Celebrating Our Own on National Intern Day 2023

Across the nation, about 500,000 young professionals each year find their way into some sort of internship program—and with good reason. Statistics show that completing internships results in an 85% greater chance of landing a job after graduation. And that’s because internships build real-world skills and experience, strong professional networks and direct knowledge about the suitability of a chosen profession.

In honor of National Intern Day, celebrated on the last Thursday of each July, we took a little time this week to sit down with a few of our own incredible interns to learn more about them, their experiences here at Gas South and what they’ve got planned for the future.

Nicholas G.

Credit Analyst Intern

Where do you attend college? What degree are you seeking, and when do you graduate?

I’m working on my bachelor’s degree in general business administration at the University of Florida. I’ll be graduating with a double minor in Entrepreneurship as well as Management and Sales in Agribusiness. I plan to graduate in December of 2024.

How did you hear about Gas South, and when did you start interning here? What made you decide to choose Gas South?

While starting as the Middle Office Intern in October of 2018, I began working at Infinite Energy. During COVID, our company was informed of the buyout by Gas South. The cultures were said to be a great fit, and I have felt that every day at Gas South for the past two years. Continuing to work with Middle Office up until this summer has been an amazing opportunity to expand my skills and network with several professionals in the field. For the summer, I have transitioned to Treasury & Credit. I’ve enjoyed both departments at Gas South and truly love the culture and mission at Gas South.

How has your experience here been so far? What do you like most about interning here? What have you learned? Have there been any challenges?

My time at Gas South has been nothing short of amazing. Out of all of the things I’ve learned working both for AFT and SRM, my favorite thing about Gas South is the people. Each day, whether at home or in the office, I get to have meaningful conversations with my coworkers. I’ve learned so much working at Gas South that pertains to professionalism as well as computer software. I’ve improved my Excel skills as well as learned about several reports using PowerBI.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

With college graduation coming soon, I’d love to have the chance to continue working in the Natural Gas industry. Working at Gas South through college has led me to find my passion in life and truly what I want to do after school. I’d love the chance to continue growing as a professional at Gas South for the next five years.

Why are opportunities to intern important for students? And why do you feel they’re also important for companies like Gas South?

Starting work in high school, I’ve always believed interning or working while going to school is extremely important. While learning in the classroom, growing within a workplace is extremely beneficial. Professionalism, workplace communication and learning the ways of the average business day are all things I’ve really enjoyed learning. I’ve learned to always listen and be aware of surroundings because every conversation I have had in the office I have taken as a learning opportunity. Managing time between work and school has been extremely beneficial as well. I believe interns are important for companies like Gas South because interns can learn and allow for time to be freed up for full time employees. Interns can also be the next generation of employees for several employers growing in their industry.

When you’re not busy here or with your studies, what do you enjoy spending time doing?

When I have free time away from school and work, I really enjoy spending time with my friends. Basketball, football, or even just watching sports at the apartment are all things we enjoy doing. Outside of my friends, I really enjoy spending time with my puppy AL. Long walks or playing ball at the park are some of my favorite things to do with my puppy.

Alex H.

Marketing Intern

Where do you attend college? What degree are you seeking, and when do you graduate?

I graduated from the University of Florida this past spring with a degree in business management. I’m going back to UF and will graduate in the spring of 2024 with a Master of Science in Marketing. Go gators!

How did you hear about Gas South, and when did you start interning here? What made you decide to choose Gas South?

I’d already heard of Gas South around Atlanta and Gainesville before I applied—and on campus from different events such as job fairs. Also, I am a big Braves fan, so I’d seen their assets at Truist park.

And then I saw their posting on LinkedIn. The position perfectly balanced my experience with event marketing while teaching me more about sponsorships and branding, so I was very excited about the role. I ultimately chose Gas South because I thought it would be the best fit based on role responsibilities and company culture. I really enjoyed learning more about the company and talking to those I interviewed with.

How has your experience here been so far? What do you like most about interning here? What have you learned? Have there been any challenges?

My experience so far has been great and very hands-on. The people I directly report to believe in me and allow me to try new things on my own. But, at the same time, they’re always there for me when I have questions or need help.

While I really enjoy working with sponsorships like the Braves and the Atlanta Open, the thing I like most about interning here are the people. Day one, the CEO introduced himself. And after that I’ve had multiple conversations with our Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, our VP of Marketing and so on. Everyone here has gone out of their way to welcome me. Gas South preaches that they have a great culture during the interview process, and it’s one of those things as an interviewee you hope to be true, and it has been—even better than they explained, I’d argue.

I’ve learned a lot about how corporate sponsorships work. With the Braves, I’ve helped to set up suites, Delta club seats, create gift bags with promotional items and more for our customers. The Atlanta Open is an upcoming tennis tournament we’re a large sponsor for. So far in preparation for it, I have been able to choose the catering for our suite and help administer invites and gift bags. And I plan on being on site for most of it to help as needed.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years, I’ll have graduated with my master’s degree. I hope to be living in a larger city, whether that be Atlanta, Tampa, Austin or Denver (I’m very open to new places). I also plan to be a few years into a successful career in marketing.

Why are opportunities to intern important for students? And why do you feel they’re also important for companies like Gas South?

I think interning is one of the best decisions a student can make. It helps you understand what you do and don’t want out of a career. My first internship was in HR, and I learned a lot, but it wasn’t for me. I’d argue that figuring out what isn’t for you is just as valuable as finding out what is. Internships prepare you for a future career, and it’s also always nice as a college student to save up some money over the summer or part-time during the school year.

I think having interns is extremely important for companies because interns can bring new and fresh ideas to the team. Also, interns are excited to learn. They like getting new and unique tasks, so I think companies should take advantage of this. It’s a win-win opportunity. An intern gets to learn about entering the workforce, and companies get enthusiastic idea-filled employees. Further, companies can potentially find someone they would want to hire in the future.

When you’re not busy here or with your studies, what do you enjoy spending time doing?

When I’m not working or studying, I enjoy being outside, going to Braves games, hiking and more. But really any activity that involves spending time with family and friends.

Ashlyn F.

Legal Summer Intern

Where do you attend college? What degree are you seeking, and when do you graduate?

I’m a second year student at the University of Florida Levin College of Law pursuing a Juris Doctor degree.

How did you hear about Gas South, and when did you start interning here? What made you decide to choose Gas South?

I learned about Gas South from a previous intern who was a second-year law student at UF. After hearing about her positive experiences with the company, I decided to apply for the legal intern position, and I started working toward the beginning of May of this year.

How has your experience here been so far? What do you like most about interning here? What have you learned? Have there been any challenges?

My experience at Gas South has been nothing short of amazing! The thing I’ve enjoyed the most about interning here is the exposure to various areas of law (i.e. employment law, contract law, etc.). I’ve learned there’s not always a definite answer to problems or questions, which can be challenging, but that’s where I get to learn additional creative problem-solving skills.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself being a practicing attorney in a practice area that I am still currently trying to decide.

Why are opportunities to intern important for students? And why do you feel they’re also important for companies like Gas South?

Internship opportunities are important for students because students are able to receive practical experience along with heightened professional development skills. These opportunities are important for companies like Gas South because recruiting new interns can provide a glimpse of how the company will need to evolve over time.

When you’re not busy here or with your studies, what do you enjoy spending time doing?

I am a major foodie, so I typically enjoy trying new restaurants and foods.

Jessica L.

Business Intelligence Intern

Where do you attend college? What degree are you seeking, and when do you graduate?

I'm a rising senior at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, studying Information Analysis and minoring in Sustainability, and I'm planning on graduating in May of 2024.

How did you hear about Gas South, and when did you start interning here? What made you decide to choose Gas South?

I started my internship this May, after hearing about it through Gas South’s CEO, who is a fellow Michigan wolverine! I decided to choose this program for my summer internship because I heard nothing but great things about the company and culture, and I wanted to spend time in Atlanta (my hometown) after spending the last semester abroad in Sydney, Australia.

How has your experience here been so far? What do you like most about interning here? What have you learned? Have there been any challenges?

My experience has been awesome so far, I think mostly because of my coworkers and other employees. Everyone is so friendly, welcoming and willing to help with any task or teach me about new concepts/software. I've learned lots about how data and analytics are used in Gas South's business, but also “basic” professional norms like how to schedule and run meetings, how to ask for what I need and how to network effectively and learn more about the industry. Every experience comes with challenges, but I've fortunately encountered very few. When I have gotten stuck, I've been able to reach out to coworkers on my team and troubleshoot issues and communicate with my manager, such as when my SQL code doesn’t work how I want it to or when I can’t get in touch with specific people.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years, I see myself in a big city (in the U.S. or international), doing meaningful work. While that may sound vague, I'm still not sure what career I want to pursue, but I know I want to continue to Be A Fuel For Good even after this internship with Gas South. Because I have this drive to do my part in the world, I don’t want to fall into an empty, juvenile role in the long term (though I understand they can be valuable learning experiences). I want to be in a big city, like Chicago or New York, for example, because of the limitless opportunities and cultural melting pots they host. I love learning from my peers and want to explore multiple industries and roles after college, so those areas seem like great places to start. The rest will fall into place!

Why are opportunities to intern important for students? And why do you feel they’re also important for companies like Gas South?

Internships are crucial for college students for career preparation, networking opportunities and general professional experience. Intern programs provide a sneak peek into companies/industries/locations, so they're the perfect opportunity to try on a role and see if it's something to be pursued more seriously in the future.

College students may have an idea of what they want to do post-grad, but internships are paramount to discovering if their dreams can become a feasible reality. Almost everyone I know had at least one internship before they found a full-time role, and I think everyone who has the ability to participate in an intern program should.

On the flip side, intern programs are important for companies like Gas South to get a glimpse into the current world of higher education and have access to prospective employees. Companies want employees to work for them as much as employees want to have a job, so intern programs are mutually beneficial as they shed light on what college students want out of a future career, along with current trends in the job market and what majors/subject areas are more popular than others. By exposing Gas South to college students, the company can work to better align itself with what students are looking for in a full-time organization, so they can increase their ability to hire and retain quality employees who share the company’s values and pillars.

When you’re not busy here or with your studies, what do you enjoy spending time doing?

When I'm not working, I absolutely love to travel! I was fortunate enough to travel around parts of Asia and the greater Pacific area during my semester abroad, and I love to explore new places and learn about new cultures. Seeing other parts of the world was so eye opening and has stuck with me in countless ways. If you ever have the chance to visit New Zealand, I would 100% recommend it—the natural beauty there is unlike anywhere else in the world. More locally, I've been quite obsessed with playing pickleball, going on walks/hikes in the Atlanta area, exploring new restaurants and farmer's markets, as well as reading for pleasure and curating playlists for my friends. When I'm home from school, I make sure to spend time with my pets, cook and play games with my family if we're all under the same roof.