. They learn how we coordinate details from cradle to grave, so to speak.”

Mech points out that frequently interns evolve into full-time employees. Learning relationships that may begin in a summer can carry long-term value for everyone – the interns, Baker Group and the customers it serves.