Meet our 2014 Summer Interns!
Every summer we are fortunate to welcome a group of students to our company for our summer internship program. This program is a great opportunity for the company; these bright young minds always bring a fresh perspective to our workplace, and the students are able to return to school with real-world experience. These interns are hard at work on a very diverse array of projects across the company, and they help us to accomplish many goals. Our HR department creates a comprehensive program, complete with training, mentoring and hands-on experience. We also think it’s important to create an environment where these students can get to know each other, collaborate across departments, and interact with management at all levels of the company. With that goal in mind, this year’s intern program included a luncheon that I hosted, a Speaker Series featuring five executives, a welcome event on our rooftop, an outing to see the musical Aladdin, and a special viewing of the US playing in the World Cup. Two of our interns, Michael Goldman and Gabriella Czarniak, helped document several of these events to share on my blog.
1 Because many of our employees followed the World Cup action, we projected the US - Germany game on June 26th. While the US did not win, everyone enjoyed the opportunity to watch the game together.
2 Casey Brundage, Administrative Assistant, offered to help arrange some popcorn snacks. Her sister, Lauren Brundage, founded Live Love Pop, based in Texas, which sells a variety of flavored popcorn.
3 Live Love Pop generously provided us with three delicious popcorn flavors: Sea Salt, Truffle Salt, and Lime Fresco. http://www.livelovepop.com/our-pop-ilosophy.html
4 Lisa Yen and Chelsey Culmann of our Product Design Department dug into the Sea Salt popcorn.
5 To show our support for Team USA, we served an All-American Lemonade with summer berries. The recipes can be found here: http://www.marthastewart.com/345019/raspberry-lemonade We also served one of my favorite summer beverages, Red Zinger Iced Tea: http://www.marthastewart.com/317300/red-iced-tea
6 Members of our facilities and communications team gathered together. Gabriella Czarniak and Iolanda Burgos, on the left, are both Brazilian and therefore were following all of the World Cup games fervently!
7 As a special outing, the HR team arranged for the interns to attend Disney's "Aladdin the Musical."
8 The musical is playing now at the New Amsterdam Theater. Interns Libby Anderson (Product Design) and Jocelyn Teres (Art) in front of the theater.
9 Interns Nicole Eno (Editorial Copy/Writers), Katie Kuntzman (Audience Development), Lindsay Pierce (Editorial Copy/Writers), Addie Smith (Editorial Copy/Writers), and Meghan McGowan (Retail Merchandising)
10 Intern Cecelia Ehresman (Legal), Legal Assistant Pamela Aquino, and interns Sophie Morris (Retail Merchandising) and Maia Conlon (Product Design) - Cecelia especially enjoyed the song "You Never had a Friend Like Me."
11 Some interns had never before seen a Broadway show.
12 Interns Samantha Dubson (Product Design), Emma Vidmar (Art), Katherine McElhiney (Art), and Grace Haynes (Editorial Weddings)
13 Our Human Resources Director, Joanna Wise, with Jr. HR Generalist Robert Cabassa and HR Assistant Elizabeth Nissen - The audience was so thrilled that they gave a standing ovation before the show was even halfway through!
14 Interns Katherine McElhiney (Art), Megan Stout (Product Design), and Caroline Fowler (Product Design) after the show. Everyone was amazed by the performance!
15 A few days later, all of the interns were invited to a lunch I hosted. Lourdes Rivera (HR Director) oversaw preparations and briefed interns on the details of the lunch.
16 We gave the interns some time to talk, so they could share their MSLO experiences with their peers.
17 We have 44 interns helping us out this summer and each has been a great help.
18 The group is extremely capable and bright, with 5% attending schools in the Southwest region, 20% in the Midwest, and 75% at East Coast schools.
19 Haley Polkes (Style) and Aurelie Corinthos (Editorial Copy/Writers) shared a laugh. At the moment, Haley is busy prepping for four different November photo shoots, which includes calling in the products, items, and clothing, and making sure they are all ready in the studio.
20 The interns are extremely diverse, but they all share a love of learning and teaching.
21 It was great to see the interns having lively conversations and bonding with one another.
22 There were beaming smiles as the event was about to start.
23 When I called everyone's attention, I asked people about their hobbies. Many people responded with shopping, dancing, and cooking.
24 But, there were some unique hobbies, like Michael Goldman's passion for juggling and Ultimate Frisbee.
25 I read off some statistics about our interns, such as how 7% are sophomores in college, 20% are juniors, and 73% are seniors.
26 We then went on with a Q&A, where the interns asked me some questions.
27 Samantha Dubson wanted to know, "What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a business?"
28 I explained that people should be passionate about their idea and make a good business plan. They should try to create the best product possible for people of any lifestyle - something we strive for here at MSLO.
29 Another intern asked, "Your motto is 'Learn something new everyday'. What is something you are currently learning and what would you like to learn next?"
30 I mentioned that I have always loved architecture as a hobby, and have finally started studying it more formally. I added that one of these days I want to become an expert paddle boarder!
31 Anderson Libby asked, "What is your favorite section at MSLO?"
32 My answer: I don't have a favorite because I enjoy every part! With everything always growing and changing, it's hard to pinpoint a favorite.
33 Sophie Morris asked, "What are the most important qualities your successor would need to have?"
34 I said they would need to be adapting and be certain the company is seen as a teaching program. That has always been my goal since beginning this business.
35 Adriana Gallo asked, "How do you navigate the balance of having highly curated aesthetic while also allowing the brand to remain accessible in all of its forms?"
36 My view is how we are trying to make everything we do accessible and how the internet is helping and creating a new world for media and teaching as a whole.
37 Lindsey Muhlstok asked, "Before you started your career, was there anything else you saw yourself doing career-wise?"
38 I told her that I used to be a model, a stock broker, and a caterer. I also said how I desired to be a vet, and an architect, and that it's never too late to change! Another of my mottos is: If you are through changing, you are through.
39 For lunch we served a savory panini assortment: Caprese, Prosciutto, and Pollo Club. We also offered an arugula salad and a farro salad, all from our favorite Sullivan Street Bakery.
40 For dessert we served biscotti and scozzese nero cookies, also from Sullivan Street Bakery.
41 Interns Jessica Raia (Finance), Grace Haynes (Editorial Weddings), Lily Sullivan (Style), and Colette Macari (Editorial Weddings)
42 Interns Maia Conlon (Product Design), Sophie Morris (Retail Merchandising), and Emma Vidmar (Art) - Emma's favorite part of the summer so far has been the MSLO atmosphere: "Everyone is so friendly and happy, and why shouldn't they be? MSLO is a great place!"
43 Intern Gabriella Czarniak has truly enjoyed her summer experience with Executive Assistant Sharon Farsijani and is extremely grateful to have such a wonderful mentor.
44 Interns Courtney Tsun (Product Design) and Samantha Dubson (Product Design)
45 Interns Cristina Anderson and Molly Bernitz of Video Production - Molly's favorite moment of this internship so far was filming the new season of Cooking School.
46 Interns Alisa Rothman (Retail Marketing) and Lindsey Muhlstock (Corporate Communications) - Lindsey has been working on the 12 Months of Martha, which allows popular bloggers to interact with new products on a monthly basis.
47 Interns Shay Chandler (Photography), Natasha Gohil (Art Production), and Janella Vargas (Product Design)
48 Interns Katie Kuntzman (Audience Development), Addie Smith (Editorial Copy/Writers), Nicole Eno (Editorial Copy/Writers), and Lindsay Pierce (Editorial Copy/Writers)
49 Interns Michael Goldman (Executive), Cecelia Ehresman (Legal), Gabriella Czarniak (Executive), Jillian Biener (Advertising), and Katherine McElhiney (Art)
50 Interns Christie Nannariello (Advertising), Molly Hord (Advertising), Haley Polkes (Style), and Aurelie Corinthos (Editorial Copy/Writers)
51 Interns Lauren Lubell (Product Design), Adriana Gallo (Product Design), Libby Anderson (Product Design), Jocelyn Teres (Art), and Abbey Slobodin (Editorial Copy/Writers) - Libby has particularly enjoyed watching the product design process grow to completion within the Pets team.
52 As our lunch discussion came to a close, I took a lovely group picture with our interns as well as a few members of our HR team. I really enjoyed spending some downtime with the youngest members of our company!
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