The 2025 Oaks Inc. Summer Internship

We are excited to highlight the 2025 Oaks Inc. Summer Internship! 

This summer, we have a class of 14 interns in the Design, Management Trainee, Information Technology, and Marketing departments. Having the opportunity to work with young professionals has been a fantastic experience for both Oaks employees and interns, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of the home improvement industry. This internship program was planned and established by our Talent Acquisition Manager, Mallary Jardine, Training and Development Manager, Kristina Pohl (known as KP by the Oaks team), the Oaks Dumpster Rental General Manager, Jen Burton, the Dumpsters Business Development Manager, Don Slough, as well as Call Center Manager & Trainer, Becca Ackroyd. 

The program was an idea formed by Mallary Jardine, who has experience organizing internships throughout her career. "I wanted to create a program that would be very beneficial to both parties," she says. "Our program offers interns real-world experience in multiple fields, hourly pay, resume experience, and a class credit towards their degree. We hope to provide the interns with a job opportunity by the end of the experience, which helps our hiring team bring on experienced, confident employees we can rely on."

The program she envisioned is multifaceted, designed to train the group in customer relations, management, and various departments within Oaks Inc. they are interested in. The program will conclude with a pitch competition, where interns will form groups and utilize their company knowledge to develop an expansion business plan, which will be evaluated and reviewed by the Oaks Inc. executive team.

“We have an enthusiastic group across our company that has immersed themselves in their respective positions and continues to bring fresh perspectives with a positive impact on our company culture,” says KP. “The interns have not only been a welcome addition to our team, but they will also have the opportunity to play a key role in a collaborative project focused on developing impactful business plans, which they will present to company leadership at the end of our program.” This summer, the group’s dedication and professionalism were defining qualities of their character. KP put it best: “We hope their experience has been as rewarding for them as it has been for us!” 

For the design team, having interns has been something that Sierra Zaremba, the General Manager of the Oaks Interior brands, has been excited about since she became an interior designer herself. “In Rochester, NY, there are not an abundance of real experience opportunities to young professionals interested in home design. Creating these opportunities for students that I wish I had is very fulfilling.” The program enables design students to gain practical experience as a design assistant intern, complementing their studies. 

As summer continues, we’re proud to celebrate the meaningful contributions our interns are making across the company. Their curiosity, energy, and willingness to learn have left a lasting impression, not only on the departments they’ve worked with, but on our entire culture at Oaks Inc. Programs like this are a chance to build real-world skills, explore professional paths, and form lasting connections. We’re grateful to everyone involved for making this internship experience one to remember.

To our 2025 interns: You’ve brought something special to Oaks Inc., and we can’t wait to see where you go from here!