Summer Intern

Summer Internship
Part-time | On-site
January 26, 2025
 

Company Mission and Vision

Mission: APEX is a private sector-led business development engine established to promote sustainable growth in Northeast Minnesota and Northwest Wisconsin. APEX investor-members represent many of the largest and most influential organizations with a vested interest in driving progress.

As an economic development ambassador and concierge, APEX deploys unique strategies to leverage its investor-member network for regional growth. Operating with four key priorities—ATTRACT, CONNECT, ADVOCATE, and GROW—they aim to elevate the region's brand, address challenges, share stories, and sustain economic vitality.

Who We Serve

APEX Clients:

• Investor-Members - Our core clients are our nearly 100 Investor-Member companies, who represent leading businesses from across the region. Our day-to-day work ultimately serves their directive to grow and expand our economic opportunities and remove barriers preventing growth.
  • What this looks like: On-site member engagement interviews, networking introductions, member-exclusive events and workgroups
    
     
• Partner Organizations – We strive to develop strong relationships with a wide variety of organizations committed to strengthening our community. This ranges from local, state, and federal government elected officials, government agency staff, and non-governmental organizations like Chambers of Commerce, non-profits and foundations.
  • What this looks like: International delegations, attending environmental permitting public meetings
    
     
• New Businesses – APEX serves as a concierge to businesses, helping guide entrepreneurs and expanding businesses through the process of building relationships with our community. Through strategic networking and coordination, we make business conversations happen faster and more efficiently, tracking progress.
  • What this looks like: Planning and hosting familiarization tours, strategic introductions to local businesses, tracking project developments
     

Working Hours and Location

Location: Downtown Duluth offices
Core Hours: APEX offices are staffed from 8am to 5pm with a flexible lunch hour.
Expectations: This role will predominantly be 20 hours per week, in-person at our downtown Duluth office, with periodic off-site travel for events and meetings. Final schedule for the internship will be determined with respect to the candidate’s academic schedule and availability.

Role Importance, Responsibilities and Impact

Role Importance: The Summer Intern will support the effective and efficient tracking and implementation of APEX projects and events, assisting other staff and gaining hands-on experience in business services and economic development.
Impact: This role directly contributes to the successful execution of projects, impacting APEX, Investor-Member clients, and partner organizations positively.

What you’ll be doing:

• Big Things:
  • Assist in managing multiple projects under the guidance of APEX staff.
  • Support planning and execution of events, including Board and Executive Committee meetings and the annual New Member Mixer.
  • Conduct research and perform analysis for a capstone internship project.
     
• Little Things:
  • Assist in networking with local and regional stakeholders and organizations.
  • Help monitor and compile project reports.

What you won’t be doing:

• Making high-level decisions regarding project scope, objectives, and resources independently.
• Leading large-scale projects without supervision.

Timeline for Role Expectations

Month One:

• Understand the company's project management processes and tools.
• Crosstrain with all staff to understand diverse APEX work.
• Plan and begin summer capstone research project.

Month Two:

• Collate data and begin synthesizing a report on your project focus. 
• With supervision, plan and invite attendees for a networking event. 
• Establish working relationships with stakeholders.

Month Three:

• Finalize planning and host networking event, with presentation of research project findings.

About You

This is a great fit if you:

• Have interest in economic development, business services, or operations. 
• Are eager to cross-train across multiple departments and duties. 
• Are outgoing and curious. 
• Possess strong organizational and time-management skills.

This won’t be the right role if you:

• Need rigid definition of daily tasks and objectives.
• Are not comfortable with monthly travel for projects and training.
• Are not comfortable with a predominantly in-office role.
• Lack basic proficiency in managing various software tools (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel).

Compensation

The hourly pay for this part-time role is $17/hr. Additional benefits include mileage and parking reimbursement.

Interview Process

Our interview process will take about 3 hours total. Normally, the process looks like this: 

• 30-minute introductory call with Mickey to see if we’re the right fit. 
• One-hour in-person meeting with Rachel to discuss your background and past work. 
• One-hour in-person meeting with the APEX team to assess culture fit and values alignment.

Timeline

This role will posted until Friday, February 27. Candidate screening will begin scheduling immediately with interviews continuing until the role is filled.

How to Apply

Please apply via Handshake or submit your resume via email to Mickey Pearson: mickey@apexgetsbusiness.com