Intern Hub
Welcome to InternConnect
We are excited to have you as part of the InternConnect Summer Internship Program. This site serves as the central hub for program updates, resources, events, and important deadlines.
Please check this site regularly to stay informed throughout your internship experience.
Your Intern Hub
Read program expectations, polices, and requirements.
View orientation, networking events, and program milestones!
Stay up to date with all InternConnect Announcements!
View optional social and professional events.
Please sign up for program check-ins and site visits based on your Cohort.
Get help with internship questions or concerns.
Networking
Congratulations, Interns, on completing your InternConnect Summer Internship!
We hope you had a wonderful experience and that your time in the program provided you with valuable opportunities to learn, grow, and explore your career goals.
As you continue on your journey, we would love to hear about your experience. Please take a few minutes to complete the InternConnect End-of-Internship Survey. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and will help us understand what you enjoyed, what you learned, and how we can continue to improve the program for future interns.
Once you have completed the survey, we will reach out to schedule your exit interview.
Your participation in both the survey and exit interview is an important part of our program evaluation and helps us demonstrate the impact of InternConnect. Your feedback will also help us secure the support and funding needed to continue providing meaningful internship opportunities to future students.
Thank you again for being part of the InternConnect Summer Internship Program. We are proud of all you have accomplished and wish you continued success in your education, career, and future endeavors!
Congratulations again—you did it!
Intern Spotlights
Name: Miah Burch
Host Organization:The Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce
Internship Role: Events Intern
School/Major: Iowa State University/Event Management
Tell us about yourself (Background, interests, career goals):
I’m from Kansas City and currently studying Event Management at Iowa State University. I’m passionate about creating events that bring people together and leave a lasting impression. I love traveling, which made spending my summer in Sarasota an exciting opportunity. After graduation, I hope to build a career in corporate events where I can combine creativity, organization, and relationship-building while continuing to learn from talented teams.
What made you interested in the InternConnect Program?
I wanted an internship that would give me hands-on event experience while challenging me in a new environment. InternConnect gave me the opportunity to spend the summer in Sarasota, learn from experienced professionals, and gain a deeper understanding of the event industry.
What are your main responsibilities?
I assist with planning and executing Chamber events while supporting everything from vendor and attendee communication to event logistics. This summer I’ve also been developing an event sponsorship playbook and organizing the Chamber’s event calendar to create resources the team can continue using in the future.
What's one skill you're hoping to develop or strengthen this summer?
I’m continuing to develop my ability to think quickly and adapt when plans change. Every event comes with unexpected challenges, and learning how experienced professionals solve problems while maintaining a great guest experience has been one of the most valuable parts of my internship.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
Expect that something won’t go exactly as planned. Great event professionals prepare for those moments by thinking ahead, creating backup plans, and focusing on the guest experience. The little details and anticipating people’s needs is what often leaves the biggest impression.
What advice would you give to someone applying for this internship?
Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Ask questions, volunteer for new opportunities, and share your ideas. Your perspective has value, and showing initiative is one of the best ways to make the most of the experience.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I hope to be part of a team that shares my passion for creating exceptional experiences and is always looking for ways to improve. Whether it’s making someone’s day better, creating a memorable event, or helping build stronger connections, I want my work to have a positive impact while continuing to grow as an event professional.
Intern Resources
Helpful resources to support you throughout your internship journey. From refining your resume and strengthening your LinkedIn presence to mastering workplace professionalism and time management, these tools are here to help you feel confident, prepared, and set up for success—both during your internship and beyond.
Contact
ThinkBIG and InternConnect Program Manager
Lorene (Lo-ren) Bauck
Sarasota Chamber of Commerce
Email: lbauck@sarasotachamber.com
Phone: 941-556-4058
View optional social and professional events.
Please sign up for program check-ins and site visits based on your Cohort.
Get help with internship questions or concerns.
Networking
InternConnect End-of-Program Celebration
Celebrate Your Internship Success!
Congratulations on reaching the final weeks of your InternConnect Summer Internship! We are excited to celebrate your accomplishments at our InternConnect End-of-Program Celebration.
This event recognizes the hard work, growth, and achievements of our interns throughout the summer. You'll have the opportunity to celebrate with your fellow interns, employer hosts, Chamber staff, and community partners while reflecting on an incredible internship experience.
Important Reminder
Attendance at the End-of-Program Celebration is a required component for successful completion of the InternConnect Program.
Please RSVP
To help us plan for seating, meals, and guest accommodations, please RSVP as soon as possible. Be sure to include any guests who will be attending with you.
During the celebration, interns will:
- Receive their InternConnect Certificate of Completion
- Celebrate their accomplishments with fellow interns and employer hosts
- Hear from guest speakers and employer partners
- Network and recognize the impact of this year's program
We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you and recognizing all that you've accomplished this summer!
If you have any questions, please contact Lorene Bauck, Program Manager, at any time.
Intern Spotlights
Name: Santiago Yepes
Host Organization: Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce
Internship Role: Management Intern
School/Major: University of South Florida Tampa/ Global Business Management, International Studies
Tell us about yourself (Background, interests, career goals):
My name is Santiago Yepes and I am starting college at the University of South Florida Tampa campus in the fall where I will be an honors student double majoring in Global Business Management and International Studies. I hope to also obtain my master's degree in International Business management, and I hope to one day be able to use this degree to help people by working for an NGO, MNC, or a nonprofit.
What made you interested in the InternConnect Program?
I heard about the internship through some online research I was doing and I then learned more at a school career fair, and this program seemed like exactly what I was looking for at the time, so I decided to apply because I wanted to get my first glimpse into what the business world looks like and learn as much as I could from the experience.
What are your main responsibilities?
In my intern position, I assist team members with their day to day tasks and projects and lend a hand wherever and however I am needed, be it in site visits, interviews, creating spreadsheets, organizing files, helping plan out projects, etc.
What's one skill you're hoping to develop or strengthen this summer?
One skill I hope to develop/ strengthen over the summer is to learn what it truly means be in the business field. Through this internship, I intend to start building a network of people, turn ideas into action, and I want to truly see what it means to be in the business world.
What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
"The professional isn't made by the college, the professional is made by themselves." This advice means that people aren't made professionals or made successful because of the college they go to or because they have money, instead, people make themselves professionals and successful because of the actions they take, the people they meet, the challenges they face and solve, and the positive impact they have on the world.
What advice would you give to someone applying for this internship?
I would tell someone applying to this internship to not isolate themselves to doing or trying a single thing, and to always keep their possibilities open and to be ready and reluctant to try anything and everything, even if they don't think they'll like it.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I see myself completing my master's degree and hopefully working at an MNC, NGO, or a nonprofit to make the world a better place.
Intern Resources
Helpful resources to support you throughout your internship journey. From refining your resume and strengthening your LinkedIn presence to mastering workplace professionalism and time management, these tools are here to help you feel confident, prepared, and set up for success—both during your internship and beyond.
Contact
ThinkBIG and InternConnect Program Manager
Lorene (Lo-ren) Bauck
Sarasota Chamber of Commerce
Email: lbauck@sarasotachamber.com
Phone: 941-556-4058