ISSUED: 23 September 2019
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — A Shepherd University economics student spent the summer gaining experience at Invenergy’s headquarters in Chicago. Francisco Mitchell, an economics major from Centreville, Virginia, interned in the company’s asset management group, which assists in maximizing the profitability of Invenergy’s operating wind, solar, storage, and thermal assets.
Mitchell was assigned to work on various large and small projects that included producing budget reports, a loss production analysis, and operations and maintenance cost analysis.
“I loved it. It was amazing,” Mitchell said. “The people in the asset management group and the other interns were super friendly and helpful and I learned a ton.”
Mitchell said he applied for the internship because he thought it would be interesting to work in asset management, live by himself in a city he’s never been to before, and experience working in a large company.
“I learned how to conduct myself in a professional setting and gained communication skills,” Mitchell said. “I went in a little shy and quiet at first, but since they were so welcoming, I opened up quickly. I am 100 percent glad I did the internship. It was an amazing company to intern with.”
“Francisco was able to have a very hands-on experience with us,” said Natalie Capriola, Invenergy’s corporate recruiter. “He worked on key projects that assisted the team tremendously in moving forward our mission and vision for the company¬—innovators building a sustainable world.”
Invenergy and its affiliated companies develop, own, and operate large-scale sustainable energy generation and storage facilities in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Invenergy’s home office is located in Chicago, and it has regional development offices in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Poland, and Scotland. Invenergy has developed more than 22,600 megawatts of projects that are in operation, construction, or contracted, including wind, solar, and natural gas power generation facilities, as well as advanced energy storage projects.
Mitchell said the internship gave him skills that will help him eventually pursue his goal of going into developmental economics.
“My dream job would be to go to developing countries, or even poor areas in this country, to work with the locals to set up economic foundations and things like logistics and supply chains,” Mitchell said.
The Invenergy internship for Shepherd students began in 2016 after Michael Polsky, company founder and CEO, announced the program at President Mary J.C. Hendrix’s inauguration energy symposium.
“We remain extremely grateful to Mr. Polsky for his generosity in providing this important opportunity for a Shepherd student to experience the day-to-day operations of a high profile asset management group in Chicago,” Hendrix said.
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