This summer I had the privilege of being partnered with Linda Coppess with the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber of Commerce for my externship. The Chamber is connected to over a thousand businesses in this area. Not only is the view from the office window incredible, but Linda and her team have been amazing. They have shared with me how STEM is used every day in not only their jobs, but in all of the businesses in their association. I have been connected to business leaders and had conversations about making the bridge between education and the future workforce.

One of the projects that I have worked on related directly to technology. The Chamber has a business member kiosk and a web mobile app that will soon be launched. One of the behind-the-scenes pieces that I was a part of, was working within the database to ensure accuracy so that the data that is pulled from there reflected the business profiles correctly. The other project was research based. The Chamber is exploring the possibility of creating an extension in establishing a nonprofit foundation. I investigated the steps in this huge undertaking and presented my findings to the Chamber Board. This has been an incredible experience, and I am thankful for my time to learn and work with Linda and the team at the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber of Commerce!

Grade Level and Subject Taught: 5th Grade