Internship programs have long been popular among college undergrads – and for good reason. An internship gives students real-world work experience in their area of study and, in many cases, affords them an hourly wage or academic credit toward graduation. There are longer-term benefits, too; according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), over 70% of employers end up offering their interns full-time positions, making an internship a “golden ticket” for students searching for their dream job.
And the benefits go both ways. Companies willing to take on a developing professional and give them tasks with even modest levels of responsibility can free higher-level team members to focus on more complex projects. A well-run internship program also expands a company’s talent pool, allows for on-the-job mentorship, and promotes a positive community reputation.
Collabrance knows these benefits firsthand. Internships are an established part of our ongoing hiring strategy, and we almost always have one or several interns employed on our team at any given time, year-round. In this blog, we highlight current and former Collabrance interns and asked them to reflect on what makes an internship great and what they’ve learned through their experience.
Read on to get to know our exceptional Collabrance interns!
What are the benefits of interning at Collabrance?
At Collabrance, interns get hands-on experience speaking with customers, working on projects, and providing valuable insight their team members may not have considered otherwise, giving students the opportunity to apply the concepts they learn in the classroom to tasks and scenarios that impact organizations and customers – and to hone their individual skills and value in the process.
Sales and marketing internships at Collabrance
Marin Tadrus will enter her senior year at St. Ambrose University in the fall of 2024, pursuing a degree in International Business and Marketing. (Marin is also a member of the St. Ambrose women’s soccer team!) Marin joined Collabrance in May 2024, working with the sales and marketing team to support initiatives that align with the team’s strategic goals. Specific activities for Marin include content creation – blogs, social media posts, email campaigns, and newsletters – as well as much-needed data and assets auditing and cleanup. Marin participates in weekly meetings with the Collabrance team to discuss progress and goals and receive guidance on her projects and training. In addition to the great work she’s taken on for the team, Marin has completed a number of certifications and trainings, including Google Analytics, search engine optimization, inbound marketing, and HubSpot Marketing Hub software.
We asked Marin about her time at Collabrance, and she shared, "From the start, I’ve been pushed to step out of my comfort zone. The support I’ve received from Collabrance is outstanding, and help is always available whenever I need it. This team has given me invaluable guidance and professional development opportunities that have resulted in an engaging and productive internship. They’ve done a great job evaluating my skills and assigning projects that challenge me, allowing me to prove my place on the team.”
Marin says Collabrance has exemplified a positive, supportive, and challenging work environment. She has enjoyed her experience so much – and us, her – that she’s decided to extend her internship into the school year! The company will work with Marin to create a flexible, hybrid internship that fits with her academic and athletics schedule, so she can continue to grow her professional skills.
Related: Connect with Marin on LinkedIn
Madison Vestweber is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a degree in finance and marketing. Maddie began her career as an intern with Collabrance in 2022, first working with the marketing team on content strategy and creation, then deepening her work to tackle thorny CRM data management and other more complex projects. As Maddie’s internship continued into her senior year of college, her talent evolved – and uncovered a natural passion for sales development. Maddie became such an integral part of the Collabrance sales and marketing team that when her internship ended in December 2023, a new combined position was created for her, calling on her skills in both content marketing and sales development – with multiple areas of the business benefitting as a result.
When asked how her internship has influenced her professional experience, Maddie responded, “Nothing could have prepared me more for my full-time role at Collabrance than my time as a marketing intern. The mentors that took the time to teach me their skills and expertise made a huge impact on my chosen profession and gave me a running start on my career.”
Collabrance Director of Marketing Melissa Rogers added, “Maddie’s journey shows just how transformative an internship can be. The projects Maddie worked on as an intern helped her discover where her inherent talents could shine, and the team quickly grew to see her contributions as indispensable.”
Today, Maddie works for Collabrance full time as a content marketing and sales development specialist.
Related: Meet Maddie Vestweber
Hannah Allpress is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a degree in marketing and sales and professional management. Hannah joined Collabrance as a sales intern in 2020, working directly with the company’s sales teams to assist with client meetings and learning how to effectively engage prospects and customers. Her talent for relationship building earned Hannah a part-time account management role while completing her undergraduate studies, and, upon graduation, Hannah was asked to join Collabrance full time as an account executive. Today, Hannah also serves as our MSP channel manager, cultivating the company's industry presence while simultaneously managing our valued customer relationships and nurturing ongoing business.
Hannah’s journey with Collabrance has been impressive – and we’re not the only ones who see it. In addition to the consistent accolades she receives from satisfied customers, Hannah has earned repeated industry recognition with invitations to speak at various events and panels, and, most recently, being honored by The Cannata Report as one of six "young influencers” in office technology. Hannah is an essential part of our team’s success, and we can’t wait to watch her soar.
Service desk internships at Collabrance
Service Desk User Support Specialist David Tran joined Collabrance in January 2021 and has remained a valued member of the team since. David started as a part-time intern while studying to earn his associate's degree in network and systems administration, and after graduating in May 2022, joined the service team full time in his user support specialist role.
For David, flexibility in his internship was key, and he was able to adjust his hours each semester to best balance work and school. During some semesters he would work early mornings at the service desk, while other times covering late afternoons, keeping his hands-on work experience an ongoing supplement to his coursework.
When asked about his internship with Collabrance, David emphasized the value of learning in the classroom and exercising real-world skills in tandem. “You go to school, and you learn by the book, and you soak it in, but how much of it do you retain? That’s where the internship at Collabrance really came in handy,” he shared. By applying the lessons he was learning in school to real-time work, David learned how to troubleshoot technical issues, interact with customers, and manage his time efficiently. Those experiences made for a seamless transition to an eventual full-time position and established a solid foundation from which to build his expertise and his career.
Service Desk Team Leader Steve Hoover adds, “Since joining full time, David has made significant strides in his role. He moved from an intern on the triage team to a user support role – a position we’ve dubbed ‘tier 1.5’.”
Now, David is focused on becoming a tier 2 technician – and he’s well on his way, having already completed a tier 2 project. As David continues to grow with Collabrance, he’s sure to carry with him the lessons learned during his internship. We are excited to see David continue to thrive and contribute to our team’s success!
Elijah Cox joined the Collabrance service desk in February 2022 as a triage intern. His dedication and technical acumen quickly earned him a full-time position, and, just one year into his internship, Elijah moved into a service desk triage specialist role.
Reflecting on his experience, Elijah shared, “My internship gave me the chance to get comfortable with the tools we use at Collabrance before transitioning to full-time hours. The transition was smooth since I was already familiar with everything. The pace can be fast because there’s always something new to tackle. Support requests are rarely the same, which is great because it gives me the chance to learn something new. When a similar issue comes up later, I already have it in my toolbox since I’ve dealt with it before.”
In his current role, Elijah spends his time answering calls from customers, troubleshooting and providing support for remote device issues, among other day-to-day business IT needs. He focuses primarily on Fortinet networking, using his specialized expertise to quickly resolve support requests and give our customers a best-in-class service experience. Recently, Elijah’s outstanding performance was recognized at our annual all-company awards event, as just one of 13 employees across the company to receive a WOW of the Year award, which recognizes individuals committed to providing outstanding customer service.
Chris Buckman, service desk team leader, praised Elijah’s progress, saying, “Elijah’s rate of growth been nothing less than stellar. Over the last two years, he has gone from a brand-new intern to a full-time user support technician. We can always count on Elijah to give our customers the best experience possible while taking care of their requests the right way.”
Elijah’s journey, and the stories of the other interns highlighted here, demonstrates the advancement and recognition that can be achieved by team members of all levels. Collabrance interns play a material role in our company’s success, and from day one, interns are encouraged to contribute to real projects and build lasting relationships. That practical, real-world experience sets interns up for continued growth and helps them to become confident and capable professionals – and often, earns them a permanent role.
Consider an internship with Collabrance
Are you eager to kickstart your career with an enriching internship experience? At Collabrance, we are passionate about nurturing talented and ambitious individuals. Keep an eye on our careers page for future opportunities to join our dynamic team and grow your experience with us. Your path to professional success could start here!