By Kim Calvert, VP of Marketing and Member Services
Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber
The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, in partnership with Eastern Gateway Community College, Kent State University at Trumbull and Youngstown State University, held a press conference this morning to announce a unique collaboration to promote and further enhance internship opportunities at the non-profit business organization.
Having moved to a new, larger office at 100 E. Federal Street last summer, the Chamber team identified three semi-private offices that they wished to dedicate as permanent internship space.
Sarah Boyarko, COO, said, “With job opportunities that we have available at the Chamber at times, as well as opportunities that exist among our 2,400 member businesses, we want to ensure we are doing our part to encourage students to stay and work in our Valley when they graduate. We can help connect them with our members, facilitate networking opportunities and give them an overall great learning experience.”
With the possibility of welcoming an intern for one semester to an entire year, the Chamber looked to and partnered with EGCC, KSU-T and YSU to support the space long term for students from their respective institutions.
Dr. Daniel Palmer, interim dean & chief administrative officer at Kent State University at Trumbull, said, “We are extremely excited to partner with the Regional Chamber and believe this opportunity will provide great benefits to our campus, students and community. By having a sponsorship presence at the chamber's offices, KSU at Trumbull will be able to expand our collaboration with the chamber and local businesses to foster educational advancement and promote economic development. We are particularly glad that our students will have internship opportunities that allow them to obtain valuable career experience and gain firsthand knowledge about our regional business community.”
Jim Tressel, president at Youngstown State University, added, “It is exciting to join our education partners to further brand the outstanding work of the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber. Our students from YSU will gain valuable experiences as they learn and earn at the Chamber.”
Michael Geoghegan, president at Eastern Gateway Community College, noted that, "Every community college has an obligation to work with local employers to ensure its programs meet the needs of the community and that will ensure our students are prepared for the workforce. In keeping with that mission, we work with the Regional Chamber to ensure the Mahoning Valley's 21st century workforce starts at Eastern Gateway Community College. This internship program provides an opportunity for our students to be part of Voltage Valley from the inside and to give back to the community where they live.
The Chamber's unique approach to providing dedicated office space to Eastern Gateway for interns from our institution speaks to its commitment to the future business leaders of our region as well as their trust in the talent of our students."
The intern offices—which reside along the main, most heavily trafficked hallway off the Chamber’s lobby and entrance, welcome students and visitors with near-floor-to-ceiling college/university-branded vinyl on a glass wall into each space. The Chamber purchased new furniture for all three offices from JS Interior Innovations in Boardman, as well as new laptops for interns to use.
The Chamber can offer internships in a variety of areas that include marketing, event planning, government affairs, human resources, administration and office management, finance, economic development, research, business and non-profit work.