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Senior Ben Kandah likes to keep himself busy. The integrated supply management major is a member of the student-run Supply Chain Management Association and Phi Gamma Delta, as well as  director of finance for the Interfraternity Council. He  also juggles a part-time job. One year ago, he set his sights on an internship with Ford Motor Company, and it has been full speed ahead since then.

Kandah experienced a disruption in his original plans as the COVID-19 pandemic began. Originally scheduled to be onsite in the Dearborn office with plans to travel to various locations he switched gears and adapted to a virtual internship. His experience was eye-opening. “This was my first internship in the professional world,” says Kandah. “ɫɫ��’s nationally renowned ISM program prepares their students to excel but there will always be situations you can’t teach.”

His internship was broken down into multiple projects, most of which dealt with the new 2021 Ford Bronco. “I conducted a study on the Bronco, documenting relevant information and forecasting shipping costs,” explains Kandah. “The excitement of being a Business Bronco working on the Ford Bronco was not lost on me.” By the end of his internship, Kandah had racked up real-world experience in critical areas of supply chain, including analyzing cost savings, exploring  process automation, and improving efficiency.

For Kandah, the Haworth College of Business and his own drive to expand his knowledge base successfully prepared him for his internship. “I’m ready to learn something new daily,” he says. “The Student Professional Readiness Series helped me get involved in so many career-building activities and our supply chain registered student organization was crucial to keeping me motivated. On top of that, the ɫɫ�� supply chain program is incredible. The professors are amazing resources, and they combine cutting-edge knowledge with real-world immersion.”

As he begins his final year at ɫɫ��, Kandah is firing on all cylinders and looking to the future. “My hope is that my time with Ford will lead to a job offer after graduation. But even if that offer doesn’t come, I’ll be able to leverage this internship in many ways. A demanding job in logistics with a company as respected as Ford creates a tremendous amount of value.”