This summer, Stahls’ ID Direct™ has implemented its first internship program, with 10 college students gaining real-world experience in the heat printing industry. This is part of an ongoing series of blog posts by our interns, discussing their experiences.
by Leighla R., Intern
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| This week’s correspondent, hard at work. |
For a young college student, the ability to take new advice, constructive criticism, and positive thoughts is crucial in learning to grow, not only as a person, but as a professional in the working world. Stahls’ ID Direct is a company full of workers with wisdom and enough of it to go around. Not only am I surrounded by people with knowledge I can grow off of everyday, but the customer interaction I have been experiencing has also hit home to me a couple of times. You have the busy bees who can barely spare a minute of their time, the soccer mom working from home, and the ones who decorate with a heat press for their own enjoyment. Each phone call made is an experience in itself.
One of the greatest experiences I think I have had this far though is the Thursday lunches. The other interns and I have the privilege to be able to personally sit down and talk one-on-one with some amazing people who are a part of this company while sharing an awesome lunch. Stahls’ ID Direct General Manager Brian McLeod, Chief Customer Experience Officer Jan Starr, Web Marketing Director Debra Romalia, and Chief Marketing Officer Carleen Gray are a few of the people who have sat down and spoken with the interns about many different topics.
Brian taught us all about how Stahls’ is a family business, from the very early days when the company first started out, all the way to today and how big the company has grown. Jan took a different motivational approach. He spoke with us about how everyone is in this together, and gave us tips how to run a successful business. Debra spoke to us all about the marketing aspects of a company, along with the growing of the internet and social media and the impact it has on the company. Carleen also had many wise words to share with the interns. She talked with us about what it means to be a professional, with many entertaining personal stories along with advice we can all take with us.
Each person I have gotten to sit down and speak with has taught me or has said something that will stick with me. I think the greatest stepping stones in life are the interactions with new people. Picking up on anything and everything they have to offer to you is the best gift you can give yourself and putting yourself into new situations and exposing yourself can only make you more of a well-rounded person. As all my other friends are lying out by the pool, getting a tan, and relaxing this summer, I am here at Stahls’, making new friends with the other interns and gaining experience in a positive atmosphere that many other college kids my age will never be able to say they had the opportunity to do themselves.