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.
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