- April 19, 2024
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How can the city of Palm Coast attract the next generation of employees? It can start by asking the next generation for ideas.
The city did just that through its most recent internship program. Past programs have led to four people being hired to work for the city. In this year’s summer program, eight interns were paid $14.28 per hour and were assigned to different departments and given projects to work on, related to their desired career field.
“Interns at the city of Palm Coast are not just here to observe,” City Manager Denise Bevan said in the city’s press release. “They are active members of the team. From the first day, they are given a project and the resources needed to complete it. They work alongside the Executive Team and various departments to complete their project. Not only is it a great introduction to a career for them during their college experience, but it also opens up the minds of our current city staff to new perspectives, ideas, and input.”
In addition to their individual projects, all of the interns this year worked on a joint project to help the Human Resources Department recruit and retain the next generation of employees; they then presented their findings to the Executive Team and Human Resources.
Some areas of recommendation identified through the project included livable wages to employees, creating an opportunity for work-life balance, and developing collaborative work environments.
The city’s Communications and Marketing team met with each of the eight interns to learn more about their experiences. A brief video of these interviews can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/O-Ssd7ux6Ww.
The interns were as follows: Kurstan Middlebrook, Kyanna Kimes, Lovie Haley, Vanessa Sanabria, Carter Kemmis, Natalia Kurdziel, Annie Pereira and Rosemary Tehan.
Middlebrook, who interned with the Parks and Recreation Department, explained a new skill he learned: “I’ve learned how to become a faster-paced problem solver.”
Sanabria, who interned with Information Technology, said she was able to “use the skills that I’ve been learning in school to help design the city website pages.”
The City Council members watched the video and praised the program at their Aug. 16 meeting.
“The idea of succession planning is one of the most integral pillars that support the future vision of the city of Palm Coast,” Mayor David Alfin said. “And the folks you just listened to could well represent our future. They think about things differently, they collaborate differently … than any way I’m used to in my five decades of organizational experience. But I’m quick to say that their way is the future way. We must not look back. We must look forward. And these are the young professionals that will guide our city.”
City Council member Nick Klufas likened the intern program to the city’s Citizens Academy, which teaches residents about the various departments. Regardless of whether the young interns ever apply to work for the city, they still have a good experience and are likely to tell their friends, shining a positive light on the city.
“We’re creating ambassadors,” he said, adding, “I’m hopeful we’ll see some of these bright young faces” again, working for the city.
