Press Releases

For Immediate Release

What’s happening at the Columbus Chamber and with our members? In this section you will find a complete catalog of our recent and archived press releases.

To arrange an interview with a member of the Columbus Chamber team, contact:

Michelle Bretscher, APR
Director, Marketing and Communication
W: 614.225.6941
C:  614.499.0889

michelle_bretscher@columbus.org

  • Press Release June 29, 2011

    Columbus Chamber Launches Internship Video Series

    COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 29, 2011)– The Columbus Chamber has launched a series of video resources for employers on its ColumbusInternships.com site, a free resource for businesses seeking to implement an internship program and connect with qualified undergraduate candidates.

    Featuring a variety of local employers and interns who have utilized ColumbusInternships.com in the past, the videos focus on starting an internship program, making interns’ work count, how to find internship candidates, internship management, and helping interns to build relationships. Andrea Applegate, the Chamber’s director of workforce development, and David Cofer, the Chamber’s internship consultant, also weigh in on topics like paid versus non-paid internships and the benefits of hiring interns.

    “These new videos provide quick snapshots of some of the basic questions employers might have when considering an internship program within their business,” said Applegate. “It’s important for companies in the Columbus Region to know about this free resource that allows them to connect with college students seeking internships. It takes a lot of the leg work out of implementing an internship program and finding the right candidate for your needs.”

    ColumbusInternships.com maintains the employer-facing portion of the process, including tools for uploading internship position descriptions and browsing student resumes. The site recently partnered with EasyColumbus.com, an online resource that helps to retain Columbus Region college students after graduation, on the student-facing portion of the process – where internship seekers can search for opportunities and post their resumes.

    “Our first year, we had over 100 resumes when we posted our internship on ColumbusInternships.com,” says J.J. Rodeheffer, owner of Zipline Logistics. “For a company of four people and, at the time, doing about $3 million in sales, we were really pleased to have access to so many highly qualified local college students eager for the opportunity to come in and make a difference in our organization.”

    In addition to managing ColumbusInternships.com, the Chamber also hosts ongoing web-based and face-to-face workshops to help employers implement their own internship programs. Upcoming sessions include “Getting Started with Interns Part 1: Benefitting from a flexible, cost-effective workforce solution” (July 19) and “Getting Started with Interns Part 2: Moving from interest to action” (July 26). Visit columbus.org/events for full details.


    The Columbus Chamber, with nearly 2,500 area businesses and organizations, supports businesses in the eight-county Columbus Region by serving as their business partner.

    -30-