As Lia Cronenwett traveled worldwide with Stryker Corporation's audit team last summer, she was introduced not only to other cultures, but also to other work environments—gaining insights she can continue to use in a career in public accounting. Photo Courtesy of L. Cronenwett

Employer: Stryker Corporation, a global leader in medical technology based in Kalamazoo, Michigan

Chief responsibilities: During her internship with Stryker, Lia Cronenwett was assigned to the internal audit group at the corporate offices in Kalamazoo, but she didn’t spend much time there. Instead she logged thousands of air miles en route to performing audits at Stryker’s offices in San Jose, California; London, England; Paris, France; and Düsseldorf, Germany. She mainly focused on Stryker’s compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) financial reporting requirements. "During the audits we conducted, I learned an array of things that will help me grow as an auditor post-graduation. I also helped out on process improvement projects to enable the internal audit team at Stryker to run more smoothly."

Lessons learned: In addition to becoming a proficient international traveler, Cronenwett says she learned how to function in the corporate work environment and developed a better understanding of effective management strategies by seeing them in practice. "This internship has not only taught me knowledge that I can use in my professional career, but it has opened up many opportunities for me, including networking with key executives within Stryker and at public accounting firms."

What’s next: Cronenwett recently accepted a full-time auditing position in public accounting. She plans to earn her CPA license, gain further experience in public accounting, and perhaps bring that experience back to Stryker someday.

Craig Stangland was one of 48 interns chosen this past summer from more than 1,000 applicants for the Las Vegas MGM Grand's Hospitality Internship Program. Stangland was the only economics and management major in the group of mostly hospitality-and hotel management students. Photo Courtesy of MGM Grand

Employer: MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada

Chief responsibilities: Craig Stangland got an inside look at management of the AAA 4-Star MGM Grand as a member of the hotel’s highly selective Hospitality Internship Program. His five-week stint with the Group Reservations office was eye-opening. "The most interesting thing about working with Reservations," he says, "was the sheer volume that the MGM Grand handles. With 5,044 rooms, including over 600 suites, three condo towers, and an all-inclusive mansion comprised of 30 extreme luxury rooms, things can get hectic. Within five minutes, Reservations can book over 500 rooms." Stangland also worked on a viral marketing project, incorporating blogging and social networking Web sites to attract increased traffic to the hotel.

Lessons learned: "This internship was a great introduction to the hospitality industry as a whole," Stangland says. "I particularly learned that it is all about ‘heads in beds.’ If you don’t have guests in the rooms, it has an immediate effect on the business in the hotel’s restaurants, clubs, and other areas. The skills I brought with me from Albion allowed me to gain the most from this experience."

What’s next: Stangland’s goal following graduation is to be accepted into the MGM Mirage Management Associate Program, a six-month training program for future managers within the organization, and pursue a career in the hospitality industry.