For the last two semesters, Manitoba Corp. has had a new intern working with the company thanks to the Recycled Materials Association’s (ReMA) Pathways Program. Changtong Wu, a student at the University of Michigan has been working remotely for the Buffalo, NY-based company, helping lead Manitoba’s ESG efforts to improve its rankings on a site called Ecovadis that reports to several customers.
“When I heard that ReMA had rolled out the pathways program, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for us,” said Brian Shine, CEO of Manitoba Corp. “ReMA made the process very easy for us, they understood what we were looking for and presented a list of candidates, their qualifications, and where they were going to school, and left it to me to conduct interviews and select the intern.”
It was such a successful semester that Shine asked Wu if he could return to the company for a second semester.
“Even though he’s a remote intern it’s been great working with him, and we connected in-person over the summer when he visited Manitoba,” Shine said. “I think it was really valuable for him as a student to learn about a new industry and see firsthand what’s involved in the recycling process and how we help make items that people use and depend on every day.”
Shine noted that getting to see the facility and process in person made Wu even more valuable to Manitoba and better able to assist the company in its ESG efforts.
“He helped us complete surveys that we’re required to do on behalf of our clients who are reporting ESG,” Shine said. “Wu’s skillset and passion as well as his commitment and desire to assist helped us raise our scores significantly, which in turned helped us with our clients, so it was a really successful process.”
ReMA’s Pathways Program offers paid fellowship and internship opportunities for current and recent graduates. As Pathway participants, students are immersed in career opportunities in the recycled materials industry at one of ReMA’s member companies.
The Pathways program is designed to provide ReMA members with another resource to attract talent, fill workforce needs and critical competency gaps, support diversity efforts, and supplement the competitive hiring process. Vetted candidates are matched with ReMA members based on their interests, skills, location and availability.
“I strongly recommend participating in this program if you’re considering it,” Shine said. “It’s so valuable for both the company and the student. You’re gaining new talent, and the student is gaining a better understanding of our industry, and it could lead to employment opportunities either for your firm or elsewhere in the industry.”
Shine adds that it does take some work on the part of the participating company to provide mentorship opportunities for the student. Typically, the student coming in has little or no prior experience or exposure to the industry so it may take some time from them to learn and gain that knowledge and understanding.
“You just need to recognize and respect that that these are students and they’re learning,” he said. “And be open to the idea that they may have skills that you don’t have in house. You’re going to be learning from the intern just as much as you’re teaching them. Just remember to be respectful of the process. I highly recommend getting started in the Pathways Program because it can lead to great things for the recycled materials industry and new generation of students.”
The Pathways Program is a no-cost service provided to all members. Any interested member is encouraged to reach out to Robby Brice, Program Coordinator-Youth Outreach and Workforce Development, at rbrice@recycledmaterials.org.
Main Photo by Resume Genius on Unsplash. Body Photo: Changtong Wu with Brian Shine. Photo Courtesy of Brian Shine.
