Internship Chronicles, Chapter 27: Reese Recker

One summer day, a Student Prince decided to go on a little adventure. “It won’t be long before I have a career,” the Prince said, “so I’d better start preparing now.” So with some ’Berg education under their hat, and some connections in their back pocket, the Student Prince began forging their way through an internship.

We continue our web series, Internship Chronicles.

Chapter 27: A Humbling Beginning

Reese Recker is a third-year accounting major from Findlay, Ohio. She runs track and field, and serves on the Business Student Advisory Board. Once she completes her bachelor’s degree, Reese plans to pursue her Masters of Business Administration. She’s interested in going into book-keeping or sitting for the CPA exam after she’s done with school. This summer, Reese is interning with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), an auditing firm with several locations throughout the country

How did you find your internship, or how did the internship find you?

During the semester of fall 2022, Heidelberg was hosting an event in Campus Center called "Meet the Firms Night." There were numerous booths of different accounting firms. One of the booths I came across was Gilmore Jasion Mahler (this was before they merged with CLA). I got a chance to talk to some of the employees, they asked to interview me twice, and they gave me the intern position!

What did you expect from your internship initially?

When they told me that I was going to work in the Quality Assurance and Consulting department, I didn't have any expectations because I had no idea what I was going to be working on.

What really happens in your day-to-day work?

As of right now, I am testing clients' benefit plans, specifically their 401(k) plans. So far, I have conducted eligibility testing, contribution testing, and distribution testing.

What connections have you made?

I made friends with other interns who work in the CLA office in Maumee, Ohio. Since I work in the Findlay, Ohio office, I would say my best connections so far are Alivia (who works in the same department as me) and my supervisor, Amanda Lewis.

What is the most valuable thing you’ll bring back to the classroom after this experience?

It's okay to walk into a job and not know what to do. No matter what stage you are in your career, you are going to come across a task you don't know how to do. It's okay to ask others for help.