During a two-month summer internship, Harris Anne Walker, a senior general business major, was awarded Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s top intern honor for the southeastern region.
“Throughout the two months,” said Walker, “I did what normal Enterprise employees would do. I answered phones, sold insurance, and helped customers get rental cars.”
Enterprise Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental, and Alamo Rent a Car, offers several types of internship programs to college students who are interested in a real-world, professional business experience. Interns are able to develop the skills needed for managing rentals and commercial fleets, developing marketing strategies, and building relationships with customers and Enterprise Rental coworkers.
“It was really cool,” said Walker. “My mom works for the company part-time, so she told me about the internship. She said it was a good program, but I didn’t realize how organized and beneficial the program was until going through it.”
The top intern award was based on amount of sales, an intern experience presentation, ability to provide exceptional customer service, and other tasks completed by participants of the summer internship. Along with the recognition, Walker was presented with a $500 cash prize from the area manager for her top scores in the program.
“I got to meet a lot of new people and did a good amount of networking,” she said. “I used the tools and instructions they gave me to be successful in the program. I was even told that after I graduate, I have a pending job for the management trainee program.”
Walker says her business courses have truly been a stepping-stone to help her be successful in the internship and grow in the area of sales. “I took a salesmanship class in which we did roleplay related to sales so I was already used to it. I was able to work on those skills and become more comfortable with it [sales].”
“I also took a few management classes here at TMU that helped me understand how to manage a team and what it takes to keep the whole business running. All of my classes have taught me a lot and helped to prepare me for this internship,” said Walker.
Walker, who is also a participant of the TMU Women’s Volleyball Team, says she plans to return to Enterprise after graduation with more confidence and understanding of the industry as she completes her final business courses.
The senior also boasts of the Christian education she receives through the professors here at Truett McConnell. “Something I’ve heard many times here is: the world doesn’t need more professional Christians; it needs more Christian professionals.”
“This is where I feel like I find myself,” she added. “You don’t have to broadcast everywhere that you’re a Christian; just work hard at what you do, show it through your actions, and people will notice.”
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Jenny Gregory is the Digital Marketing Specialist for Truett McConnell University.
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