Jacob Sullivan was a Business Development Analyst Intern and currently a Sophomore at Youngstown State University. Jacob joined PE Systems through the Ohio Procurement Internship Program (OPIP) facilitated by the Ohio APEX Accelerators. At Youngstown State, he completed a 16-week course on government contracting/procurement as part of OPIP. At PE Systems, Jacob supported the Business Development team by identifying new potential opportunities and performing market research utilizing tools such as GovWin, GovTribe and SAM.gov. He was tasked with updating the business development tracking tool, managing contact information, and contributing to marketing efforts such as product ideas for conferences and enhancing PE Systems’ branding. Jacob attended networking events and supported the team’s community service activities. His peers described him as outgoing, personable, responsible, possessing integrity, and trustworthy. Jacob was eager to share his OPIP knowledge with his PE Systems colleagues and learn the company’s processes for pursuing, proposing, and winning government contracts. In his words, “I truthfully hope that regardless of where this takes me or even how long that I stay, I can foster friendships with people and create memories that last a lifetime.”

Kayla Payne was a second year Web Graphic Design intern at PE Systems through the Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE). Kayla wireframed designs and suggested updates and layouts to the PE Systems website. She wrote and published social media content and collaborated with the marketing and business development teams. She was heavily involved in the PE Systems rebranding effort to include a website redesign, drafting new logos, creating an internal style guide color palette and developing a corporate overview one-pager document. Kayla attends Ohio University and is a rising Sophomore studying information graphics publication design. Friends describe her as ambitious, attentive, and someone who works well under pressure. When asked “What do you hope to accomplish with this internship?” Kayla replied, “I hope to gain professional experiences about marketing, social media developments, as well as leadership/guidance.”

Lastly, Brianna Vermillion was a Web Content Development intern, also through SOCHE. She attends Bellbrook High School and is a rising Junior. Bri created engaging content across various social media platforms that promoted PE System’s engagement. She attended networking events, participated in PE Systems community service activities and planned outreach events. She was actively involved in PE Systems rebranding efforts and marketing activities. She was most often described as witty, ambitious, inspirational, and diligent. She has expressed an ambition to acquire further knowledge about this profession to discover if this is a career she would like to pursue in the future.

PE Systems is fortunate to have three highly motivated and energetic interns. Their presence inspires others in the organization and offers perspectives in difference lenses. Their support complements our teams’ dynamics and offers invaluable opportunities for growth and learning.