Over the years, numerous student interns have blessed us with their skills, their passions and their personalities. Every internship experience is different, but every single time we cherish those moments when we get to help someone explore and grow. In honor of our most recent intern who graduated college this week, we took a few minutes to reflect on why we hire interns and how we benefit from these relationships. Q: Why did you decide to bring interns onto your team? Rachel: It’s a valuable experience for us to create a work plan that mutually benefits both us and the student. In addition, one of Anita’s strengths is developing others. She’s gifted at creating experiences that build on the skills an interns brings to our team. Q: How do you structure your program so that the intern gets a valuable experience? Rachel: We intentionally match what we need done with the interest of the intern. Everyone has a better experience when the intern is confident enough to be curious and explore. When we find activities and projects that they’re interested in, we all benefit. Q: What do you gain by bringing interns onto the team? Anita: We love having the opportunity to mentor a student and to pass on what others have done for us. It’s a way to honor those who have taken the time to mentor us. We also can’t help but get drawn into the enthusiasm every intern brings to our office. Their new and fresh ideas keep us engaged. Q: How have you found your interns? Rachel: Most of our interns have been students at North Dakota State University, Concordia and Minnesota State University Moorhead. We’re not afraid to ask for referrals from professors, other professionals, student association and even other interns. We tend to find better fits for our team when we rely on word-of-mouth. Q: Any suggestions for other small businesses who want to hire an intern? Rachel: Define goals and expectations. Clearly establish how and when you want the intern to communicate, whether that’s finished work or questions they need answered. We believe that it’s important to share experiences and to invest in them. Go ahead and send them to a training session or networking event. This is our chance to show them that we see their possibilities. We also embrace their ideas by listening and riffing off what they share. Nothing says respect like showing enthusiasm for someone’s suggestion. Q: What’s your best intern story? Anita: It is so amazing to watch all of our interns grow and do amazing things. One of our former interns now works at the National Defense Industrial Association as a communications and special events associate. She interned with us, got a job after college and later served as a volunteer on our Women’s Health Conference planning committee before moving to the Washington, D.C., area. Rachel: I loved having Kene Okigbo work with us. He brought so many good things to our team: curiosity, a willingness to share his ideas, energy, enthusiasm and tenacity. I was so energized by his ideas and work. Q: Were you an intern? How did that experience help you? Anita: In college, I interned with Women's Business Institute and put on the Women's Expo, a conference for women entrepreneurs and small business owners. Lily Tomlin was the keynote speaker. During that experience, I learned many valuable lessons from my mentor, Penny Retzer. The first was that no matter what role or title you have at a company, you always need to be willing to stuff envelopes. It was a good reminder that sometimes things just need to get done – even if they’re not glamorous or fun. I am still in contact with Penny and, likewise, I'm still in contact with some of the interns I've overseen. Those relationships are gifts you can’t replace.
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Every company gets to the point where it needs to hire an outside vendor or consultant.
Maybe you’ve hired someone to assist with marketing materials or accounting needs. Maybe you’ve contracted with someone to help you determine future staffing opportunities or to complete a one-off project. At Reach Partners, we often step in when a business’s internal team is too busy to complete a job or an organization needs our expertise in planning and problem-solving. We’ve been asked to determine the best way to move 18,000 people from numerous parking lots to an event site in less than three hours. Our clients have hired us to launch a seminar series in three states and to keep a coalition of experts on task. Every single time, we see ourselves as partners – not just vendors or consultants, but actual partners. Huh? What’s the difference? For us, being a partner means we’re a seamless extension of another team. We bring value and structure to a process, but we don’t take it over. Our favorite successes are when a client’s clients or colleagues don’t even know we’re part of the process. So, how do you know when you’ve hired an actual partner – and not just somebody who completes the job?
Enjoy your partnerships! Interning at Reach Partners has been a wonderful experience, and I’m only one month into my internship. So far, I’ve been able to put knowledge and skills from my classes at Concordia College to the test. What I love about this experience is that Anita and Rachel give me independent tasks to work on that challenge me and engage me.
I can already see how my skills from classes overlap with my projects here at Reach Partners. Since I am a public relations student and have a minor in business, I have taken many courses at Concordia that involve event planning, social media and blogging, marketing, and public relations. I also have helped to plan and execute campaigns as part of my school work. I am thankful for these experiences because they help in my internship work, such as the Women’s Health Conference that Reach Partners helps plan and execute. I’ve been tasked to create a communication/marketing plan for the 2017 event. As part of my public relations and marketing courses at Concordia, I have helped design marketing and public relations campaigns for nonprofits in the Fargo-Moorhead community, including Haley’s Hope and Ellen Hopkins Elementary Nature Play Park. If it weren’t for these experiences, I would not have the skills to assist with the marketing and communication plans and strategies for the Women’s Health Conference. From planning events in my event planning course to running full social media, marketing and public relations campaigns in other courses, I have practiced skills that I will be using not only in my future career, but also in my current internship. The experiences from my class projects have given me the confidence to work independently on tasks at Reach Partners, which allows me to gain more skills and knowledge that will be beneficial in my future career. I am grateful that Anita and Rachel are confident in my abilities to allow me to work independently on projects. This not only helps them out with tasks, but allows me learn from them. -Olivia, Event Strategy Intern On Feb. 9, thousands of people and businesses in our region will #gomatchymatchy as they participate in Giving Hearts Day.
We'll be among them. Last year, more than $8 million was raised for local nonprofits during this 24-hour online give-a-thon. Why do we participate in Giving Hearts Day? 1. It's easy: Go to givingheartsday.org to give a gift on Feb. 9. 2. We can support more than one charity that we love. 3. We are committed to supporting local organizations. 4. It’s fun: especially when we can challenge our friends to do the same. Will you #gomatchymatchy with us? I am excited to introduce myself as the spring intern for Reach Partners. I am from the tiny town of Mahnomen, Minn., where everyone knows each other and where Minnesota goodbyes are a real thing. I am a senior at Concordia College, where I am finishing up my major in communication studies with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in Business.
I am involved in numerous activities at Concordia including Fall Orientation, Lambda Delta Sigma, Family Weekend, PR Club and other various community service projects. Being so involved in activities is what sparked my interest in event management, which is why I am looking forward to my internship with Reach Partners! I am excited to learn from Anita and Rachel and can't wait to put my skills to the test with hands-on experiences that will help me in my chosen field of study. I hope to work in event management after graduation. When I'm not at Reach Partners, chances are you can find me working in downtown Fargo at Kittsona, indulging in a cup of coffee at a local coffee shop, or binge-watching my favorite shows on Netflix! -Olivia, Event Strategy Intern We love Christmas.
The lights. The celebrations. The holiday wishes from partners and friends that arrive in our mailbox daily. Everything feels a little happier this time of year. For us, it’s also a time to pause and reflect on the joy we experience year round. We are blessed and grateful, and delight in brainstorming ways we can share that joy with others. In recognition of this, last year we decided at add a holiday tradition at Reach Partners.
My favorite conversation of this summer, by far, has to be the allusion that was drawn between what we do at Reach Partners and the support that Santa’s workshop provides him.
I measure success by growth. Success is less about accomplishing ‘x’ number of goals, but it is about being a more competent and capable person after the fact. It’s about being a dependable and reliable member of the team. This summer, especially my time as a project intern, has been successful. I entered the summer with, what I would consider, marginal project management experience. Over my time in the office I took on tasks that appeared too large for me and committed myself to ideals that were definitely larger than me. I was awarded the opportunity to audit meetings and lead conversations. I contributed to ideas and decisions that will impact the community for generations to come. I took far more from this opportunity than I was able to give back and I am incredibly grateful for that. Thank you for taking me in, teaching me so much, and supporting me as I spread my wings. Sincerely, Plump Hipster Project Intern - Reach Partners, “We’re the elves.” Reach Partners has always been about making connections and shaping solutions. We pride ourselves on being a trustworthy and reliable partner who brings value to your work. These are just some of the reasons why we are so excited to share our own partnership news: As of July 2016, Rachel Asleson is a genuine, honest-to-goodness co-owner of the company. Rachel joined Anita Hoffarth at Reach in 2013. As you know, her expertise and enthusiasm have been valuable additions to the team. Bringing her on as a co-owner is a natural and exciting step. This formalized partnership only strengthens Reach’s mission and ability to serve you. (Plus, it’s going to be a lot of fun for us!)
Together, we are devoted to helping you plan and complete your projects and events. As co-owners, we promise that we will continue to solve the problems – big and small – that make your work and our community even better. So, please take a moment and celebrate with us. We are thrilled to move forward as partners together, for you.
Ten years ago, Anita purchased Reach Partners after being groomed for ownership by Bev Martinson who incorporated the business in 2001. The vision of Reach Partners hasn’t changed much since 2005. Our continued priority is to plan, build and finish the work that passionate people dream to accomplish; we care for our clients’ by helping them make a difference in the world. We are grateful to be the connector and driver in collaborations between community partners to execute a myriad of projects that include producing marketing collateral, communication plans, trainings, and events. We continue to offer an individualized approach to each client’s need, delivered with efficiency, effectiveness and passion.
Anita says, “Thank you for the continued success of 10 years of project management consulting due to your continued trust, patronage and referrals.” Congratulations to Anita, for continuing and growing the vision of Reach Partners. |
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