Page 58 - BusinessWest August 7, 2023

Early Connections
EDC, UMass Amherst Enhance Economy Through Internships
“By bringing together exceptional students and local businesses, this collaboration creates a win-win situation, fostering mutual growth and development.”
The Western Massachusetts Economic Develop- ment Council (EDC) and the UMass Amherst iCons program, under the umbrella of the iCons Industry Consortium, recently joined forces to provide UMass iCons students with internship and career opportunities in the Western Mass. region.
iCons is a certificate program focused on real-world problem solving in biomedicine/biosystems and renew- able energy, catering to students in science, technol- ogy, health sciences, engineering, math (STEM), and business. The program engages students in addressing real-world challenges alongside industry partners and faculty members from a range of STEM and business disciplines.
Now, with the support of the EDC, UMass iCons stu- dents majoring in science, technology, engineering, math, health sciences, and business have access to intern-
ship opportunities with local businesses, with the goal
of bolstering the regional economy as well as their own experience.
“We’re excited to partner with UMass Amherst to showcase the advantages of living and working in West- ern Mass.,” said Rick Sullivan, president and CEO of the Western Mass EDC. “ By bringing together exceptional students and local businesses, this collaboration cre- ates a win-win situation, fostering mutual growth and development.”
The iCons program has already successfully placed students in internships at three member organizations of the Western Mass EDC: the Markens Group, US Tsubaki Chicopee, and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts. These experiences have provided iCons students with valuable exposure to real-world work envi- ronments and have allowed them to contribute to the success of local businesses.
The Markens Group recently welcomed Bobby Mur- ray as an iCons summer intern.
“We are thrilled to have Bobby join us at the Markens Group this summer,” said Emily Leonczyk, the compa- ny’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Bobby is taking advantage of the opportunity to cultivate his skills, gain invaluable real-world experience, and lay the foundation for a successful future. Bobby has already added immense value, he is sharp and enthusiastic, and our team is stronger with his contributions. We are dedi- cated to supporting next-generation talent like Bobby and fostering professional development in our region.”
According to its website, iCons “prepares our best undergraduates to be problem solvers, leaders, and innovators in science, technology, and business. iCons recruits quality students across a diverse range of sci- ence, engineering, and business disciplines to identify global problems and find cutting-edge solutions. The iCons program positions students for high achievement
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