Pictured from left to right are: Cait Carpenter, Jeffrey MacCowan, Emily Kropf, Phil Sloss and Amber Echlin
The marketing, human resources and sales interns are working in teams to communicate messages both internally and externally to different GreenStone audiences. Throughout their time at GreenStone, they are able to learn alongside a team of full-time employees.
Interning at GreenStone, these students are earning college credit toward their degree, gaining experience working in their field and building relationships with other interns and employees. They will also attend internship events such as an etiquette lunch, volunteer day and a farm visit.
Emily Kropf – Learning and Development Intern
Having the opportunity to grow up on a farming operation fueled my passion for agriculture at a young age. My parents purchased our 145-acre high-density apple orchard over 15 years ago and every chance I got I was learning about the farm. I remember in the summers running errands for my parents and often ending up at the GreenStone branch in Grand Rapids.
Exiting a busy time in my life as former 2018 Michigan Apple Queen, I have continued along the path of my passion for agriculture by attending Michigan State University studying agribusiness management with a double minor in spanish and leadership of organizations. On campus, I am a member of the agricultural professional sorority, Sigma Alpha, serving as the public relations chair. I also enjoy many academic clubs, cheering on the Spartans and volunteering when I am not studying.
During the first week of my internship, I was encouraged to jump right into department meetings and was given many resources to help me as I began the summer. Before I finish my internship next month I am looking forward to job shadowing many different careers within GreenStone to learn more about the company overall.
Cait Carpenter – Sales Intern
Growing up in the rural community of Dansville, I am currently attending the University of Tennessee – Martin studying agribusiness management. In 2017, I graduated from Michigan State University’s Institute for Agricultural Technology, specializing in small ruminant management and restorative land management.
When I was younger, I was involved with 4-H and FFA. Today, I am a leader in both organizations and an assistant agriculture high school teacher. In my spare time, you can find me shooting archery, raising and working herding dogs and camping.
Seeing GreenStone’s involvement in my community growing up, especially with 4-H and FFA, I knew it was a great company and I always wanted to work here. During my internship, I am looking forward to assisting sales leaders, working through data and providing ideas surrounding growing GreenStone membership.
Jeffrey MacCowan – Marketing Intern
I have been with GreenStone since December 2018. While interning with GreenStone I have enjoyed writing blogs, being a part of marketing campaigns and promoting the internship program. Meeting fellow interns through the different events and connecting over lunch in the GreenStone Café has been a highlight of my internship. I enjoy hearing about each of their backgrounds and learning about the farming operations many of them grew up on.
I am currently dual enrolled at Lansing Community College and Northwood University studying marketing. This is my third marketing internship as I enter my last school year and graduate in May. Outside of studying, I enjoy working out, listening to podcasts, watching sports and coaching boys basketball.
As I finish my internship, I look forward to completing my individual project and filming more intern-related videos. So far, during my internship I have enjoyed job shadowing many different employees at GreenStone including traditional financial services officers, an appraisal manager and the learning and development team.
Amber Echlin – Marketing Intern
After beginning my GreenStone internship in December 2018, I am grateful to work alongside a team that pushes and challenges me each day. Some of my responsibilities consist of writing weekly blogs for GreenStone’s Open Fields site, reaching out to employees and organizations about community engagement, organizing the social media content and assisting with marketing campaigns. One of the biggest rewards as an intern was traveling to a member’s farm and writing a feature story for GreenStone’s quarterly Partners magazine.
In addition to tremendously sharpening my writing skills, this internship has helped me gain insight on the agriculture industry and better appreciate what farmers do every day. Although my grandparents were farmers and we currently lease land to local farmers, it was not until working with GreenStone that I began to truly understand their importance. I now consider agriculture an industry I would be honored to serve in the future.
After graduating with my bachelor’s degree from Northwood University earlier this spring, I have enjoyed spending my summer training my new puppy, going for walks, kayaking at local parks and renovating my camper. I am eager to take with me the skills I have learned at GreenStone to my future.
Phil Sloss – Human Resources Intern
Interning at GreenStone and working in a team environment as taught me to be a better communicator and to hone my skills, both verbally and written. In January, I came on board with GreenStone and started looking forward to the summer portion of the internship. Planning intern events alongside my coworkers is exciting and fun for me.
This week the interns will be experiencing two events I am really looking forward to: the volunteer day at Potter Park Zoo in Lansing, Michigan, and the lunch etiquette where interns will learn business dining and conversation tips.
In May, I graduated from Michigan State University (MSU) with my bachelor’s degree in human resources management. During my time at MSU, I worked in the culinary services department as a human resources student assistant. In my free time, I enjoy kayaking, rollerblading and playing tennis.
Are you or someone you know looking for an internship? Find out more about the GreenStone internships and careers here.
