Summer at JV Manufacturing: Student Interns Learn Manufacturing Careers

This summer, JV Manufacturing welcomed a talented group of student interns and co-ops for the 2026 season. From high school students to college students and recent graduates, each participant had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in manufacturing, explore a variety of technologies, develop new skills, and learn alongside JVM’s experienced professionals.

Read below to hear directly from our interns and co-ops as they share their experiences and what they learned during their time at JV Manufacturing.

Learning by Doing at JV Manufacturing

There’s no substitute for hands-on experience. Students in our summer program don’t just observe from the sidelines. They actively participate in the manufacturing process, applying what they learn while gaining real-world experience in the industry.

Based on their interests, educational background, and previous experience, students are placed in the JV Manufacturing department that best aligns with their goals. Opportunities span across our organization, including manufacturing, administration, maintenance, and IT, giving students hands-on experience in a variety of career paths.

Participating students included:

• Kasey Bowser: College, class of 2027, IT
• Anna Brown: College, class of 2028, Apprentice Tool & Die Maker
• Isiacc Brown: High School, Co-Op Press Operator
• Anthony Bruno: 2026 College Graduate, PEM Engineer
• Asa Connolly: 2026 High School Graduate, Maintenance
• Braden Fischer: College, class of 2029, Compliance
• Aaron Holm: High School, Co-op Press Operator
• Alisher Karimov: High School, Cop-Press Operator
• Evelyn Lawler: 2026 High School Graduate, Apprentice Tool & Die Maker
• Cheyenne Skursky: High School, Apprentice Tool & Die Maker
• Rocco Vecchi: Junior High School, WEDM and Grinding
• Kaylee Yanovich: College, class of 2027, Finance

Every student’s experience at JV Manufacturing is unique, but they all have one thing in common. They learn by doing. Whether they’re returning for multiple summers or joining us for the first time, each student has the opportunity to build practical skills while contributing to meaningful projects across our organization.

Several students have been part of the JV Manufacturing team for years. After completing three internships with us, Anthony officially joined JVM full-time this June. Kasey has been with JVM since high school through job shadowing and internships, spending the past four years gaining valuable experience while contributing to new controller builds in our IT department.

Others are using their internships to prepare for the next step in their education and careers. Braden is building experience in our Compliance Department while working toward future certification requirements. Rocco is developing practical engineering skills in our Manufacturing Department before beginning his engineering coursework. Kaylee is gaining real-world business experience by supporting ERP initiatives in our Finance Department, giving her a head start as she prepares for a career after college.

After meeting Alisher at one of our open houses, we knew his professional behavior and positive attitude would be a great addition to the JVM team’s summer program.

Each student came away with a different highlight from their internship. For Kasey, one of the most rewarding aspects was working on active customer projects. He had the opportunity to contribute to our project on programmable die technology.

For Braden, the most rewarding part was the trust JV placed in him. After receiving guidance on a project, he was free to evaluate different solutions, weigh their pros and cons, and determine the best path forward. The opportunity to make meaningful decisions gave him confidence and helped him grow both technically and professionally.

Guidance from JVM’s Experienced Team 

Throughout the summer, students received one-on-one mentorship from experienced employees at JV Manufacturing, helping them build practical skills, confidence, and a better understanding of what a career in manufacturing looks like.

For many students, those relationships have developed over several years. Asa has been with JVM for three years, learning from our experienced team while contributing to building and grounds projects throughout his high school years. Evelyn spent the summer working alongside our manufacturing team, gaining hands-on experience that supports her goal of becoming an engineer. She also had the opportunity to gain mentorship experience herself by working with the local high school’s robotics team. Anna’s internship provided valuable real-world manufacturing engineering experience as she prepares to return to college.

For some students, the link to JV manufacturing began long before their internship, with many having family members who are proud members of the JVM team. Cheyenne followed in the footsteps of her parent, Jesse, from our Tool & Die Department, while Isaicc was inspired by his stepfather, longtime JVM employee Nate Regan. Their family connections gave them an inside look at the supportive culture that makes JV Manufacturing a great place to learn and build skills.

While gaining practical experience with programmable die technology, JV Intern Kasey also received mentorship from Jared in the IT department, who has over 20 years of industry experience. Learning from such an experienced professional helped him quickly broaden his skills and knowledge.

Rocco especially valued the opportunity to learn from Matt Hirtz and Brandon Morhac, whose mentorship provided valuable guidance throughout his internship and helped him build his technical skills.

Mentoring the Next Generation at JV Manufacturing

At JV Manufacturing, we’ve always believed in investing in our community and the next generation of manufacturing professionals. By providing students with opportunities to learn and grow in a real manufacturing environment, we’re helping them build the skills, confidence, and experience they’ll carry into their future careers.

Just as important, our experienced team members play a vital role in that journey. By sharing their knowledge and mentoring students through hands-on learning, they help prepare the next generation of skilled professionals. There’s simply no substitute for learning from people with real-world experience.