Alliant Techsystems Engages Genesys Works College Students

If you had a short time frame to roll out more than 300 computers, who would you depend on to complete the project? Alliant Techsystems (ATK) needed workers with flexible work hours and experience. ATK Lead Desktop Support Engineer Steve Dorr looked to Genesys Works, who quickly filled the three part-time positions with college students who have had at least a year’s experience working on similar projects when they were Genesys Works Young Professionals.

Since joining the team in November, the three college students have been responsible for the entire PC deployment process. They perform the backups, replace monitors and accessory equipment, execute the restores on the new equipment, install additional software as needed, and assist the users with questions or issues with their new equipment. 

After just a few weeks, Dorr was ready to express his satisfaction with the Genesys Works college students: “They are absolutely wonderful. They are very hard workers, being pulled many directions and they take it all in stride and want to do more. I am so impressed with them. They are working well with the existing staff and also are very good at doing things independently. I believe that they are better than any contractors I would have gotten from a contracting firm.” In a follow-up email, he responded with the same positivity: “The college students are excellent listeners and have great customer service skills. I have gotten great feedback and comments back from the PC recipients on these workers. It has been great having them in meetings getting feedback from them. They have improved our process, and helped to shorten the time it takes to deploy new PC’s.” 

When asked if he would consider engaging more Genesys Works college students in the future, Dorr enthusiastically answered, “Absolutely! This has been a great experience with terrific results. I have enjoyed working with the college students and they have been a very important and significant part of our project.” 

Current high school interns, Alanna Patterson and Tovaun Stallings, with ATK supervisors Steve Dorr and Rick Egge.

Prior to their call for additional support, ATK took on two Young Professionals in August. The current high school interns have been providing a wide variety of skills, including technical, planning, and communication skills to Dorr’s group. As hoped, the growth and learning that the current interns have obtained at ATK allowed them to provide leadership guidance for the college students as they joined the team. 

ATK has benefited from both the current Genesys Works high school interns and college students. Similarly, the interns and college students have had the opportunity to develop professionally as well as earn money to help support their families and afford college. Engaging both current Genesys Works program participants and college students is a win-win for all involved. 

Upon completion of the Genesys Works high school internship program, 97% of the students have gone on to enroll in college. While attending college, they remain closely connected with Genesys Works as program staff guides students towards college graduation. With the Genesys Works year-long internship experience, students are more eager to connect with companies that are taking on college students.

If you have an opportunity at your company for college students, consider engaging with Genesys Works students. Please contact Executive Director Jeff Tollefson at jtollefson@genesysworks.org for more information.

Medtronic Interns Enjoy Luncheon with CIO

Just two months into their internships at Medtronic, high school seniors Nchatxu Vang and LaQuayila Wells didn't expect to meet the man responsible for all information technology at the company, let alone be invited to lunch with him.  It was quite a surprise when these two, along with 18 other Genesys Works Young Professionals working at Medtronic, were invited by CIO Michael Hedges for a meet and greet luncheon. 

GW students pictured with Medtronic CIO, Mike Hedges

On November 5, 2012, students put on their suits and ties and joined Mr. Hedges for food and discussion. 

After introducing himself to the students, Mr. Hedges shared his own story of professional growth and learning, one that started working in a coal mine in northern England and ultimately led to the world’s largest medical technology company. The question on every student’s mind was, how? How did Hedges get to the position he is in? His answer inspired Nchatxu: “I learned that by owning up to my mistakes and working to correct them along with taking on challenging tasks no one else wants to complete, I can be successful.” 

Presenting the First ACHIEVER Awards

This year, we were honored to present our first ACHIEVER Awards to two outstanding community members and one corporate client. ACHIEVER stands for the values we instill and reinforce in our students. We believe a positive Attitude, strong Communication skills, Honesty, willingness to take Initiative, Excellence, having a Vision for the future, Enthusiasm, and Respect help create strong leaders. The Awards recognized the leadership supporters and partners have played in providing real-world educational opportunities for Genesys Works students across the metro area. All the winners have gone above and beyond their call of duty to help Genesys Works succeed. As a way to show our appreciation for their support, we announced the winners and shared their contributions at the 2012 Breaking Through Ceremony. Awards were given out in three categories: School Partner, Corporate Partner, and Individual Contribution.

ACHIEVER Award: School Partner 
Presented to Superintendent Valeria Silva and Saint Paul Public Schools

When Genesys Works started in the summer of 2008, we had just 16 students from three Saint Paul high schools. The support of teachers, guidance counselors, principals, and the Superintendent herself have been instrumental in the growth of the Genesys Works program. Now we serve all Saint Paul public high schools. Success in Saint Paul allowed us to move into the Minneapolis Public Schools and more than a dozen other districts. 

ACHIEVER Award: Corporate Partner
Presented to Medtronic and CIO Michael Hedges 

During its four years of support as a corporate client, Medtronic has offered over 50 internship positions to our Young Professionals. Led by CIO Michael Hedges, who also serves on the Genesys Works Board of Directors, Medtronic continues to be our largest client year after year. This year alone, they employed 20 Genesys Works interns in its IT department. Medtronic has helped expand the scope of the type of work students perform, from PC deployment and help desk support to other roles, such as project management. Medtronic has set the bar high for how student interns can be successfully utilized.

ACHIEVER Award: Individual Contribution
Presented to Nick Hernandez, President and CEO of Aeritae Consulting  

In the Individual Contribution category, we recognized the individual who had the most impact on the Genesys Works program: Nick Hernandez, President and CEO of Aeritae Consulting. Nick’s support of the students and mission of Genesys Works goes well beyond his contributions as a member of our Genesys Works Board of Directors. He has introduced Genesys Works to senior leaders at potential client companies resulting in more than 40 jobs over the past two years. Nick also helped organize a special training day on ServiceNow for Genesys Works Young Professionals. Additionally, he encouraged his employees to help with developmental interviews for our students and with our Suit Up clothing drive.  

11 Months, 11 Miles and a Life-Changing Internship

When the day arrived for Lisa Yang and Ia Lee to begin their year-long internships at Carlson, they traveled the 11 miles from Robbinsdale Cooper High School to the lobby of the Carlson Towers in eager anticipation. Gone was the din of passing time in crowded high school hallways and the familiar look of student lockers. These two 17-year old classmates were now immersed in the professional hush and imposing marble-clad walls of the Carlson Towers. Though they had spent their summer preparing for this moment through the Genesys Works program, now that it was here, it was still daunting.

When Chip Goodall (Information Technology Manager, Workplace Services), who would serve as their placement supervisor, arrived in the lobby, they knew they were in good hands. Chip started by giving them the whirlwind tour of all the members of their department. In fitting IT fashion, he allowed them to integrate to their new environment by setting-up their own workstations. 

Though this day may not have been quite as nerve-wracking for Chip and his team, this was the first year for having high school interns through Genesys Works and they were not sure what to expect. They had some ideas about how best to employ Ia and Lisa as part of their team, but as they started giving the interns tasks, they could not be certain of how well the two would perform.

It turns out they need not have worried. One Team Lead in their area, Angela Hedden-Solway, has been impressed with what she has seen. “I have seen extreme growth in both Lisa and Ia. They have gone from taking things one step at a time to being able to handle multiple projects/activities, prioritizing work and obtaining team goals.”

Because Genesys Works interns typically spend a full year in their positions, it allows supervisors and co-workers to invest in them and entrust to them work that truly helps the department. Chip says it this way: “They have helped us in a manner that we didn’t even see coming last fall. By having them on our staff, we were able to navigate some difficult staffing situations where we had shortages due to vacations and medical issues. They moved from building and repairing laptops and desktops to learning our security access request system and providing fulfillment support.”

Beyond PC Deployment: Stacy Yang takes on business systems at Xcel

We love seeing our students and clients think creatively about the kinds of work Genesys Works interns can do. Last year, it was Lulite at the National Marrow Donor Program, who opened the doors for students in software testing roles. Now, it's Central High School student Stacy Yang pushing the envelope for her peers. She's taken on a variety of IT business operations tasks, and she has performed at the top of her game in all of them. Check out this testimonial from Xcel supervisor Kathy Toth.

Stacy has been a valuable addition to the program management team in business systems at Xcel Energy. Stacy completes contract requisitions and follows up on them through approval and issuance to our vendors. She helps complete the purchasing cycle in an expedient, compliant manner. In addition, she assists with the month end process by rolling over forecasting spreadsheets... [and] executes several other ‘as needed’ tasks with enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Stacy’s support role has assisted to focus the project managers on execution and quick, compliant processing of information technology contracts. 

Stacy has reaped the benefits of a year in her position as well. A major part of the theory behind Genesys Works is that the skills a student builds in a corporate work place--time management, analytic thinking, problem-solving--are the same ones required to succeed in college. Given the success Stacy has had as a pioneer at Xcel, she should have no problem as she enrolls at The College of St. Benedict (her likely pick) this fall. As she puts it:

 

Through Xcel Energy I've learned how to become an independent, innovative thinker. Along with that I am most fortunate to have a group of wonderful, supportive co-workers who never hesitate to answer my call for help.

Genesys Works is Life Changing

By Peter Vue, Genesys Works Young Professional and Intern at 3M

Peter examines the inside of a computer, getting ready to disassemble it

Being a curious teenager, I want to know every thing there is to know of the ever changing and evolving technology of today and tomorrow’s world. Applying for Genesys Works, I would have never thought that I would get to be a part of such a great program, until the moment I opened that acceptance letter in the mail. I joined Genesys Works because I knew I would be guaranteed a fun, yet educational summer. I have learned that self presentation, technology and professionalism are crucial knowledge and skills to have in life. It helps you become more prepared for the professional path ahead. 

As for me, I gained these qualities during the summer of 2011, thanks to Genesys Works. That was one of the best summers of my life. I got the chance to assemble and dissemble computers. I have always been afraid to do that on my own. I was given the chance to work one on one with a highly intelligent IT professor for eight straight weeks. Information technology testing and mock interviews were provided to better prepare me for working in the real world. I was also fortunate enough to do volunteer work with an energetic and large group of young professionals at various events.

The benefits of being with Genesys Works are the opportunities that you would not find anywhere else. I have benefited plenty from Genesys Works, whether it is the fun, the people or the skills and knowledge I have obtained from the eight weeks of intensive training. Over the past many months of being a part of this wonderful program, I gained confidence like never before. I was introduced and revealed to the professional world. I continue to keep my hopes and dreams high, hoping someday to live the professional life that was first introduced to me by Genesys Works. Continuing to believe, I dream to someday earn my own spot in the professional world.

Peter with his 3M team, from left to right, Tammy Sachse, Paula Brisson, Debbie Jenny, Naomi Bliss, and Demond Byrant

Genesys Works has helped me grow and become more confident in the things that I do. I believe I am very lucky to be a part of 3M and to be working with my supervisors, Naomi Bliss and Tammy Sachse, along with the rest of my team. 3M is a great a place to be and a place that offers great experiences to young professionals. I am a Contracted Intern. My job is to check for errors of projects and correct them. Projects are constantly coming in and checking for errors is a huge responsibility. It is important that corrections are done so that there is no confusion in the future. The relationship I have with my co-workers is beyond great. I feel like we are a family placed together in cubes. The laughs and work we share helps us grow, improve and learn together. The coolest thing about working at 3M is being able to see a Minnesota found company, working and interacting with the rest of the world.

Help Us Secure 160 Internships by July

People often ask, “What is your biggest limitation to growth at Genesys Works?”  The answer is easy.  Jobs.  Without meaningful internships, Genesys Works doesn’t work.  The hallways of our urban high schools are filled with highly-motivated, capable students whose lives could be forever changed if provided with one thing.  Opportunity.  A chance to learn, grow, and thrive as a trained young professional working in the corporate world.

So how can you help?  Easy.  Help connect us with companies or organizations that could benefit from the services that our trained students can provide.  And if you work for one of the 37 companies that are currently Genesys Works partners, we urge you to think about new and creative ways that you may utilize the talents of our students to address your business needs.  While the jobs that our young professionals perform have been primarily in the areas of IT desktop support and help desk services, we have lots of students working to support the needs of teams in the areas of project management, business analysis, software testing and web site management.  Wherever a company may have a need for part-time, cost-effective resources that can reliably perform a necessary function or simply free up full-time staff for higher-value tasks, we have a solution.  Genesys Works.

To learn more about our award-winning youth development/workforce readiness program, we invite you to visit our web site and begin exploring the many ways you might be able to help us reach our goal of securing 160 professional internships by July 1^st.   Please contact Jeff Tollefson at jtollefson@genesysworks.org or (651) 789-0088 for more information. 

We thank you in advance for your generous assistance as we work together to provide new pathways to prosperity for our city’s youth.

Philanthropy on the Front Lines: Ibrahim and Troy at Dorsey

We've written much about the Genesys Works Young Professionals on this blog--the obstacles they've overcome, the incredible commitments they make to success in school and the workplace, their accomplishments as they win scholarships and move on to college. Students like Ibrahim, currently an intern at Dorsey & Whitney, do the most they can to take advantage of the opportunity Genesys Works and its corporate partners provide.

What we don't always make clear is the amount of care and energy invested into our students' experiences by the people they work with. Ibrahim's supervisor, Troy Johnson, is an especially strong example of the influence an intern's coworker can have on him. Like a normal manager, Troy assigns tasks and gives trainings to Ibrahim. But he has also acted as a mentor, inspiring Ibrahim to think big about his career and motivating him to take risks in the workplace.

Young Professional Ibrahim Hagos has developed a strong professional relationship with Troy Johnson, his supervisor at  Dorsey & Whitney.