ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – A new internship program offered through the Small Business Development Center (SC SBDC) gives Winthrop University undergraduate students a chance to help clients with marketing and accounting services.
John Blomberg, the Winthrop-based center’s area manager, said the undergraduates work with three graduate associates to help clients with a business plan that could involve marketing, websites, event planning or book setup. The work by the five interns comes at no cost to the clients, who come from York, Chester, Lancaster, Union and Cherokee counties.
The internship program has been dubbed the “Catalyst Crew.”
The interns worked on 17 projects last spring and have continued this fall. The students start by interviewing the clients, then they conduct research or complete their area of specialty and then provide a one-page overview and business plan.
“This helps our Winthrop students, the Small Business Development Center, the institution and our clients,” Blomberg said. The interns are recruited through information sessions at the end of each semester and by faculty recommendations.
As College of Business Administration Dean P.N. Saksena noted: “The Catalyst Crew is a wonderful example of a partnership program between SBDC and the College of Business Administration. It represents a win-win for SBDC clients and our students.”
The interns can help specifically with:
Up until now, the program has attracted only business students, but Blomberg said they are encouraging students in other majors to get involved, particularly those with creative skills.
Graduate associates Andrew Cumbo, Jobu Burns and Belen Salazar help coordinate the projects.
“The Catalyst Crew is a fantastic partnership between the SCDC and Winthrop that really allows students to put their skills into practice,” Cumbo said “As a graduate associate in the team, it provides me a unique opportunity to grow in project management skills, something which I value very highly.”
Each project takes about three weeks but can take twice as long depending on its complexity. The graduate associates provide research skills to help business owners understand their target market, industry trends and to offer financial forecasting.
“This is a safe place for students to learn,” Blomberg said. “We tell clients to feel free to build on what we offer and hire additional professional services.”
About the Small Business Development Center
The SC SBDC at Winthrop is part of a network of highly trained professionals located in 20 Small Business Development Centers around the state. They offer no-fee individual, confidential business consulting to assist both existing and startup companies, conduct affordable educational workshops and provide access to an array of useful business resources. Since 2012, the S.C. Small Business Center has helped 22,600 entrepreneurs and either created or retained more than 6,160 jobs. They have helped start 700+ new ventures, created $229 million in capital formation and secured more than $35.5 billion in government contracts.
For more information, contact Blomberg at blombergj@winthrop.edu.
