Every year, AEM member company Stellar Industries' internship program empowers students to bring their curiosity and ideas to life through hands-on work. Far more than just a summer job, it’s a unique, immersive opportunity designed to equip the next generation of leaders with the hard and soft skills needed to launch their future careers.
The opportunity to connect academic learning with tangible outcomes allows this group of interns to gain a deeper understanding of how their future careers take shape in a real-world setting.
According to Taylor Dale, Stellar’s talent acquisition specialist, this evolution reflects a broader company goal of investing in the future workforce.
“We want to show students what’s possible within the manufacturing industry,” said Dale. “Even if they have limited experience, we will welcome anyone who is curious, motivated and ready to learn.”
A Program Built to Grow Talent
What started as a small initiative within Stellar’s engineering department has evolved into a robust, company-wide program that welcomes nearly 20 interns across multiple disciplines.
Over the course of 12 weeks, interns take on meaningful projects, collaborate across departments and watch their work come to life as part of the Stellar team. For many, the experience provides an essential bridge between the classroom and the workforce. Concepts once defined in lectures and textbooks are put into practice. Engineering students see their calculations take shape in real designs and equipment, while marketing interns apply their strategic thinking to campaigns that reach actual customers.
That commitment to cultivating talent isn’t just about filling short-term needs. Rather, it’s about building a pipeline for the future of the industry.
Work that Makes an Impact
Interns at Stellar aren’t just observers; they are active members of the team. From their first day, they are welcomed by peers and mentors who guide them through meaningful projects that make a visible impact.
For 2025 marketing intern Ava Richtsmeier, her days consisted of projects like market research, product campaign strategy, social media content creation and more.
“From day one, everyone was welcoming and willing to help,” said Richtsmeier. “The culture here makes you feel like you’re part of a team, and that support really encourages you to grow.”
By the end of the 12-week program, students leave with more than just a resume boost. They gain confidence, professional experience and a clearer sense of purpose.
Building Confidence
Richtsmeier said the program was transformative and led to personal and professional growth that she’ll carry with her through the next stages of her career.
“At Stellar, I felt that my work was valued, and that they truly cared and wanted me to succeed,” she said. “Personally, the internship gave me a lot of confidence in the work I’m doing. Going on the floor and seeing how the trucks are made allowed me to better understand the products I was marketing.”
Collaborating for Success
A defining element of the Stellar internship program is collaboration. In addition to the experience interns get within their specific department, the company emphasizes the importance of cross-functional collaboration throughout the program.
Each summer, interns from every department work together on a group project designed to tackle genuine business challenges. Throughout their time in the program, students apply their diverse skills to develop creative solutions while gaining insights into the broader operations of the company. At the end of the summer, the group presents these solutions to leadership.
“I learned how to communicate effectively with different people,” said Richtsmeier. “We formed bonds and worked through challenges that arose together. Those soft skills are essential in any career.”
The experience encourages teamwork, leadership and innovation, which are the same values that drive Stellar’s success as a 100% employee-owned and -operated company.
Exposure to multiple departments also gives interns a broader perspective of how a manufacturer operates.
“We encourage interns to explore beyond their department,” explained Dale. “When they see how engineering, marketing and supply chain connect they understand how everything fits together to deliver the best product to our customers.”
Launching Careers
Some interns go on to find full-time opportunities with Stellar, while others use the experience to launch their careers elsewhere. Dale mentioned that the company takes pride in supporting interns beyond the program.
“Even if it’s not with us, we’re happy to help past interns make connections and find the next step in their careers,” she said.
One intern who turned that opportunity into a full-time career with Stellar is Carlee Bruns. After completing two internships in back-to-back summers with the supply chain team, Carlee transitioned into a full-time role as a purchasing specialist.
“Interning with Stellar gave me a foundation in communicating with suppliers,” said Bruns. “Those skills are something I still use every day in my role.”
A Culture that Inspires More
A major reason why Bruns decided to pursue a career with Stellar was the company culture. Full-time employees and interns are intertwined and have a level of mutual respect.
“We’re all working towards the same goal at the end of the day,” Bruns said. “That stems from us all being employee owners. Everyone is always willing to help out and support each other.”
Leadership values the insight that student interns can bring to the table. In addition to the group project that is presented to Stellar’s leadership team, interns have regular check-ins with executives.
“Even our president, Dave Zrostlik, has an open-door policy with the interns,” said Dale. “The approachability is authentic; our leaders really value what ideas interns have to bring to the table.”
Ready to Own Your Future?
Stellar is currently looking for students to apply to the internship program for the summer of 2026.
“Anyone with a curious mindset who isn’t afraid to ask questions is who we are looking for,” said Dale. “As long as you’re willing to jump in and learn, you can expect to succeed.”
For more information on Stellar’s internship program, visit stellarindustries.com.
