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NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions Regional Manager, Anna Mangum, Featured as Keynote Speaker

Raleigh, North Carolina – On November 16th, 2022, NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) regional manager Anna Mangum was the keynote speaker at the monthly Central Carolina Society for Human Resource Management (CCSHRM) in Sanford, North Carolina. Mangum spoke about the impact of the Rural Works! internship program which supports NC State University’s commitment to social, economic, and technological development in rural communities across North Carolina. RuralWorks! internship program offers an opportunity for high-caliber College of Engineering students to intern with employers in rural counties throughout the state.

Mangum was invited to speak by Darrell Parker, a member of CCSHRM and the human resource manager at Stanford-based polymer manufacturer STI Polymer – an IES client and a Rural Works! internship host company. Parker shared his appreciation for the program and Nathan Embree, an NC State College of Engineering student – who interned with STI Polymer. Nathan began his internship with STI Polymer three summers ago and continues to work with them part-time throughout the school year. With his internship experience through the Rural Works! program, he is hopeful to secure a full-time position at STI Polymer post-graduation.

Mangum shared about the urgency for employers to apply to be a RuralWorks! host for the summer of 2023 and the importance of filling out internship job applications now – a vital process to match the appropriate engineering interns with compatible companies. The Rural Works! internship program is an investment in the community. By creating a relationship with young talented students and showcasing the rural community as a place to grow careers, employers build a stronger community when hiring an engineering intern.

“With the growth of manufacturing in Central North Carolina and large organizations like Wolfspeed and VinFast moving to the region, a program like Rural Works! is an excellent resource for smaller manufacturers to attract young talent,” Anna expressed. The Rural Works! program provides employers access to the best and brightest pool of potential employees before they enter the post-graduation job market. 

In addition, the program can help address the immediate workforce labor shortage with talented and eager engineering students. Interns are able to accomplish the projects you haven’t had the time or labor to complete with immediate assistance. Host companies receive ongoing support from Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) Regional Managers and Rural Works! staff in creating and sustaining the internship position.

Rural Works! Internship Employer Requirements

  • Your company must be located in or work with a Tier 1 or 2, rural community in North Carolina
  • Agree to compensate an intern minimum of $10 per hour for 40 hours a week for 10-12 weeks. The NC State College of Engineering has committed to supplementing the intern’s pay to a competitive level.
  • Provide interns with interim and post-internship feedback
  • Provide each intern 8 hours of compensated time to participate in community service

You may access the application to apply for an NC State College of Engineering intern for the summer of 2023 contact your NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions regional manager.

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About Central Carolina Society for Human Resource Management (CCSHRM) 

CCSHRM, created in 1996, is a non-profit, professional association with members representing employers throughout Central Carolina in Lee, Moore, Harnett and Chatham counties. The organization is an affiliate of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

About NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions (IES)

NC State University Industry Expansion Solutions (IES) is the extension and outreach

team for the NC State University College of Engineering and administers the National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP) for North Carolina (NCMEP). IES supports all North Carolina businesses by providing connections, networking with industry experts and helping to identify the resources, tools and customized programs needed to increase an organization’s productivity, efficiency, quality and profit.