Like many college students, Michaela Rosenberger searched for an internship that could provide real-world experience and a culture that would embrace professional development.

Rosenberger, a rising junior at West Chester University, said she found that and more as part of the Penske Corporate Summer Internship Program. “From my very first day, everyone was so welcoming,” said Rosenberger, an intern with Penske Logistics. “I can’t imagine having a better first internship.”

As the internship program drew to a close this week, Rosenberger, and other interns, reminisced about their experiences at Penske’s corporate campus in suburban Reading, Pennsylvania.

Penske welcomed interns back to the corporate campus for the first time since 2019. The program was paused in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. This year’s class included 56 interns from nearly two dozen colleges and universities across Canada and the U.S.

“Interns are a diverse group of professionals that bring fresh thinking and innovation to the corporation each year we hold the program,” said Ashley Bilinski, corporate human resources manager. “This program benefits the students because it provides them with a real-life corporate experience and exposes them to real-life work they can expect to encounter post-graduation.”

“It was also the first year we were able to give the interns a hybrid work experience,” Bilinski said. “Having the internship program back was a great way to support the business as well as give students the opportunity to dive into a real-life work setting.”

From Classroom to Corporate Experience

The students worked in a variety of roles in departments across Penske Logistics and Penske Truck Leasing including Remarketing, IT, Finance, Human Resources, Vehicle Supply, Marketing, Penske Technology and Education Center, Operational Excellence, Maintenance, Dedicated Contract Carriage and Transportation Support Services.

Applicants for the internship program must be full-time college students pursuing a bachelor's degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher and entering their junior or senior year. Completion of some core curriculum classes is preferred.

This year’s intern class represented the following colleges and universities:

Ontario, Canada: University of Toronto and Wilfrid Laurier University

California: Pepperdine University

Delaware: University of Delaware

Florida: University of Florida

New Jersey: Rutgers University

New York: Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology

Ohio: Case Western Reserve University

Pennsylvania: Bloomsburg University, Cabrini University, Grove City College, Kutztown University,

Lehigh University, Penn State University, Shippensburg University, University of Pittsburgh,

University of Scranton and West Chester University

For Joe Albert, who grew up in Pennsylvania, his internship experience in the Corporate Finance Department provided an opportunity to learn more about Penske, a familiar hometown brand with a global reach.

“Penske offers so many different career paths,” said Albert, a rising senior at Penn State University. “Penske is a huge company, but it seems like a small company because everyone is so nice.”

Driving Community Service

In addition, the interns were able to express their dedication to community service by participating in volunteer activities and hosting fundraisers to benefit non-profit organizations.

“Community service is a key component of the intern experience. This year, the interns volunteered at Berks County Youth Corp, Olivet Boys and Girls club, as well as hosted two ‘dine and donate’ events,” Bilinski said.

The opportunity to give back to the community helped to bring the internship experience full circle for Annam Rihan, a Corporate Human Resources intern.

“I have always had a need to help people, and I think that is why I am in Human resources to begin with, said Rihan, a senior at West Chester University. “HR is all about helping other people.”

For students considering Penske as a potential internship destination, Bilinski offered this snapshot.

“Penske offers a robust program that not only immerses you into a corporate setting and gives you a feel for what you can expect walking into a career, but it also offers an abundance of networking, community service, and professional development opportunities,” Bilinski said.

Interested in an internship with Penske in 2023? Visit https://penske.jobs/internships/ to apply for an internship of your choice. Applications will be accepted in early 2023.

By Bernie Mixon