Consumers Energy Has Largest Summer Intern Class; Service Projects Are Unique Part of Program

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Aug 10, 2011, 06:30 ET

JACKSON, Mich., Aug. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy employed more than 130 interns this summer, the largest class in the utility's 125-year history, and more than double the size of last year's group of interns.

Service to others is a unique part of Consumers Energy's summer intern program. In addition to learning about possible future jobs, the utility's summer interns contributed almost 500 hours of volunteer service to 15 organizations in Michigan. Interns collected more than 3,200 new or gently used books, as well as several hundred dollars worth of food, toiletries and power tools to benefit those in need.

Intern teams supported the following charities: Bay County Habitat for Humanity (Bay City); Mission for Area People (Muskegon); Earthworks Urban Farm (Detroit); Kalamazoo Gospel Mission (Kalamazoo); Chance 4 Life (Lansing); Volunteers of America (Lansing); Ele's Place (Lansing); Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region (Lansing); Imagination Library (Jackson); Salvation Army (Jackson); American Red Cross (Jackson); Habitat for Humanity (Jackson); Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center (Jackson); Jackson Interfaith Shelter (Jackson); and College Access Center (Jackson).

"Giving back to our communities is an essential part of our corporate culture," said Carolyn Bloodworth, the utility's director of corporate giving. "Organizations across the state are struggling to meet increased needs. We are especially proud of our interns for embracing this opportunity to get involved and make a positive impact."

Interns worked this summer learning about jobs at the utility's electric generating plants, natural gas system, customer service operations, engineering, accounting, communications, business technology services, marketing and other areas.

The record intern class is enrolled at 24 colleges, primarily in Michigan. These include: Ferris State University, the University of Michigan, Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, Grand Valley State University, Oakland University, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University, Aquinas College, Jackson Community College and Grand Rapids Community College, among others.

"Consumers Energy hired a record number of interns this summer in keeping with our role as one of Michigan's largest investors. We plan on investing more than $6 billion over the next five years on projects to serve customers and improve the environment," said Suzanne Jones, senior human resources consultant and coordinator of the summer intern program. "We consider our summer internship program a pipeline to possible future employment at Consumers Energy."

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at www.consumersenergy.com

SOURCE Consumers Energy