Supply chain management, business administration and construction management are interconnected industries that transform ideas and resources into projects that improve the places where people live, work and gather. Supply chain professionals ensure that materials, services and resources move efficiently, while business professionals help organizations make strategic decisions and manage people, finances and operations. Construction professionals then bring those plans to life by creating the physical spaces that support businesses, families and communities.
Together, these fields offered 91Ƭ Polytechnic student Katelynn Peterson opportunities to develop versatile skills, explore meaningful careers and see how her work can have a tangible impact. As a supply chain management major, she served as a business administration intern at , in Lomira. She was one of the first interns placed in this role and managed more than 100 Michels interns.
Peterson was even given the opportunity to take a day trip on a private jet to Syracuse, New York, to watch Project Yankee, where Michels is testing deep foundation pouring for ’s new microchip facility – a $100 billion, 680-acre-plus project.
“The opportunities are endless with Michels,” she said. “If you want to try something new or go somewhere for more experience, Michels is more than willing to put you where you need to be. This company is incredibly flexible in developing a strong career through support, networking and experience.”
Peterson, of New Richmond, expects to graduate in spring 2029, and plans to one day work at the corporate level in supply chain management.
“What interests me is the operations behind companies regarding transportation, logistics and quality management,” she said. “I hope to make an impact in my field by setting a positive, professional, and respectful standard, while finding the best protocols and operations within any project or company.”
Peterson was one of 745 91Ƭ Polytechnic students enrolled in Career Services' Cooperative Education and Internship Program this summer. CEIP ensures structure, support and collaborative partnerships between employers, students, faculty and staff.
What were your main roles as an intern at Michels Construction?
As a business administration intern, my main role was managing 115 of the 335 interns in the program. I used Excel to manage all the information. I monitored and managed their time clocks for payroll processing using ExakTime, tracked dashcam alerts with Samsara and audited their receipts for thousands of transactions in Corpay.
I had to navigate best operations for handling all of this for future business admins. Mass communicating to so many interns was challenging – sending proper protocols, policies, standards, training guides and more proved to be more than difficult. It was hard maneuvering all the communication consistently amongst the number of employees, but after finding the best system, it worked out very pleasantly.
What is a project you helped with at Michels Construction?
I created the Business Administration Playbook. It’s a standard operating procedure (SOP) document that contained everything I did for the summer as a training guide for future business administration interns.
With two other interns placed in this role, it was a lot of organizing and navigating the best processes throughout the three months. We created the guide for those who may need it in the future.
What did you enjoy most about your internship?
I enjoyed the networking and professional relationships, as well as friendships that I made. This internship presented endless opportunities for me to experience more – even developing relationships with executives and presidents. This gave me the opportunity to watch testing be done on-site firsthand for Project Yankee for Micron.
Currently, Michels is testing foundation pouring for 80-foot caissons, which are underground cement pipes. They are testing about 10 of these pours before pouring the thousands to come. It was neat to see a challenge firsthand and watch the engineers navigate solutions and what to do going forward.
What advice would you give other students who are given large responsibilities?
Be confident! Having confidence in yourself, in your team, in your work, matters. Even if you aren’t sure about what you are doing, you can be confident in navigating the next best steps to get there. Others see this motivation, and it will only make them more confident in having you experience different things.
Do you think your courses and experiences at Stout will help you to make an impact?
Yes! I do think my courses and experiences at Stout will help me to make this impact. The Career Conference Week that Stout hosts twice a year has so much potential for any individual, with any opportunity, in any major. The engaging, hands-on courses are informative and provide both soft skills and technical skills.
