Following policies and procedures are of utmost importance in chemical weapons destruction. At the Pueblo Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant (PCAPP), supervisors let their interns flourish while adhering to stringent guidelines.
Mentorship is crucial for interns to learn how to tackle adverse situations. This is especially imperative for Cody Jensen, an emergency preparedness intern from Boston University. Jensen’s experience at PCAPP has been dynamic; each day brings vastly different challenges. In a procedurally-driven department, he assists with conducting various emergency drills and evaluating worker compliance. From writing reports to working in the field, Jensen’s function is constantly changing. Communication with his supervisors is essential due to his shifting roles. Not only is active dialogue vital, but so is the way they communicate. Nick Featherstone, emergency preparedness planner, explained the importance of being relatable and approachable as a supervisor. “I’m a very direct person, but I talk [to interns] on a peer level so they’re comfortable,” he said. “It’s important to understand people and who they are, and what motivates them to succeed.”
Amy Sumontha, a marketing and business management student at Colorado State University-Pueblo (CSU-Pueblo), is interning in public relations. Sumontha is learning to integrate marketing and public relations through the development of a branding plan, which will create a standardized way for PCAPP materials to be created and distributed. Sumontha has the benefit of two mentors. She said communications manager Sandy Romero offers professional feedback due to her many years in the industry, while Kelly Hess, public relations specialist, a former PCAPP intern, is very relatable. “I encourage Amy to take advantage of all of the resources she has available to her at PCAPP,” Hess said. “She will be able to learn new skills to take out into the workforce once she graduates from college. This hands-on experience will be invaluable.”
Although they hail from different parts of the country, electrical engineering interns Ciera Gooden from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and Kody Kovacich from CSU-Pueblo, are working together to support maintenance of the plant’s electrical power system. Their supervisor’s open-door policy lets them know that it’s okay to not know all the answers and to ask questions. Gooden emphasized, “We always get immediate feedback, and they’re always happy to help.”
At PCAPP, interns have a wealth of resources from which to learn and engage, whether it is their immediate supervisor or other employees. “Your mentorship should not be limited,” said Bechtel Pueblo Team/PCAPP Project Manager Rick Holmes, stressing the importance of maximizing those resources. “Take responsibility and the next step to find other mentors.”
