Intern program producing some top-notch millennials
Millennials have been getting a bad rap lately.
Although – and they won’t like this — much of it is well-deserved. Let’s face it, Tom Brokaw isn’t busy writing a sequel to his book “The Greatest Generation” … with millennials in mind. However, we must constantly remind ourselves about the danger of broad generalizations. And, even though today’s millennial generation is made up of a large number of pinkhaired, tattooed, socialist, still-living-at-home, cellphone addicted, overly-politically correct, far-left dreamers, we must judge them individually.
After all, there was a day when a large portion of the Baby Boomers were long-haired, free-love, potsmoking hippies. And look how well they turned out.
OK, maybe that’s not the best example. But you get the point.
Reserve judgment on a case-by-case basis. Always.
Once you have discovered the bad apples, then you can toss them into the pile with the rest.
In our office, we instated a summer intern program a few years ago. In large part, it was connected with the management, marketing and promotion of the Montgomery County Amateur Championship – a countywide event that now is 15 years old and supports a college scholarship fund for junior golfers.
Many, but not all, of the interns have been products of that junior scholarship program.
The first was Chris DeGennaro, a graduate of Chestnut Hill Academy. While a student at Colgate University, he interspersed our duties with caddy days at Cedarbrook CC. He administered to the County Am and proved that summer interns could serve a very productive role in the golf industry. Of course, the allure of golf didn’t hurt with their motivation.
DeGennaro was one of the first to tell us that having to deal with the many golf professionals in Montgomery County – some of whom were too busy to be bothered by a college kid – toughened him for the work world. After college he went to Fordham Law School and now works in the district attorney’s office in the Bronx. Criminals coming through that office will encounter a tough and savvy young professional.
Next up was Samantha Chichearo, a painfully shy star field hockey player and swimmer from Boyertown High. She was given a baptism of fire in the golf industry, dealing with the public in large numbers at events, then visiting golf courses and talking to the pros. Her shyness dissipated quickly … as demonstrated by the fact that she was given the honor of being a two-year captain on the Albright field hockey team.
Chichearo graduated with honors in June and immediately used her academic and intern background to land a marketing job with UGI Natural Gas and Utility in Reading. She was well-prepared for the work world.
Jenna Soranno graduated from Wissahickon High with an eye on golf. She made no bones about the fact that her goal was a high level position in the golf industry.
After a stutter step at the start of her collegiate career, she landed in the Professional Golf Management Program at Florida Gulf Coast University. As an intern, and later as a part-time employee, she immersed herself in marketing, administrative and tournament operations for the County Am. When disappointed golfers came to the scoring table after a championship round and tossed their scorecard down in disgust, her smiling face was the one that usually helped ease some of the pain.
She has returned for her senior year at Florida Gulf Coast, ahead of schedule for graduation. And she has changed course … slightly. Soranno has taken a number of pre-law classes and intends to go to law school upon graduation.
Law school? What happened to a golf career?
As mentioned, her aspirations are high. Soranno wants to add a law degree, specializing in contract law, to her resume. How will that serve her in the golf industry? Commissioner of the LPGA or PGA is not out of sight for this driven former intern.
Dan Furman was a very good high school golfer at Germantown Academy. When he advanced to Franklin & Marshall University, so did his golf game. He played No. 1 on the college team that went to the national tournament.
As an intern, he enjoyed a doubly rewarding experience with the County Am. He was intensely involved with the golf courses and marketing the tournament. At the same time, he was practicing hard to keep his game in top form. His efforts culminated in an incredible performance – winning the 2015 Montgomery County Amateur Championship. His name is now inscribed on the Fazio Trophy, emblematic of golf supremacy in this golf-crazy county.
Furman graduated from Franklin & Marshall in June with a degree in finance. He enjoyed a summer of caddying at Philadelphia Cricket Club and is now in fulltime pursuit of a job in the business world.
This year we went out of the area for the first time to procure a summer intern … and hit the jackpot. At the recommendation of County Am administrator Eddie Caiazzo, we hired Alec Walt, a sports broadcasting major from St. Bonaventure University. Walt lived at Villanova University during the summer as part of an intern exchange program.
He returns to St. Bonaventure for his senior year with a wealth of experiences and renewed determination to pursue his dream job of being a sports broadcaster. During the summer he did some broadcasting work at the U.S. Open at Oakmont, explored the studio of WNTP 990-AM in Lafayette Hill and worked a number of marketing projects. But his main concentration was a complete social media upgrade for the County Am … and also the GolfTalk Live radio show and the Traveling Golfer television show. His efforts – and his specialized expertise — opened a lot of eyes. Regarding the County Am, after the social media push, the event saw a 12.2 percent increase in participation and 10 percent increase in sponsorship.
The bottom line to this message is that the intern program has been a twoway street. Certainly, interns gain valuable experience and knowledge from direct work in the business world. But businesses also can learn a lot from fresh ideas and innovative approaches to their everyday missions.
America was built on the backs of a lot of strong, bright individuals. And, fortunately, there are still a lot of them out there.