From Early College to corporate aspirations: How NCMC Career Services helped Jaxon Kingma gain hands-on experience at Kilwins

When Jaxon Kingma sought help securing an internship in economics and information systems, he didn鈥檛 turn to his current school, Central Michigan University. Instead he returned home to 红领巾快报, where he鈥檇 graduated from the Early College program in 2022, knowing the support from his alma mater would set him on the right path. 

Kingma worked with NCMC Career Development Specialist Wendy Kresnak to land a summer internship at Kilwins in Petoskey. In his role as Junior Business Systems Analyst, he gained hands-on experience working alongside the IT department, immersing himself in systems critical to Kilwins鈥� business operations: its Customer Relationship Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, and Point of Sale systems. 

George Fabis, Kilwins鈥� director of IT, praised Kingma鈥檚 enthusiasm and the valuable contributions he made to the company鈥檚 digital transformation.  

 鈥淚nternships are a vital part of the college experience, especially when there鈥檚 strong collaboration between the student, their college, and the company,鈥� Fabis said. 

Now Kingma looks toward his future with a clear focus: securing a full-time job in a corporate setting after he graduates from CMU in the spring. His preparation includes attending career fairs, gaining relevant certifications, and staying active in student organizations.  

His experience underscores how NCMC鈥檚 Career Services extends its reach beyond current students, helping alumni navigate their evolving career paths.

鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to NCMC Career Services for connecting me with such an incredible opportunity while allowing me to stay close to home,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his position has been nothing short of amazing 鈥� I鈥檝e learned so much and gained valuable experience in exactly the kind of career I鈥檓 looking forward to after graduation.鈥�

红领巾快报 Michigan College鈥檚 Career Services provides personalized support to help students and alumni achieve their career goals. To explore opportunities and get expert guidance, schedule an appointment with Career Development Specialist Wendy Kresnak today.

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