From Intern to Full Time: A Co-op Career Success Story: Jason Geyer.
What's the best-case scenario for hiring? Most would say hiring someone with appropriate experience and a great personality. When that happens AND the person worked for your company as an intern, it's the dream situation.
Why Intern First?
In today's job market, getting good grades in college isn't enough. Students need to know how to excel in a workspace with real-life exposure to practical tasks. Quickly, students learn that studying a concept in the classroom is far different from confidently executing the tangible steps in the real world.
In a given field, networking early can also set you apart from the competition. Perhaps most crucial, interning teaches you about your capabilities and gives a better understanding of your strengths and weaknesses.
" Interning for a co-op will give you a true understanding of how a company's various departments work together," says IT Manager Todd Taylor. "Co-ops are different from most jobs, run with a leaner staff, and work at a fast pace, so laying that foundation as an intern - especially if you're open to working for the company later on - is wonderful because you can hit the ground running and already have those key relationships build internally. It's a huge time and resource saver."
Laying the Foundation
Antwerp, Ohio, native Jason Geyer was a high school senior at Vantage Career Center back in 2021. Reserved but curious, he enjoyed studying network systems, playing baseball, and running. Thanks to a partnership with Vantage, Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative's IT Manager Todd Taylor connected with Jason early on and offered him real-world experience in the information technology field. Sharp and eager to learn, Jason came on board in March as a summer IT intern, stating that he was looking forward to learning about IT, doing projects, and "being able to understand what I'm doing when I look back at it."
Jason was unsure when he wanted to pursue a career, but he understood that cooperatives were different from other companies. He admired the family atmosphere and the opportunity to "wear many hats," sharpening a variety of skills to build his resume.
"I gained knowledge in the network infrastructure, server environments, and communication skills," Jason says. "I also learned a lot about how essential network communication is for the day-to-day operations."
The relationship was so productive that Jason continued his internship after heading to college at the University of Northwestern Ohio in Lima. During Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks - as well as the next summer - his mentorship with his manager, Todd, drew him back to the co-op.
"I saw Jason grow over that two-year period, becoming more sure of himself in solving problems," Todd says. "As he learned our system, my trust level with time grew tremendously. He was one of those guys who you'd give a project to, and he'd go at it. I didn't have to micromanage."
Jason quickly earned the nickname "Little Todd," becoming known for diagnosing software issues and fixing employees' computers. He also helped install security cameras and hardware updates at PPEC substations.
"One interesting job was reconfiguring the marketing department's security permissions so their Adobe software would load," Jason laughed. "Every time I came back, they hit me up for something."
"Living the Dream"
After graduating with a degree in system administration, Jason was offered a full-time position with PPEC as network technician in June 2023. He accepted, citing the office atmosphere and community focus as top reasons he wanted to grow his IT career with PPEC. The added manpower will also help the IT department better serve the membership.
"Jason is a solid asset. He takes the everyday load off my plate so I can focus on high-end strategic items, like moving to a cloud-based infrastructure," Todd says. "Having him on staff for the last few months has offered us fresh insight and new ideas. Working on cybersecurity will be a priority, as it's a growing concern for all industries."
Sometimes, IT professionals have a reputation for being introverted or shy, but Todd says Jason is working to defy that stereotype. 
I've seen his interpersonal skills with employees grow immensely," Todd says. "He used to be hesitant to ask to help someone, but now, he's getting that human connection piece down."
Most days, Todd and Jason divide and conquer, but the tech duo can often be found hashing out big projects together.
"Sometimes, Jason even keeps me in check!" Todd jokes. "As I say, we're 'living the dream.'"
Jason may be young, but he's thinking ahead about his career and how he can help solve future problems the co-op may have.
"My goals are to advance my networking and security skills through certifications and classes, "Jason says. "I also strive to stay updated with the latest technology and industry news. I'm proud to officially be a part of the co-op team!"
When he's not solving problems at PPEC, Jason enjoys his racing simulator and playing disc golf. His title and hobbies may have changed, but PPEC is thankful that his work ethic and dedication are stronger than ever.
Interested in possible internship opportunities for your student? Contact PPEC's HR Manager at 800-686-2357 or email smorrison@ppec.coop for more information.