Reiman Fall 2000 Interns

Reflections From Fall 2000 Reiman Scholars

"My experience as a Reiman Scholar gave me the experience I needed to understand what I would be facing when I started my own company," said Sriraman Prabu, a fall 2000 Reiman Scholar. Five other Reiman Scholars agreed with Prabu that the Reiman Scholars in Entrepreneurship program is one that offers quality experience-based learning.

The Fall 2000 Reiman Scholars were Anuj Gupta, MBA Program; Darron Kitterman, senior in management; Woon Lee, senior in computer engineering; Kevin Mitchell, senior in management; Sriraman Prabu, senior in computer engineering; and Jim Zehr, senior in management, finance, and international business.

The students were exposed to many different aspects of business during their semester long internship with start-up companies. Lee said "I learned a lot of important lessons in starting a company, running an organization, getting funding, undergoing financial crisis, and competing in a competitive marketplace.

While at Global Reach Internet Productions, Zehr was able to meet with acquisition candidates, evaluate opportunities, collect debt, represent the company at a trade show, and work to build the persona of a successful business.

Zehr further explained that Iacovos Zachariades, President of Global Reach, involved him in many upper-level decisions at Global Reach. Zehr said, "He’s really made me feel welcome, and there is a mutual respect relationship evolving between us."

The interns explained that the internship hosts taught them a lot about business and made sure that their internship was an educational one. "Every experience at Globefield Academy was very educational. Mike didn’t just want me to show up and work; more importantly, it was like he wanted me to learn," said Darron Kitterman in reference to his internship host Mike Coon, founder of Globefield Academy.

Prabu echoed Kitterman’s comments by stating, "Greg and Joel (President and Vice President of Acumen Instruments) were very good mentors. They were very patient with me, answering all my questions and helping me learn new things. They were always interested in teaching me new things and they were always there helping me out when I was stuck. It was a great learning environment for me."

And the interns seem to have learned a great deal about entrepreneurship through their internship. Prabu said, "My experience as a Reiman Scholar was the best thing that has happened to me during my three years of college."

Zehr described the program as a life-building experience. He said, "I have gained a wealth of knowledge on business tactic and negotiations, and I look forward to gaining more experience within the environment of Global Reach."

Gupta said, "My internship at Global-Reach gave me an insight on how to manage a start-up company. While working here I have realized the pragmatic advantages of working as a team. I have also realized that a team can only be successful when all of its members contribute." He also said, "The internship has expanded my skills set and has given me an insight of what it takes to start a business."

Funding for the Reiman Scholars in Entrepreneurship was made possible through a gift from Roy Reiman, ISU alum, and his wife, Bobbi as well as a grant from the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneur Leadership, Inc. in Kansas City.

This year-round program is designed to provide 12-15 entrepreneurially minded students with a unique internship opportunity. This is the fifth year the Pappajohn Center has offered this program.

The spring 2001 interns are: Brian Muff, MBA Program; Yong-Joon Park, Junior, Computer Engineering; Jamie Rador, graduate student, Education, Leadership & Policies; Paul Gratton, Senior, MIS; Erik Allen, Senior, Chemical Engineering; James Zehr, Senior, Management,& Entrepreneurship & Strategy, Finance, and International Business.