Change in blog location

The UW Oshkosh College of Business blog has been moved to http://www.uwosh.edu/deptblogs/cob/ so that we incorporate the same branding as the college's web site.

This blog will remain active for viewing but we will no longer be posting to this site.

Sara Melius
RR Donnelley-Operations Intern

RR Donnelley is located on four continents, in nearly 40 different countries making it one of the largest printing companies in the world, and the largest in North America. It produces everything from magazines, catalogs, and books, along with advertising material, financial reports and business forms. RR Donnelley works with more than 60,000 customers worldwide and is a global provider of integrated communications. They all work together to develop solutions that reduce costs and enhance return on invest.

I started my internship in January 2011 and have been enjoying every second of it. This is RR Donnelley’s first intern at this facility, so this is a new experience for both of us. I am already learning more than I ever anticipated and know that I have much more to learn. I work as the operations intern at the warehouse and assist in many projects. Right now, I am currently doing a time study to possibly help save the company some money and speed up productivity. I work a lot with Excel so taking Quantitative Business Analysis has really helped me out quite a bit. I am just in the early part of my supply chain classes, but am seeing such a huge connection between my course work and the projects assigned to me at RR Donnelley.

My supervisor has helped me become comfortable with the every day activities, but has also pushed me to do things I would have never thought I would. I am becoming more confident with myself and expressing my opinions as these two areas were my greatest challenges. I am creating connections with other employees which helps make the internship that much more enjoyable.

UWO Student interns in Germany!

Amanda Fenske

Assistant Researcher

BMS Marketing Research+ Strategy is a small market research company located in Munich, Germany. It was founded in 1991 by Stefan Binner and has expanded into the European, Asian, and American markets since its foundation.

I was incredibly lucky to have found this internship in Munich. I'd come to Osnabrück, Germany on a Study and Intern Program Scholarship which required me to find an internship the second semester. During my studies the Winter Semester, I had taken a course named "Marktforschung" which translates to "Market Research". Mr. Binner came to teach a Market Research Intensive Training Day for this course, and after the day, I asked him about internship possibilities in Germany. It worked out that I could work for him starting in February.

I am happy to be working for a smaller company because I can help see an entire project through. I will be able to understand and be involved in all the steps that a market research project endures. By the end of my internship, I hope to feel confident in choosing which methods, what sample size, and what type of interview delivery should be used for specific objectives and then be able to summarize the results and draw conclusions from the outcome of the studies.

Since I have been here, I've assisted project managers on a few of our projects for clients. Working for an international firm means having to cope with many languages, and although I speak English in the office, I have had to code open-ended responses in German, French, and Spanish for analysis. I've helped create English versions of questionnaires and am learning how to program them on the SSI web for Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI).

QBA was definitely a very helpful class for this internship since Excel is always in use. I am also becoming familiar with the SPSS analysis program. I enjoy the fact that I continually learn something new on the job and can develop and put to use the skills I've learned in class.

Oshkosh Corporation Internship!

Tasha Gosselin

Accounting Defense/Finance Internship

Oshkosh Corporation designs and builds specialty vehicles and equipment for Defense, Fire & Emergency and Commercial uses. Oshkosh Corporation started in Wisconsin and has grown globally to become a Fortune 500 company. With a diversified business model and growth strategies focused on innovation, operational excellence, superior quality and service, and strategic acquisition, this company will continue to be a leader in its’ market.

I am an Accounting/S.C.O.M. major planning to graduate in 2013. This fall, I heard about several internship opportunities at Oshkosh Corporation through the Accounting Club and decided to apply. I currently hold an Accounting Defense/Finance Internship at the Harrison Street Plant in Oshkosh.

So far my internship has been a very rewarding experience. I am in charge of several different Defense contracts for which I do sales accruals, audit schedules, vouchers for the government and other miscellaneous projects. The thing I love most about this job is that the work I am doing is very similar to what the full time staff accountants do. The only major difference is the quantity of work and the difficulty of the contract. In the few months that I have worked at Oshkosh Corporation I have begin given many opportunities to expand my knowledge and take on different tasks. I also really enjoy the pressure of the accounting cycle. Each month you gear up for month end close which lasts about 2 – 3 weeks and before you know it, you are getting ready for another crazy couple of weeks. Some people might not enjoy this type of atmosphere but the deadlines keep me motivated and excited to come into work.

I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to have this internship before graduation. The work experience will help me immensely when I graduate and working somewhere that gives you a lot of responsibility will allow me to share that experience with interviewers. I have also become more familiar with an office environment and adjusted to the day-to-day flow of office life that includes meetings, phone calls, and urgent projects.

Little Sweden Internship!

Jennifer Boeckman

Financial Assistant Intern

Little Sweden Condominium Association is a resort located in Fish Creek, Wisconsin. Fish Creek is located in Door County, which has become a popular tourist destination. Little Sweden stays the busiest in the summer months due to all of the vacationers.

Currently, I am a Financial Assistant intern at Little Sweden. I began my internship in December of 2010. Before beginning my internship I was the Activities Director of the resort. Upon graduating I knew I would be required to fulfill an internship so I asked my supervisor if I could do my internship there. I am very thankful of the opportunity they have given me because I have learned a lot about the job itself and know more about which direction I want to go in concerning my career after college.

One of the things that I like the most about working at Little Sweden is that every day I learn something new and know that each day will be different. I like the variety of work and know how beneficial it is to me to learn many different tasks in the finance department.

At Little Sweden I assist the finance department in data entry and daily finance procedures. Some of my responsibilities include; daily sales auditing, accounts payable entry, account receivable entry, rental proceeds distribution, payroll preparation, yearend reporting, monthly inventory analysis, and monthly utility analysis and billing.

Working at Little Sweden has made me really appreciate working for a small company. I like how all of the employees know one another and get along very well. This creates a positive work environment and helps everyone to work well together. Everyone is treated with great respect and all of the employees are appreciated for their work. If I ever have any questions about what I am doing I never hesitate to ask because I know my supervisor is always willing to help me out.

I have also had the opportunity to meet a lot of people that stay at the resort. This has helped build my communication skills by interacting with the guests. Also, I have had the opportunity to build my professional network. I have met a lot of people in the finance and accounting field who have all been willing to talk about their experiences in these fields and give me advice.

The opportunity of having this internship and the courses I have taken at UW Oshkosh have given me the tools I need for a successful career. I feel now that I have had this experience and have thoroughly enjoyed it, that I want to pursue a career in the finance field. I also know that in my career search I will be looking for a company similar to one like Little Sweden.

Primerica Internship

Holly Evers

Primerica Intern

I am currently an intern at Primerica. I began my internship with Primerica in November of 2010. I had first heard of Primerica through an internship posting on Titan Jobs and through the College of Business Networking Night I met my supervisor. This eventually led to my internship.
Primerica is a financial service marketing organization. The company provides financial services and products such as mutual funds, annuities, segregated funds, long-term care insurance, loans, auto insurance, home insurance, pre-paid legal services, debt management plans, and credit monitoring to almost everyone.

My position as a financial coach includes responsibilities such as assisting my supervisor with contacting clients, filling out and completing client paperwork, answering phones, and meeting with clients. When meeting with clients, I help clients make informed decisions by teaching them what most people don’t know about money. This is how I spend most of my time during my internship.

I have learned a lot in the past couple months. Not only have I been able to help clients with their finances, I’ve also learned how to better manage my own. Working with my supervisor and meeting with clients has been a learning experience on both a career level and a personal level. Confidence is one of the main things Primerica has helped me to obtain. This internship is a great way to break out of your shell.

I faced some challenges so far in my internship. It was hard for me to get used to meeting with clients outside of an office setting, but I now realize that meeting in a public place such as a local coffee shop can make the initial meeting more comfortable for both the agent and the client.

I am learning a lot at Primerica. This internship has and continues to help me with my career and the goals that I have. I would recommend that everyone should look for an internship sooner than later because it is a great experience.

Harley-Davidson Motor Company HR Co-op

Kristen Erickson

HR Major

The company has two operations in Tomahawk, Wisconsin that produce windshields and cosmetic components for Original Equipment and Parts and Accessories, and also complete custom painting.

Currently, I am the Human Resources Co-op at Harley-Davidson Motor Company’s Tomahawk Operations. In my position, one of the tasks I have the opportunity to assist with is the coordination of the co-op recruitment drive (posting positions, pre-screening candidates’ resumes, setting up interviews, attending a career fair, and assisting with interviews).

I also help plan employee relations events, track monthly safety training, archive grievance related documents for joint access by the union and company, and run reports in Business Objects, AS400 and PeopleSoft. Recently, I have also been fortunate to assist with the recall process of over 20 employees, the planning of Supervisor/Union Steward Training, and the coordination of Myers Briggs testing and 360-degree feedback.

One of the best things about the internship at Harley-Davidson is the fact that each day is different. I am constantly learning new things, and whenever I have questions, or need assistance, someone is always willing to lend a hand.

I was nervous to move to an entirely different area of the state for the co-op, but since it is an established internship program, they had many resources available to help make my move smooth; including a list of apartments previous co-ops have stayed in, and a workforce that has been incredibly welcoming to me and other co-ops.

My internship has taught me so much about Human Resources already even though it’s only been two months. I look forward to continuing to learn at Harley-Davidson over the next six months.

The education University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh provided me thus far has been incredibly helpful during my internship, and I find myself growing personally, and professionally with each passing day.

Children's Hospital of WI-Fox Valley Intern

Jessica Mueller

HR Major

My experience with Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin-Fox Valley began Spring Semester 2010 when a classmate of mine (also an HR major and volunteer) recommended volunteering there in Volunteer Services. I became a Volunteer Services volunteer that summer and realized that a lot of the things I was doing paralleled with my major. From the moment I stepped onto the NICU floor my first day, during my tour, I fell in love with the atmosphere at Children’s.

I became the Volunteer Coordinator intern in January, 2011. Although I have taken on more responsibilities, the duties haven’t changed too much. My main role in this position is to assist my supervisor in getting passionate volunteers onboard. In conjunction with the staff in various units and clinics, in the past month I have assisted in creating 2 new volunteer assignments in NICU and at the Fox Valley Children’s Mental Health Center. I have been given the opportunity to be creative and use my HR knowledge in a unique way. For example, the concept of Job analyses, I have taken my knowledge and applied it to Volunteer Management by creating Assignment Analyses for each volunteer assignment. It is a lot of work in addition to my other duties, but it is a work in progress.

Some of my other tasks are:
• Using a Volunteer Information System to track volunteers
• Performing background checks
• Doing Volunteer orientations and interviews as well as the prep work for them
• Scheduling Volunteers
• Email Correspondence

Even though I make mistakes, my supervisor addresses them in an open and kind hearted way and helps me learn from them. A lot of what I love about Children’s Hospital is how their mission and vision is reflected in every staff member and volunteer.

“Employment at Children's Hospital and Health System is about much more than going to work. It's about making a difference for kids ... for families ... for yourself. It's about being inspired by the people you meet. It's about learning and growing as a person and a professional. It's about living life fully. And it's why Children's Hospital and Health System is considered a top workplace.”

I always felt so great leaving Children’s Hospital when I was volunteering, even though I felt like I didn’t make that much of a difference. It wasn’t until recently that I realized I was completely wrong. I have realized that I am able to help patients and their families through recruiting volunteers that have a certain passion. The new position in NICU is just that, helping parents feel comfortable and in return help their children feel comfortable. Children’s Hospital does all they can to achieve the perfect environment and I am so glad to be a part of it.

Study Abroad Peru, Part 4: The Andes

After our second week in Lima, we departed for a 9 day trip into the heart of the Andes. We visited Arequipa, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu. We flew into Arequipa early Friday morning and stepped off the plane onto the tarmac to view an airport surrounded by the peaks of dormant (?) volcanoes. Because Arequipa is about 7,500 feet above sea level, we went directly to our hotel to rest and gradually acclimate to the high altitude. At this point some of us started taking Sorojchi pills to help prevent or alleviate any altitude issues.

Airport in Arequipa

Arequipa: View from the Tarmac

Our hotel courtyard through the front gate

Interior hallway of hotel

One of several hotel courtyards

One of the highlights of Arequipa is the Santa Catalina Monastery. While part of the property still operates as a monastery, the majority is available to the public to view the historical and cultural past of this part of the Andes.

Santa Catalina Monastery

A rooftop view at the monastery

Santa Catalina Monastery

One of the kitchens at the monastery

Students dinning out in Arequipa

I think alpaca was on the menu this night (seriously)

More students dinning out in Arquipa

Plaza de Armas in Arequipa; the old town main square

Plaza de Armas
Public Spaces in Peru seem to be heavily used by people of all ages

Street vendors in Arequipa

After one night in Arequipa, we departed by bus for Puno, a village on the banks of lake Titicaca; at 12,500 feet, the highest navigable lake in the world. Along the way, we passed vicuna grazing in the wild. This relative of the llama is prized for its fine hair, but does not do well in captivity. The Uros people make floating islands from reeds growing on the lake. Our visit involved a presentation by the some of the Uros people illustrating their life on the islands followed by a chance to dress in local costume. A few students also took advantage of the opportunity to take a dip in the lake.

The floating islands of Lade Titicaca

Sitting on a floating island

Several students decked out in the traditional garb of the Uros

The Accounting majors with Professor Westort

(Seriously. Trying to hold class?)

How many people can cay they went swimming in Lake Titicaca?

We were on the road again the next morning and as we passed from the Puno region to the Cusco region, we made a brief rest and shopping stop at 4,335 meters (over 14,000 feet) above sea level. This was about our highest altitude of the trip (and it felt it). We made a few other stops along the way to see more Inca ruins and an early Spanish church.

4,335 metes, that's over 14,000 feet

Across the street from our hotel in Cusco there exists a former Inca temple over which a Catholic church was built by the Spanish. This was the first stop on our tour the next morning. It was interesting to note that the buildings built by the Incas were more earthquake resistant than those built by the Spanish.

Santo Domingo in Cusco across from our hotel.

Built on Inca ruins

Inside the church the Inca ruins can clearly be seen

View of Cusco through an archway of the church

Plaza de Armas in Cusco from the hillside

Cusco from further up the hillside

The class and lady with llama; Cusco in the background

Traditional Weaving

What they weave

Students evaluating their shopping haul

During our third day in Cusco, we took a bus tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The Moray are circular terraces that the Inca built to experiment with growing a variety of crops in different soil altitude conditions. Stone steps facilitate going up and down Once at the bottom, it’s a long way back up.

The circular terraces of the Moray

Diagram of how the Moray were constructed

Stone steps built into the terrace

Students walked to the bottom of the level...

And then had to climb back up

Next stop – Salt flats. A salt water spring pours out of the hillside and is caught in hundreds of terraces so the water can evaporate and the salt can be collected.

Descending to the salt flats

Walking through the flats

Pisac in the Sacred Valley

Contemplating the terraces at Pisac

Feeding llamas at the llama farm

The trek to the Inca Trail started at 6:30 with a bus ride to the train station and then a train ride into the heart of the Andes. We had one car just about to ourselves and everyone was pretty excited anticipating the hike and the visit to Machu Picchu. The train cars had overhead windows so that we could appreciate the mountains that loomed over us as we rambled on. Students disembarked at Kilometer 104 where there was absolutely nothing by a footbridge across the Urubamba – the start of the Inca Trail.

The train to Kilometer 104

Windows in the roof allowed us to appreciate the views

Getting off the train in pretty much the middle of nowhere

The footbridge across the Urumbamba is the beginning of the hike

Beginning the ascent

Measuring progress

Enjoying the terraces along the way

Break for a photo op

Another progress check

Approaching Machu Picchu from the Sun Gate

Machu Picchu

In Aguas Calilentas at the base of the mountain at the end of the day

Mostly smiles at the hotel after the hike

After their first view of Machu Picchu, the hikers descended to Aguas Calientas for the evening. Very Early the next morning we would take the bus back up to Machu Picchu for a guided tour and, for some, a chance to hike up Huayna Picchu, the large peak overlooking the ruins.

Waiting in line to reenter

The following is a series of photos from the day we spent touring the ruins.

Our students checking out the ruins

Back in Cusco we decided to check the local market for a less touristy shopping option.

They're not dressed this way for the tourists.

All good things must come to an end and we returned Lima on Saturday. The upside was that we found a place to watch the Packer game and it was good to be able to cheer them on even while we were in Peru.

One entertainment option in Lima is the water fountain park. It is best seen at night when they a Disney style light show:

Watching the packer game in Lima:

We arrived back in the states on Tuesday, January 25, 2011.

Great Trip!