Business
Internships in the Time of COVID-19: How Brightree continues development of young professionals
Internships are a key stepping stone on the path to success for college students and recent graduates, but many have seen that important growth period deferred or taken away amid the COVID-19 crisis. Brightree, a software company based in Peachtree Corners that caters to post-acute healthcare, wanted to find a way to continue their thriving internship program in a safe, beneficial manner for both the interns and the company.
The 2020 Brightree Internship Program
“We had to step back and say, ‘How do we want to approach this internship?’ And it was a challenge, because most of our managers (who are part of the internship program) are used to managing people on-site. It was a huge adjustment,” said Trish Nettleship, Vice President of Marketing at Brightree.
Valid concerns were raised regarding working remotely with interns who may require additional guidance. Nettleship and other leaders felt strongly that providing learning opportunities in a real business environment was something that needed to go forward despite the extra challenges that a virtual internship program would present.
This is the fourth official year of the Brightree internship program, though Brightree has intermittently employed interns prior to that as needed. It’s typically a 10-week summer internship program from mid-May to late July, with all interns starting at the same time and collaborating on various work projects. Students in the program were treated just like any new hire, with orientation and being assigned a buddy to assist them and show how team dynamics work at the company.
“(The internship program) has become more and more crucial to our business, quite frankly. The interns, they are younger, they are in college, they are coming in with a fresher perspective than what we have,” said Nettleship.
The Fabulous Four Interns
The number of interns that Brightree took on for the summer was reduced to four individuals, as opposed to the standard 10 to 15 people. Kamryn Taylor served as the Marketing Sales Rep Intern, Aneta Foss was the Graphic Design Intern, and the two additional Marketing Interns were Briana Anderson and Lexi Mellott.
“I was actually really grateful that Brightree was still having their internship,” said Foss.
Every day, the four interns met with the marketing team on Zoom for a daily stand-up to see what had been done on their on-going projects. Foss’ role was more visual and instructional, working on e-book informational guides and supplemental graphic design projects as they arose. Taylor worked directly with clients, as well as cold calling, hoping to walk through interactive tutorials of Brightree’s software offerings.
The two marketing interns “assisted the team in areas of marketing communications, marketing research, and digital marketing. That translates to researching the industry to provide insight for content for the blog and the website, and to provide insight into the brand’s digital footprint,” according to Anderson.
The main issues that came up had to do with longer task completion times simply due to working in different places, as well as having to relay complex information such as new software techniques over the phone versus having the luxury of a manager talking through it face-to-face. However, the four enterprising women rose to the challenge and steadily improved as the weeks went on.
“The company did a really good job, because they scheduled one-on-ones with each member of the team, trying to get to know me and I’m getting to know them. I could reach out to anybody if I needed help,” said Foss.
Taylor also expressed positive views about how the internship program was run. “I would say, despite being online, everyone has been really helpful and really good with communication,” she said.
Anderson had this to say about her time at Brightree: “I’ve learned so much during this internship, but I think the things that have meant the most are not the technical skills but rather what I’ve learned about what I want in a work environment. Brightree has shown to me how much I value the collaborative work environment. Everyone is involved in ideation and planning, even if they won’t be involved in the creation of assets until later down the line — and I love that!” Anderson said.
What to expect
The future for these young ladies looks blindingly bright. Taylor is a rising senior from the University of Georgia who plans to continue her career in sales. Foss is a junior at Georgia State University with aspirations to land a graphic design position with a company similar to Brightree after graduation.
Mellott, a local graduate of Wesleyan School, is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Georgia Tech. Anderson is entering her fourth year at Georgia Tech and currently deciding between the career paths of UX/UI Design or Marketing.
With the current state of the worldwide business marketplace so in flux because of COVID-19, it is encouraging to see a Peachtree Corners company standing behind the workforce of tomorrow, giving them a foundation to build on.
The strategic acquisition strengthens TransPak’s Southeast presence and expands their capabilities in custom packaging for military, aerospace and high-value equipment.
TransPak, a global leader in logistics, packaging and crating services, recently announced the acquisition of Reid Packaging, a long-standing provider of custom packaging solutions based in Peachtree Corners. Both family-owned and operated companies share a deep-rooted commitment to quality craftsmanship, reliability and customer service, making the acquisition a natural fit.
Reid Packaging, founded in 1982, has distinguished itself as the go-to customer industrial packager in the metro Atlanta region, providing corrugated, foam and custom-engineered crating solutions, particularly in the military and aerospace industries.
Under the ownership of Ward Phillips since 2008, the company has grown to become one of the largest packaging facilities in the region, with a 60,000-square-foot site.
The acquisition will allow TransPak to expand its local manufacturing capabilities in the Southeast, while leveraging Reid Packaging’s expertise in specialized and heavy-duty custom crates.
Strategic Atlanta location and enhanced capabilities
The acquisition is part of TransPak’s strategic expansion into the Atlanta market, a critical logistics hub for both the renewable energy and semiconductor industries.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Reid Packaging into the TransPak family,” said Tomas Molet, executive vice president of East and Midwest Operations, TransPak. “With Reid Packaging’s prime location in Peachtree Corners, we are now able to serve customers throughout the Southeast, including direct routes to the Carolinas and beyond. This acquisition strengthens our ability to meet the needs of existing clients, especially those in the semiconductor and renewable energy sectors.”
In addition to the strategic location, the acquisition brings new manufacturing capabilities to TransPak’s East Coast operations. Reid Packaging’s facility is now the largest of TransPak’s locations in the region. Its offerings include enhanced services, such as heavy-duty and triple-wall corrugated packaging, which will enable TransPak to meet the growing demand for custom-designed packaging solutions for fragile, high-value equipment.
Commitment to employees and leadership appointments
A key focus of the acquisition was ensuring a smooth transition for Reid Packaging’s employees.
“We made a commitment to Ward Phillips to take care of the staff, and we’ve delivered on that promise,” said Molet. “All employees were retained, and we’ve introduced benefits they previously didn’t have as part of our commitment to making this a positive transition for everyone involved.”
Amanda Gautney, a longtime member of TransPak’s leadership team, has been appointed as the operations manager for the Peachtree Corners facility. “I’m excited to work with the team at Reid and continue the legacy of this respected company,” said Gautney.
Looking forward in Atlanta
TransPak plans to continue operating under the Reid Packaging name for the immediate future. However, the facility will gradually transition to full integration under the TransPak brand, reflecting the shared values and commitment to quality of both companies.
About TransPak
Headquartered in Silicon Valley, TransPak has been providing innovative and cost-effective design, crating, packaging and global logistics for over 70 years.
As a customer-focused, women- and family-owned company, TransPak combines the agility of a small business with the reliability of a global powerhouse. TransPak lives by the slogan, “We make it happen,” ensuring that high-value, fragile, and oversized goods reach their destinations safely and efficiently.
For more information about TransPak, visit transpak.com.
Leroy Hite, founder of Cutting Edge Firewood, was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award from Berry College in August
Berry College recently awarded its annual Distinguished Alumni Award for Entrepreneurial Spirit to Leroy Hite, founder of Cutting Edge Firewood (and Berry College graduate, class of 2008). The annual award recognizes and honors alumni who have demonstrated a range of positive entrepreneurial skills — including a commitment to turning a dream into a reality, the vision to create an enterprise, the courage to assume risks and the ability to make changes and take advantage of new opportunities.
“This award holds a special place in my heart, maybe more than any other I’ve ever received,” said Hite. “Being recognized by my alma mater is incredibly meaningful to me.
My entrepreneurial journey began at Berry College. It’s where that initial spark was ignited, and honestly, I’m not sure I’d be where I am today without it. Berry nurtured my curiosity, drive and resilience — the key ingredients to entrepreneurship.”
Innovative entrepreneurship
Berry College professor and leader of the school’s Entrepreneurship Program, Dr. Paula Englis, said that Hite took every class she offered. And when those ran out, he did directed studies with her.
“He always knew he wanted to run his own business, and the growth and success of his firewood enterprise has been a wonder to watch,” she said.
Hite was nominated by Berry alumni Alison Ritter, class of 1994. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also supported Hite’s nomination.
“As a small business owner myself, I have strong appreciation for and recognize the perseverance it takes to build a business from the ground up,” said Kemp. “Leroy’s innovative approach to the firewood industry, focusing on product quality and customer service, mirrors the entrepreneurial spirit that has long driven Georgia’s economic success.”
The company
When Hite founded Cutting Edge Firewood in 2013, he created the world’s first luxury firewood and cooking wood company. He reinvented everything about the firewood industry, from how firewood is dried and stored to how it’s packaged, shipped and delivered. When the company began, it was just Leroy with a one truck and a trailer. Now Cutting Edge Firewood employs 40, stocks enough inventory to fill its 40,000-square-foot Peachtree Corners warehouse and ships wood to all 50 states.
The wide variety of wood from Cutting Edge undergoes a special drying process to ensure that it’s free from unwanted pests, mold or fungus and provides an unmatched clean and bright burn with pleasant aroma. Their focus on process and the use of hardwoods such as oak, hickory, cherry, apple, pecan and maple ensures their customers receive the highest quality firewood, cooking wood and pizza wood possible.
For more information about Cutting Edge Firewood, visit cuttingedgefirewood.com.
To learn more about the Entrepreneurship Program at Berry College, visit berry.edu/academics/majors/entrepreneurship.
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