Externship Reflection: Idaho Innovation Center & Idaho Commercial Kitchen

This summer, I had the opportunity to serve as an extern at the Idaho Innovation Center (IIC), with a focus on the Idaho Commercial Kitchen (ICK). The Idaho Innovation Center is a small business incubator whose mission is “to provide large business resources to small fledgling companies so entrepreneurs can confidently and aggressively start and grow their small business through collaboration, education, mentoring and advising.” In support of that mission—specifically for food entrepreneurs—they launched the Idaho Commercial Kitchen approximately two years ago. However, despite its potential, the kitchen has not seen the level of usage originally anticipated.

Project Goals and Intended Outcomes
The primary goal of my externship project was to increase the visibility and usage of the Idaho Commercial Kitchen. To help us achieve this, we received training in artificial intelligence, marketing, social media, and research strategies. I applied these new skills to identify gaps in community services that the ICK could help address and then worked to build connections with the individuals and organizations needed to fill those gaps.

What I Accomplished
One of the most significant accomplishments of my externship was facilitating a new partnership between the Idaho Commercial Kitchen and the College of Eastern Idaho’s (CEI) Continuing Education program. Through market research, I discovered a notable lack of cooking classes available in the Idaho Falls area, despite high community interest. CEI had previously offered such classes, but the program had stalled in recent years due to the lack of an adequate facility.

By coordinating a meeting between the Executive Director of the Idaho Innovation Center and the Director of Continuing Education at CEI, I helped lay the foundation for a new collaborative effort. Together, we developed a plan to relaunch community cooking classes using the ICK as the hosting site. This partnership is expected to significantly increase exposure and utilization of the kitchen while meeting a community need.

Impact on Career Knowledge and Teaching Style
This externship experience has greatly enhanced my professional skills, particularly in research and the practical use of artificial intelligence. I’ve learned how to use AI to complete routine or time-consuming tasks, allowing me to better focus my energy on meaningful interactions with students.

In addition, the collaborative nature of this project reminded me of the value of working closely with others toward a shared goal. While I’ve often worked independently in my teaching career, this experience has shown me the power of strategic collaboration—something I plan to integrate more intentionally into my teaching approach moving forward.

Final Thoughts
This has been an incredibly valuable partnership. The Idaho Commercial Kitchen stands to benefit from increased community engagement and exposure, while I’ve gained new tools and perspectives to enhance my own professional practice. I’m grateful for the opportunity and excited to see how this partnership continues to grow.

Grade Level and Subject Taught: K-5 Special Education