My name is Logan Hand, and I am the Marketing and Sustainability Intern here at Inovateus Solar for the summer of 2021. As a college junior studying
Environmental Economics and Management at Michigan State University (MSU) in my spring semester, finding an internship for this summer was a very important step in my future career. Having spent the summer working at Inovateus, I will be going into my senior year, with the amazing knowledge and experience I obtained while here.
I started my internship in May and will be finishing at the end of July. It was a fast summer, but a busy one that was full of wonderful experiences and crucial connections that I have been able to form in the booming solar industry. As I have always cared about the wellness of the earth and for future generations, I have always wanted to work in some environmental or a sustainability-focused industry. This internship was a great foot-in-the-door to the solar industry, and I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about large scale solar development, marketing, and sustainability.
I came into the internship with very little knowledge, my eyes and ears open and ready to learn. I soon came to understand what it meant to be a “solar EPC company” and the other kind of industry lingo. For those who are new to the industry, “EPC” stands for engineering, procurement, and construction, and each of those industry functions work together for cost-effective solar development.
Working for a solar EPC, I really was able to dive into a lot of different aspects of the business and collaborate with all kinds of employees in the company. I learned how the solar modules, inverters, and solar components had to be ordered and shipped here by our procurement team. From our engineers I learned about the design aspect, and how Inovateus obtained customers through their marketing and sustainability team.
When I first applied for this position, I found out from my two interviewers, Tim Powers and Tyler Kanczuzewski, that Inovateus had installed a 13.5 MW solar carport at MSU, which is producing 9% of the university’s power on campus. This carport is one of the largest in the Midwest and makes me extremely proud to work for a company and attend an educational institution that shares my same passion for sustainability.
Not only did my internship teach me about new sustainability practices in the solar industry, but I also soaked in what the South Bend area has to offer. From the South Bend Cubs baseball to all the amazing restaurants, to checking out Notre Dame’s campus, there is always something new and interesting I can learn about and see. I live in Roseland, a mere mile away from campus, and I can be in downtown within minutes. Seeing all of South Bend’s open green spaces, EV parking lots, and tiny home openings that are 100% powered by solar panels, really makes me appreciate the area and its progressive and green thinking.
Throughout the summer, I had multiple very memorable moments in which I gained valuable insights. One of my first tasks was having the opportunity to help revise and review Inovateus Solar’s 2020 Sustainability Report and release it to the public. Another amazing day was when I visited a finished solar site in Logansport, Indiana. It was such a great experience to see what a solar field looks like up close and learn about the installation from the site’s project manager. Lastly, I helped Inovateus produce an online webinar was hosted by CEO TJ Kanczuzewski. TJ interviewed Mayor James Mueller of South Bend and Mayor Rosalynn Bliss from Grand Rapids, Michigan about the challenges of cities becoming more sustainable.
Overall, this summer was a wonderful learning experience in which I gained valuable insight into the large-scale solar industry and the path to a successful career. I have gained new skills and viewpoints from this internship that will carry over to the rest of my education. I am very thankful for this opportunity and thank Inovateus for taking the time to invest in my potential future in the solar energy field. If you’re a college student looking for a great company to help fulfill your sustainability endeavors, then I strongly recommend reaching out to Inovateus Solar!
