As the summer of 2023 heads to a close, ITW Performance Polymers (Illinois Tool Works) is pleased to highlight the talented interns that were with us during this time. With each role, experiences, and insights, they all brought a unique perspective into the workplace. Throughout their summer with us, each intern provided great value to their department, and below is just a glimpse into who they are and what they accomplished with ITW this summer.

Q: Please Introduce yourself: Include your name, where you go to college, what year in school, and where you reside.

Jack: My name is Jack Barron and I go to the University of Massachusetts Lowell. I am originally from Haverhill, Massachusetts, and I am going to be a Junior. I have a Marketing Major and a Finance Minor.

Sam P.: I’m Sam Pelletier and I go to Stonehill College. I am going to be a Senior and I’m from Danvers, Massachusetts. My Major is Finance and my Minor is Data Analytics.

Sam G.: My name is Sam Gaigals and I go to the University of Massachusetts Lowell where I am a Senior and my Major is Plastic Engineering.  

Audrey: I’m Audrey McMillan and I go to Bentley University where I am going to be a Senior next year. I’m from Farmington, Connecticut and I am a Marketing Major with a double Minor in Management and Sports Business Management.

Shakib: My name is Shakib Hasan, and I am a Sophomore at Pennsylvania State pursuing a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering. I am from Lansdale, Pennsylvania.

Q: What is your role at ITW Performance Polymers?

Sam P.: I am the Finance intern and I’m primarily working in Accounts Receivable in the Danvers location.

Jack: I am the Sales intern in the Danvers office and I work primarily in Sales Operations.

Sam G.: I am a returning intern in Technical Services at Danvers and I work with our Marketing team as well.

Audrey: I am a Marketing intern in Danvers and I work primarily with marketing content generation.

Shakib: I am the R&D (Research and Development) intern in the Montgomeryville location.

Q: Did you have any expectations coming into your internship at ITW Performance Polymers?

Jack: Based on my experience, I just really wanted to get relevant experience because I don’t have as much as I want so even in the job search, I aimed for future career specific experience where I could learn to be successful.

Sam G.: Going into my second summer internship with ITW Performance Polymers, I didn’t really have new expectations as I already understood how ITW works and what my work would entail.

Last summer, the company sent out a form to all the interns asking how our internships went and what they could improve. Being that ITW Performance Polymers is a company that strives to grow and improve, I was hoping to see some of the feedback that was given implemented into the internship program this summer. Overall, I definitely have seen and experienced those positive changes. 

Sam P.: I think overall, I expected to gain a lot of new technical skills and put the things I learned in school into real world practice. I also wanted to meet a lot more people.

Audrey: I was really excited to get a wider experience in marketing. A lot of my previous roles have been narrowly focused on parts of marketing. Whether that’s been just social media marketing or just strategic marketing. So, I was really excited to have a wider range of experiences here.

Shakib: My expectations were not particular. The expectations were set in the interview process that I would leave after the summer with a lot more knowledge than I came in with.

Q: Can you describe ITW Performance Polymers in three words?

Sam G.: Collaborative, Inclusive, and Welcoming

Jack: Family, Collaborative, and Teamwork

Sam P.: Hard working, Teamwork, and Driven

Audrey: Friendly, Collaborative, and Driven

Shakib: Safety, Teamwork, and Innovation

Q: What has been your favorite part of your internship so far at ITW Performance Polymers?

Jack: My favorite part of the internship has been learning new technical skills and gaining a lot of experience in the field that I want to be working in in the future. At the same time, getting to know and meet the great team that’s here in Danvers is another aspect of the internship I have really enjoyed. It’s been the greatest experience!

Sam P.: I think getting to work in a professional environment that is also very friendly, and close-knit, which is what I was looking for and hoping I would find!

Sam G.: Just learning and collaborating – those are two of my favorite things. Oh, and getting the opportunity to travel to conferences!

Audrey: I think for me, getting a wide variety of experience has been really important and something I’ve valued so far here. That varied experience is definitely my favorite part because I’ve started to learn what I like to do and what I don’t like to do, which is helpful and it’s going to help me in the long run for my career.

Shakib: In the beginning, it was shadowing Dan and learning how to operate the QC and a brief overview on how products are made in Montgomeryville. There’s a lot to learn.

Q: If you could have gone into any profession other than the one you’ve chosen, what would it be and why?

Sam G.: I definitely would have joined Sales! Working with the projects for customers and traveling to tradeshows to see how regional managers do their job has been interesting to see and I could see myself in that position.

Jack: If I was to pick another field to work in I’d probably say Marketing because that’s what I go to school for and although I like Sales and I like the process of it, I just think that I would like to see the other side of it. I get to touch on Marketing related projects a lot but I would like to see what it’s like to be in that field specifically.

Sam P.: I would have said probably a vet because I loved that area and I love animals!

Audrey: I would say a photographer, like a photographer for National Geographic, because I love being outside and hiking.

Shakib: I would go into Real Estate.

Q: What skills have you utilized most during your time at ITW Performance Polymers?

Sam P.: I would say a lot of Microsoft Excel type of technology skills, in general. I’ve been working primarily there so I think that’s a huge skill that I’ve gained and gone deeper into understanding.

Jack: I agree with Sam. I think Excel skills are huge in terms of what I primarily utilize during the time that I’ve been working here as I work with large amounts of data. I also think data analysis and just going through data to make sure that I can explain it visually and verbally – that’s great! Communication is also a big skill that we’ve all used here! I think I speak for all of us when I say interdepartmental communication is big. Additionally, working on your feet, you know, taking initiative and just troubleshooting, being able to work alone or within a group, find things out so you can accomplish your tasks.

Sam G.: Excel skills are key as Sam and Jack pointed out. I’ve used a lot of Excel to categorize data but I’ve also used some skills that I learned in school such as testing methods like working with lab equipment, standard testing equipment, and standard testing methods.

Audrey: A lot of what the others said is also true for me. Interpersonal skills, Microsoft Office, things like that and having a general understanding of marketing ideas as well. Marketing research, the ideas behind a drip campaign, how to write for digital marketing, and how to write for B2B companies have come very useful to me.

Shakib: Problem solving has been essential for me.

Q: What has been your favorite project so far?

Sam G.: The Plexus Ad Project because it has given me so much creative freedom! It has really given me the opportunity to show my technical and creative skills both in Technical Services and the Marketing aspect. It’s been a project where I have been able to take the lead without any form of micromanagement even though I’m in an internship position. Though it’s really been a project guided by Sarah Vigue, the Marcomm Specialist, she’s given me a lot of freedom to take it in my own direction and that’s been cool.

Sam P.: The project I’ve learned the most from so far is also my favorite, which is the Accounts Receivable Collection. Just in general being able to speak to customers, use Excel more and keep organizing – and doing it all myself because I’ve grown in experience, has been really useful for me in terms of my career.

Jack: I think my favorite project has to be the pricing contacts projects that I’ve been working on because I think the project is all inclusive in terms of the software I’ve been using: Excel, Salesforce etc. Like Sam said, I’ve also been communicating with customers. I think it really ties everything together in terms of what I learned this summer, so I’d say that’s why it’s my favorite project.

Audrey: I think mine has been writing all the case studies because not only have I gone across product lines, I’ve also gotten to talk to a lot of Regional Sales Managers and Marketing Product Specialists who I wouldn’t have otherwise interacted with. They know more about what I’m writing about particularly than I do so at the beginning of the conversation so they have been teachers. Also, learning the writing style needed to reach the B2B consumers and distributors has been very useful and interesting. I think it’s a really all-inclusive project, similar to what Jack said but also has allowed me to take creative freedom and grow in my own way, as well.

Shakib: My favorite project has to be working on the silicone project. There were a few parameters that wouldn’t meet the needed requirements, so adjustments had to be made. With that, I also spent time learning what chemicals react with others and how they impact the chemistry on the silicone made.

Q: Do you feel that you have gained insight into the industry through your time here so far?

Jack: I think I gained insight into this industry the first day that we were here! Honestly going for the plant tours, even just seeing how everything is done and getting to meet everybody and what their processes are like daily has been incredibly insightful. I’ve even been in the lab with Sam G. before and she taught me about how they use the polymers and the different dispensers… I have learned a lot in my time!

Sam P.: Overall, I’ve never worked in any sort of manufacturing company, so like Jack said, the first week we were here I learned so much more than I ever thought. Going on the tours, seeing how everything’s made and produced – that was really helpful and cool. I’ve never seen anything like it before!

Sam G.: I’ve learned a lot in my past year, more so than my first summer here. I’ve definitely gained more insight into the Sales side, how to interact with customers, and testing for customers specific applications and need – developing further skills in that aspect.

Audrey: I think for me similar to Jack and Sam, I have never worked at a manufacturing company before, or a B2B modeled company. I’ve definitely not only gained a lot of insight but also some lessons about how B2B organizations run that will definitely help me in the long run.

Shakib: Yes, I have had immense insight into the industry that ITW Performance Polymers operates within. It’s been a solid learning experience.

Q: Here’s a creative and insightful question for you. What do you have as your desktop background and why?

Jack: My desktop background looks like the Aurora Borealis but purple. I picked it because I like the color purple, it is one of my top 3 favorite colors.

Sam G.: My desktop background is a picture of my three best friends and my boyfriend on my birthday all having a great time.

Sam P.: Mine is just flowers because I thought it looked pretty, good, and relaxing!

Audrey: Mine is a picture of a lake with some boats in it because I love the lake and it is one of my favorite places on Earth.

Shakib: The default background because the scenery still looks cool.

Q: If you had to choose a mascot for ITW Performance Polymers what would it be?

Jack: If I was to choose a mascot for ITW Performance Polymers I would say a cheetah because they are cool, quick, and we get things done quickly and efficiently.

Sam P.: Mine’s not an animal, but I think it sounds good and goes with the manufacturing aspect of ITW Performance Polymers as well as our emphasis on safety: The ITW Hard Hats.

Sam G.: I couldn’t pick one of the kinds of polymers, so an ITW Performance Polymers superhero who is held together by all our different products is what I would make it.

Audrey: I would say the ITW Performance Polymers Pterodactyl, a great alliteration.

Shakib: Mine would be the White-Tailed Deer.

Q: What is your favorite spot in the office?

Sam G.: The Technical Service lunchroom. It’s just nice to be able to step back from our computers or our busy lab work and sit together as a group, catching up how our day’s been so far.

Jack: I think it’s got to be where we all started, the Devcon Conference Room. Honestly, like I just said, that’s where we all started. It’s got a lot of good memories there, getting to know each other as interns and talking about everything we wanted to do this summer and that we hope to do in our careers. It’s fun to take a walk over there and eat lunch there every once in a while.

Sam P.: I was going to say the same thing as Jack, the Devcon Conference Room just because that was our office for the first month of the internship and we got to hang out there as a group, which was great to experience as newcomers.

Audrey: Mine is the same, the Devcon Conference Room. It is where we all started and where we eat lunch together almost every day.

Shakib: Definitely the Mixer Room since I’m not with the other interns.

Q: What is something you are looking forward to doing after your internship ends?

Jack: Spending time with family, going to the gym, seeing friends, I’m a simple dude! I am also planning a trip to Universal right now with some friends, so I am hoping that we can come together before the summer ends.

Sam P.: I’m looking forward to going to Nashville! I love country music, so I am really looking forward to that for sure.

Sam G.: I’m looking forward to hopefully better weather again throughout New England. I’ve recently bought a bunch of stuff to go camping so I need to use that more and get my money’s worth!

Audrey: I am looking forward to heading back to Bentley! I love heading back to school because I am an Orientation Leader, and seeing all my friends and meeting all the new students is always super fun.

Shakib: I am looking forward to using the knowledge I gained at ITW Performance Polymers at other jobs and classwork I will have in the future.

Q: Now that your time is concluding: If you could tell yourself something on the first day of your internship what would it be?

Sam G.: The environment is a lot more friendly and welcoming than you thought it was going to be. So, everything’s going to be fine, just take a deep breath.

Jack: I would probably say just don’t sweat it and ask as many questions as you need.

Audrey: I think for me, I would have told myself similar things, like take a deep breath and to not be afraid to go up and introduce yourself to people. They are looking forward to meeting you!

Sam P.: I would say you’ll meet a lot more people and get a lot more opportunities than you think. Like going to Chicago for an internship conference. We had no idea that was even possible, and that experience was super cool! And meeting new people too. Overall, I have had a way better experience than I could have imagined.

Shakib: Not to be overwhelmed with learning everything about the company in the first week!

We are grateful for our amazing interns here at ITW Performance Polymers as they have grown both personally and professionally in just a few months here with the company. Whether you are a summer, fall, or yearlong intern, making connections, being confident, and using learned skills to excel are all critical steps in making the most out of any internship. To view internships at ITW Performance Polymers, head to the Job Posting page and apply to join our team.