Participation in After 5 Detroit's Intern Program is up 33 percent this year, bringing several hundred new interns to downtown Detroit this summer.
The After 5 Intern Program kicked off its third year last week, welcoming 800 new interns working for more than 20 downtown Detroit-based companies. Those numbers are up from 600 interns last year, largely thanks to some big names joining the program.
"We had several new companies come on board," says
Kerry Doman, CEO & founder of
After 5 Detroit. "One of the new companies is Chrysler, which has 400 interns."
The After 5 Intern Program consists of six events throughout the summer that showcase the vibrant, urban lifestyle in Detroit's greater downtown area. The idea is to help persuade more talented young people to live, work and play in Detroit. This year's events include a loft party where they can meet other young professionals that live downtown, a Detroit bus tour and restaurant crawls and a dinner with Detroit-based executives.
At last year's closing event, the then CEO of DTE Energy gave a speech and stuck around to glad hand the interns. The personal touch proved to be the most popular part of the evening. "All of the interns flocked to the stage to meet him," Doman says. "It showed us that all of the interns don't get the opportunity to meet the top executives at their companies."
After 5 Detroit is a lifestyle company that helps integrate young people to living, working and playing in Detroit's greater downtown area. It employs four people, including two new additions to its staff over the last year.
Source: Kerry Doman, CEO & founder of After 5 Detroit
Writer: Jon Zemke
Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.
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