Valley Internship Experience Workgroup

Please enjoy VIEW’s Newsletter!

Over the coming months, you’ll begin to see a new name and brand as the Virginia Talent & Opportunity Partnership (V-TOP) transitions to InternshipsVA. This transition reflects a collaboration between the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP). InternshipsVA will build on the partnerships and continued commitment that support our work to connect students and higher education institutions with career readiness resources and expand access to meaningful paid or credit-bearing internship opportunities across Virginia.

Did you know that the Shenandoah Valley is home to two of the top 21 Best Places to Work in Manufacturing in the nation? The Valley is home to the only Virginia localities who made the Top 50 list, according to a December 2020 SmartAsset report. The Staunton-Waynesboro metropolitan area ranked 10th and the Harrisonburg metropolitan area ranked 21st. The 2023 GO Virginia Region 8 Growth & Diversification Plan indicates that employment in manufacturing accounts for about 29% of jobs in the region. Jobs are plentiful and incomes are high for this industry sector.  

Celebrated annually on the first Friday in October, with events continuing throughout the month and beyond, MFG Day—Manufacturing Day—is a national grassroots movement that demonstrates the reality and future of modern manufacturing careers.  

An initiative of the Manufacturing Institute - the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers – MFG Day empowers manufacturers to come together and address their collective challenges and build excitement about manufacturing careers to help their communities and future generations thrive. 

Colleges and universities in the Valley celebrated and promoted careers in manufacturing through these student events throughout October:  



• Career Trek to Mohawk Industries, 10/2 
• Careers in Manufacturing Panel, 10/10 
• Manufacturing Panel + Mini-Expo, 10/20 

Career Trek to Mohawk Industries:

On October 2, in celebration of National Manufacturing Day, Mohawk Industries welcomed 10 students, faculty, and staff from Southern Virginia University, Mary Baldwin University, and James Madison University to its manufacturing facility in Glasgow, Virginia.

During the visit, participants learned about Mohawk Industries’ history, heard from seven company leaders about their professional journeys, and received a firsthand tour of the facility. The experience gave students valuable insight into the manufacturing industry and the wide range of career opportunities available, including engineering, business operations, human resources, communications, production, and data analytics.

The Career Trek provided a great opportunity for students to connect with industry professionals, explore potential career paths, and see how a major manufacturing company operates behind the scenes. As one student shared, “It was an amazing experience to see how Mohawk Industries runs its operations!!"

Inside Virginia Manufacturing: Careers for Every Major:

On October 10, Virginia Military Institute cadets learned about several manufacturing career paths including engineering, operations, logistics, project management, business development, sales, HR, data analytics, IT and more. They heard how companies rely on diverse skill sets and teams to get results.  

Cadets heard from panelists representing manufacturers that produce a variety of products including Little Debbie Snack Cakes, lighted commercial branded signage, HVAC chilller equipment, and metal tubing and piping. Thank you, Shawn Pellington, Vice President of Operations, McKee Foods, Tim Falls, Engineering Supervisor, Everbrite, Jacob Patterson, Manufacturing Engineer, Airedale by Modine, and Carlos Meza, Director of Sales, Precision Tube, for sharing your wisdom with the cadets! 

Exploring Careers in Manufacturing 

James Madison University’s College of Integrated Science and Engineering (CISE) had a great response to its inaugural Manufacturing Panel + Min-Expo on October 20th. They welcomed approximately 70 students from JMU, Blue Ridge Community College, Bridgewater College, Laurel Ridge Community College, and Mary Baldwin University, along with faculty, staff, and industry representatives. The event provided an opportunity for students to explore careers in manufacturing, connect with industry professionals, and learn about the many career paths available in the field. 

A huge thank you to panelists Jake Puleo from Kennemetal, Eric Tenpas from Regal Rexnord, Tristen Huffman from McKee Foods Corporation, Jacey Robison from SupplyOne, Inc., Ross Bailes from Northrop Grumman, Peyton Beasley and Jacob Reading from Merck and Jennifer Morgan, from Precision Tube Company for sharing their experiences and valuable insights with students!

Careers in the Valley video series:

“Careers In the Valley” is a series where VIEW travels across the Valley, sitting down with professionals from different industries, and showing what career paths actually look like right here. The goal is simple: help students see the opportunities that exist in their own backyard.

Episode 6:  Dalton Hall, Momentum Earthworks

Sentara RMH Career Treks:

24 Bridgewater College, James Madison University, and Mary Baldwin University students and staff recently participated in Career Treks with Sentara College of Health Sciences Laboratory Schools to explore careers in Medical Laboratory Science, Phlebotomy, and Histotechnology. Participants toured the anatomic pathology and clinical laboratories at Sentara RMH Medical Center, gaining firsthand insight into daily responsibilities, workplace environments, and the skills needed to succeed in these healthcare fields.

The experience allowed students to connect classroom learning with real-world career opportunities, explore potential career paths, and learn from industry professionals. A special thank you to Sentara Laboratory Schools for hosting!

Careers in the Valley Workshop:

A group of 28 BR2JMU students participated in a Career Conversations workshop focused on developing networking skills and exploring career opportunities in the Shenandoah Valley. The BR2JMU program allows students to earn an associate’s degree at Blue Ridge Community College before automatically transferring to James Madison University.



VIEW Project Coordinator Mary Sullivan shared insights on Careers in the Valley, highlighting major industries, salaries, and growing career opportunities. Students also heard from professionals representing Martin Horn, JMU, Farmer Focus, BC2 Bookkeeping Collective, and Healthy Community Health Centers. Following the panel discussion, students had the opportunity to put their networking skills into practice by connecting directly with the panelists.

FREE On-line Career Readiness courses for faculty, staff, and students:

Becoming a Career Champion

Faculty, staff, and educators will develop skills and practices to become a champion for students’ career success through effective mentoring, guidance, and fostering a culture of career readiness within post-secondary education institutions.

Developing Career Readiness Skills

Students will develop career readiness skills by establishing individualized competency development goals, creating a plan for accomplishing those goals, articulating accomplishments, and shaping a competency development story.

Student Internship Toolkit

The toolkit equips students with the essential skills to explore and pursue diverse internship opportunities, allowing them to successfully identify, secure, and complete internships that align with their career goals and interests. The readily available resources within the toolkit facilitate easy access to information and support at every stage of the internship process, with the aim of empowering students to maximize their internship experience and realize their professional aspirations.

FREE Mentorship training

• SCHEV (State Council of Higher Education for Virginia) provides training for colleges and universities to build a strong mentorship program and to train their mentors and/or mentees.

Professional Development Scholarship:



Career professionals can apply for a scholarship to attend a conference and/or membership up to $2,500.