"Creating Excellence" since 1954
4534 Center Rd.
Avon, OH 44011
(440) 934-4435
sales@willowaynurseries.com
 













 

 

Former Interns… What are they doing now?

The goal of the internship program at Willoway Nurseries, Inc. is to prepare students for their future careers in the horticulture industry. If positions are available and interns meet qualifications, they usually are the first choice for employment at Willoway Nurseries, Inc. We are in the process of “molding our next generation of employees,” says President, Tom Demaline. Interns from previous years have become a part of the Willoway staff as nursery specialists.


2009 Internship

In 2009 we were pleased to have 4 college interns at Willoway throughout the summer. Our first intern was Tim Sauner, from Ohio State ATI. Tim was a senior in Nursery and Greenhouse Management. He interned from March through June 2009.

 

Quotes from Tim regarding his experience:

Q: When thinking about your entire internship, which department do you feel was the most educational?

A: “The Shop. I did a lot of things I have never done before and learned a lot during my time there; for example working on transmissions and radiators and welding. Also the Shipping department. The Shipping manager, Keith, was very helpful and involved with teaching me about his department. This department was much more in depth than I expected. I was included in the day to day process and felt very productive.”

Q: What did you like best about the internship?

A: “The quality of people I worked with everyday.”


Tim during his time in the Sales/Marketing
department setting up a display at a local
customer’s business.

 

Our second intern, Aaron Burd, was from Kent State University- Salem Campus. Aaron was a sophomore in Horticulture Technology and interned with Willoway from May through August 2009.

Quotes from Aaron regarding his experience:

Q: Summarize your internship in just a few words.

A: “I saw what people do in this industry everyday on the growing side as opposed to landscaping. This would be beneficial to other landscape students also.”

Q: How have you increased your knowledge about the “green” industry over the last 13 weeks?

A: “I have learned a lot in the classrooms at school, but this internship was very educational because actually working with employees opens your eyes and makes you more connected with the industry as a whole.”


Aaron loading Willoway plants into a
semi truck during his time in the Shipping
Department.

 

Our third intern, Mark Hoover, from Ohio State University interned with Willoway from June through September. Mark was a junior at OSU and had already completed 2 years at OSU ATI’s campus. He was a student in the Landscape Horticulture program.

Quotes from Mark regarding his experience:

Q: Which department you worked in do you think will be the most beneficial to you in your future?

A: “IPM (Integrated Pest Management) because it was the most educational. I worked on research projects with inspectors from ODA and USDA, and learned a lot of things I did not know about pests and diseases. Also working at the Distribution Center one-on-one with customers was a good experience.”

Q: Would you recommend this internship to one of your classmates?

A: “Definitely to any student who is looking for more experience in the industry.”

Q: What did you like best about this internship?

A: “Being able to spend time in all of the departments at the nursery.”

Q: Least?

A: “Weeding and canning because it was repetitive. But I didn’t mind the work because I realize it is an important task that needs to be done to make the nursery run each day.”


Mark at the greenhouse transplanting
cuttings into larger containers.

 

Our last, but not least, intern for 2009 was Amber Hoffstetter from Ohio State University. Amber was a sophomore in Plant Pathology at the time of her internship. She interned from June through September.

Quotes from Amber regarding her experience:

Q: Which department do you feel was the most educational and why?

A: “Pot in Pot and Containers. In pot in pot I learned a lot about trimming, spacing, and proper tree care procedures. In Containers I learned growing techniques for many different types of plants.”

Q: Concluding comments about your internship:

A: “I had a blast this summer. Everyone was really nice here and it was very easy to ask questions.”


2009 interns out at the Lake Erie Crushers
game on a summer night after work.


2008 Internship

Quotes from Alex Greene, OSU ATI senior in Greenhouse Management and Nursery Management/ 2008 Willoway Summer Intern:

“Before I came to college, I had no experience in the Nursery industry at all. There, I learned the basics of the business: terminology, general operations, growing practices, and other such things. During my internship at Willoway, I got to learn how a functional business actually runs. I learned the nursery industry in the theoretical sense at school, but I learned it in the practical sense at Willoway.

"I was surprised by the level of guidance that I received from my supervisors at Willoway. They really took a lot of time out of their days to show me their roles in the business, general operations, and the like. When put to work, the managers made sure that I knew what to do, but they didn't hover over me, either -- I never felt stifled, and they were always ready to answer questions.

"Overall, my experience was the best I could hope for in an internship -- and not just because I'm going to work there full-time this coming spring! I would recommend an internship at Willoway to anyone. Oh, and the free housing doesn't hurt, either."

Quotes from John Terhesh, Southern Illinois University- Carbondale senior in Plant and Soil Science/ 2008 Willoway Summer Intern:

"Willoway Nurseries has allowed me to gain experience in areas I was previously not exposed to in a classroom. The managers were happy to take the time to teach me about their jobs and answer any questions I had. Willoway likes to experiment with new programs and practices that are still only ideas to the green industry. The internship was an exciting experience for me to work with numerous leaders in the nursery field. This program has exceeded my expectations, and is a great opportunity to see all the different components that make up a successful nursery."

Interns, John Terhesh and Alex Greene, learn mum-pinching techniques from Vicki Morris, one of our head growers at the Willoway greenhouses.
Intern, Tom Brady, from OSU ATI prepares a recent order of Hydrangeas for shipment

 


2007 Internship

Hannah Steidl, also from OSU ATI, was our intern for the 2007 season. Upon completion of her internship, she was offered a full time position as a nursery specialist. Below are pictures of Hannah as an intern.


Hannah working with our crews on quality control


Greenhouse Manager/Corporate Vice President, Cathy Kowalczyk, spends the day with Hannah teaching her about the Huron Greenhouse operation.

“Willoway has helped me to see how organization and planning are key to running a successful nursery. I will apply a lot of the same general rules of planning if I ever own or manage a nursery. The most enjoyable part of my internship experience with Willoway so far has been “learning more about the nursery in general, but getting the perspective from many employees about the industry.” – Hannah Steidl, 2007 Willoway Nurseries, Inc. Intern


2006 Intern Summarizes Experience at Willoway Nurseries, Inc.

“Willoway Nurseries was able to offer me experiences that no other nursery could and I learned from some of the most experienced managers in the industry. Normally if something new comes out in the nursery industry Willoway is trying it or already has—from growing methods to automation. Being one of the largest nurseries in Ohio they are able to have a good internship program where you can see every aspect from production and shipping, to sales and marketing. What ever interests you in the nursery industry, Willoway has something to offer. Some of the things that make them stand out are: being part of the Novalis program, growing their own tree liners, working with the USDA to test different growing conditions, growing a vast variety of plant material, and embracing automation. It was definitely worth my time to tour the nursery when I was looking for a place to intern at. I left feeling confident that this was the place. You need to come with a good attitude and be prepared to work, show them that you are willing to learn, and get your hands dirty. In return you get hands on experience and knowledge about many aspects of the nursery industry.” – Todd Barnett Pot-in-pot foreman specialist Agricultural Technical Institute graduate

Todd was an intern from Ohio State ATI in the summer of 2006. He was hired full-time upon the completion of his internship as a foreman specialist in our pot-in-pot division at Willoway Nurseries, Inc.

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