The internship program offers apprenticeships where interns shadow substation and relay technicians and engineering associates. By bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world application, the program introduces participants to career opportunities that many may not have been exposed to or previously considered.

“The program’s impact extends beyond technical training,” said Anthony Tamporello, area substation supervisor and program facilitator. “Hearing the interns explain how their classroom learning connects to their on-site experiences confirms the program’s meaningful impact. It is incredibly rewarding to guide the next generation of engineers and technicians and to witness their growth.”

Interns Brandon Robertson and Carl Harris are among those benefiting from the program. This semester, the apprentices shadowed professional relay technicians and mechanics, gaining invaluable hands-on experience. Next semester, they will continue their training by working alongside engineering associates. This comprehensive approach allows interns to explore various roles and determine the best fit for their skills and interests.

“This program presents me with career opportunities that I did not know about,” said Brandon Robertson, an1881 Internship program participant. “This transformative experience has given me the chance to shift gears and learn about work that is meaningful to me. I know now that I want to be a substation mechanic, and I will work hard in this program to achieve my goal.”

Through this partnership, Entergy New Orleans and the 1881 Internship Program are shaping a more diverse workforce while providing participants with a pathway to fulfilling careers.

Meet Priscilla Rodriguez, a procurement intern at Entergy Texas. She’s from Spring, Texas, majors in supply chain management, and is entering her junior year at the University of Houston.��

Landing this internship at the end of her sophomore year, Priscilla was excited to get hands-on experience in supply chain management and prepare for concepts she’ll learn in school this upcoming semester.

“My experience as an intern at Entergy Texas emphasized the importance of communication and not being afraid to ask questions,” said Priscilla. “I now feel more empowered when working on projects with teams at school or in professional settings.”

This summer, Priscilla worked alongside members of the procurement and supply chain organization, identifying root causes and recommending potential solutions to challenges regarding at-risk and long-lead materials.

She also visited various sites, such as the Sabine Power Plant and New Orleans Power Station, where she gained insight on how both facilities are critical in delivering power to Entergy customers.

Additionally, she partnered with five other procurement and supply chain interns to implement artificial intelligence in the company’s strategic sourcing process.

“Our capital projects portfolio is growing at a rapid pace, and securing the needed long-lead equipment is critical to the success of these projects,” said Cade Clanton, sustainable generation and supply chain manager at Entergy. “Having Priscilla come in with fresh eyes, giving her perspective on our processes and offering implementable solutions has been great to see.” 

In her spare time, Priscilla enjoys collecting vinyl records, watching movies, and traveling.

The provides students and recent graduates with an opportunity to jump-start their careers, maximize their work experience, and create a pathway for possible full-time employment.��

This pipeline for entry-level talent has produced more than 550 full-time Entergy employees in the past five years.

Meet Camila Gutierrez, a procurement intern at Entergy Texas. She’s from Guadalajara, Mexico, majors in supply chain management, and is entering her senior year at the University of Houston.��

This summer, Camila worked on the procurement and supply chain team, where she experienced an immersive learning experience by applying what she’d learned in the classroom to real life. Additionally, she collaborated with five other interns to explore the application of artificial intelligence in the strategic sourcing process, contributing to the enhancement of supplier selection, risk management, and supplier market analysis.��

When asked about what sparked her interest in pursuing supply chain as a career, she mentioned it all started with a sweet treat.��

“I remember attending a panel about someone’s career experience traveling around the world to procure cookies for a popular yogurt brand,” said Camila. “After hearing about their experience, it made me interested in supply chain and I realized how broad the opportunities were.” 

Camila’s role focused mainly on category management, which involved overseeing specific categories of products or services, maximizing value and ensuring supply chain efficiency. While she enjoyed working in that space, she says she’s open to working in as many supply chain divisions as possible.�� 

“Camila has worked well with team members and stakeholders as she builds knowledge in the utility industry,” said Neal Laskoskie, category management manager at Entergy Texas. “Her willingness to take on any task and positive attitude will serve her well into the future.” 

Outside of navigating her journey on supply chain management excellence, she enjoys cooking, baking and spending time with her golden retriever, Luna.�� 

�ճ���� provides students and recent graduates with an opportunity to jump-start their careers, maximize their work experience, and create a pathway for possible full-time employment.�� 

This pipeline for entry-level talent has produced more than 550 full-time Entergy employees in the past five years.��

Learn more about our .��

During his welcome message, focused on our growth opportunities and outlook for a better future. Marsh encouraged interns to take ownership of their career paths by committing to their time at Entergy and using this experience to grow their talents.

For the second consecutive year, Calvin Mackie, founder of , was a featured guest speaker. In addition to emphasizing the importance of real-world experience and critical networking connections, he encouraged interns to use every opportunity to invest in themselves, develop their skills and gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. “Never forget: Be present and know, teachability is more important than availability!” Mackie said.

During a session with former interns who are now Entergy employees, Jonathan Cheeks, engineer, and Michelle Bourg, vice president, customer service, shared insights and advice. Cheeks advised interns to get involved and share personal perspectives, while Bourg highlighted the importance of diverse backgrounds and the vast opportunities within the company to move both laterally and upward to gain experience.

Interns also completed an action learning session designed to foster collaboration and design-thinking. Divided into 18 multi-disciplinary teams, students were charged with creating a Rube Golberg machine tied to financial forecasting and procurement. (Rube Goldberg machines are chain reaction–type contraptions intentionally designed to perform a simple task in an indirect and overly complicated way.) The collaboration allowed interns to explore a variety of concepts, including basic physics, design and cause and effect.

“Never forget: Be present and know, teachability is more important than availability!”

– Calvin Mackie, founder of STEM NOLA

Other orientation activities included a dinner and team-buillding at Fulton Alley, as well as a volunteer event in partnership with to pack 400 hurricane preparedness bags and 1,500 laundry kits.

The Entergy Intern Program provides students and recent graduates with an opportunity to jump start their careers and maximize their work experience while creating a pathway for possible full-time employment. This pipeline for entry-level talent has produced more than 550 full-time Entergy employees in the past five years.

Our workforce development team engages with multiple disciplines and levels at schools with diverse populations to recruit top talent. Opportunities range from internships to co-ops for students and full-time for recent graduates.��

“The purpose of the Know Your Power program is for students to understand their strengths and interests and how these align with careers at Entergy,” said Sumesh Arora, Entergy New Orleans’ Program Manager, Diversity & Workforce Strategies. “By expanding the program, teachers are able to shadow employees across various departments and learn about career opportunities in the power industry, enabling them to better educate their students about these possibilities.”

The program brought five experienced teachers from Orleans Parish schools into our facilities for a two-day job-shadowing experience. These educators had the opportunity to dive into the intricacies of our operations, gain an understanding of the diversity of careers available in our industry, and witness the dynamic work environment cultivated at Entergy New Orleans.

“Putting teachers into a shadowing experience is extremely important,” said Lauren Stendahl, the Director of Partnerships and Impact at JAGNO. “Through the Know Your Power Program, teachers have the ability to impact hundreds of students by exposing them to high-wage, high-demand career opportunities.”

The feedback from the teachers was overwhelmingly positive. They expressed appreciation for the experience and gained valuable insights to pass along to their students. Their enthusiasm underscores the success of the program and its impact on our local educational community.

“Teachers are the conduits that link students to educational experiences and professional opportunities. Through this externship program, I am able to increase my knowledge of utility operations and introduce my students to new and exciting professions in the energy sector,” said Corchenelle Jones, extern and teacher with Inspire NOLA Charter Schools.

Looking ahead, we are excited to welcome six high school students in late June 2024 to our summer internship program. These internships are designed not only to educate students about career opportunities in the energy sector, but also to help us develop a local and diverse talent pipeline.

We are incredibly grateful for the support and collaboration of our partners, Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans and YouthForce NOLA, and for our dedicated team who made this program possible. Together, we are making strides in empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators in our community.

Twenty students from Jackson State University, Prairie View A&M University, Tuskegee University, Southern University and Tennessee State University received stipends from event sponsors to travel to the summit and compete for scholarships, internships and careers upon graduation.

“We had a mix between computer science, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering students. It’s getting bigger and better every year,” said Brandiace McGuire, manager of Entergy Arkansas Customer Service Support who served as an ACES liaison for the company.

During the three-day event, students heard from representatives from the various event sponsors and presenters, including executives from Entergy Arkansas, MISO, SPP, ERCOT, PJM and the Arkansas Chapter of AABE (American Association of Blacks in ���ϳԹ���).

They also participated in a case study competition, in which they had to create a power resource plan to reduce emissions by 2030 and 2050 by using a mixture of fossil fuel and renewable resources.

The Jackson State University team won the competition, taking home $3,000 in prize money. In addition to their winnings, team members said they gained valuable experience and connections that will extend through their career.

“The ACES experience was nothing short of spectacular. From the moment of arriving, I felt very welcomed and well taken care of,” said Ka’Pri Burden, computer science honors student at Jackson State. “The atmosphere itself really enhanced the experience — seeing people who look like me, really wanting to push me to be better, challenge me and put me into an environment where I can thrive and grow. It was really great.”

Fellow classmate Darian Colligan agreed.

“I got to learn more about the industry, network with students from surrounding HBCUs and land my first internship. I am truly grateful for the opportunity, and I will be an eternal advocate for the program,” she said.

At the end of the event, several students received full-time job offers upon graduation with salaries of more than $90,000 a year, while others were granted internships. In addition, all 20 attendees were awarded scholarships to continue their education.

McGuire said the event was a success and that they have plans to grow the program even more in the future.

“This means a lot to not only HBCUs but also the students, because they have true access,” she said. “They have access to more than just the industry, they now have a network of mentors they can go to in the future.”

Six GSU students are participating in the year-long internship and were assigned a specific project as well as a mentor from Entergy. Not only will the program give them hands-on experience working on real-world IT projects at a Fortune 500 company, but it will also help them develop soft skills such as resume writing and interviewing for jobs. They will also build skills in design thinking, storytelling, data visualization and project management.

“The strength of Grambling State University’s partnerships with companies like Accenture and Entergy lies in their transformative ability to illuminate the path to a brighter future,” said Grambling State University President Rick Gallot. “Together, we empower students with opportunities and, in doing so, forge a workforce that will shape the world’s tomorrow.”

“Young people in the communities we serve are our future teachers, utility workers, and even technology and innovation leaders, and by providing them with real-world experiences through programs like Level Up, we provide real opportunities for success right here in Louisiana,” said Phillip May, Entergy Louisiana president and CEO.

During an initial meeting with company representatives and interns, Michael Rhymes, Entergy chief information officer, welcomed interns to Entergy and provided them information on the internship program, various IT departments at the company and the work they would be participating in.

“Our partnership with Grambling State University and Accenture helps us invest in our community while also building a stronger, more diverse IT workforce for the future,” Rhymes said.

The Level Up program provides students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Hispanic Serving Institutes an opportunity to develop skills in innovation and technology and network with those who work in the field. The Level Up program seeks to address the under-representation of minorities in the technology and innovation workforce.

At the end of July, five rising seniors from New Orleans high schools completed our Know Your Power High School Internship pilot program. In partnership with YouthForce NOLA, the five-week program underscored our commitment to diversity and inclusion by helping the students understand their strengths and interests while familiarizing them with the various functional areas of Entergy and reinforcing workplace skills.

“I pulled my team together to really think about how we can do things differently to pull folks in from the local community and give them the opportunity to see behind the curtain and understand what opportunities in our company are out there for them,” said Steven Benyard, vice president, reliability.

The interns, who went through a rigorous application process with YouthForce NOLA, completed four weeks of soft-skills training prior to beginning their internships in June.

“Expanding options, opportunity and prosperity for our youth and city takes us all, working together, said Sarah Bell, chief of industry and exposure at YouthForce NOLA. “We are grateful to Entergy for its leadership in hosting five YouthForce NOLA interns this summer as part of the Know Your Power initiative. The Entergy team generously gave their time and talent to these young people, helping them grow the skills and know-how needed to be ready to step into great jobs after high school.”

Upon starting at Entergy, students learned about skill crafts and trades that are important to careers in energy. They also worked on STEM projects that focused on power delivery and power generation. The internship also covered business topics – like ideation, customer service, marketing and accounting – as well as communications, legal and regulatory topics. Interviewing, problem solving and hands-on team building activities were also a part of the curriculum.

“As long as you have the want to and the willingness, the sky’s the limit in terms of where you can aspire to be at Entergy,” said Shelton Hudson, director, reliability. “Entergy helps to develop you to grow and be with the company.”

Each of the five students had a different focus area: distribution engineering, customer service, power delivery, public affairs and electrical leadership and management. A capstone presentation at the end of the program provided the interns a chance to present their learnings and final deliverables to a group of our company’s leaders.

“After spending time with Entergy, I realized that you aren’t just powering life, but you showed me that I can power my own life to go all around the world,” said Phabien Ferrand, distribution engineering intern and student at Landry College and Career Preparatory High School. “Actually, I take away some key skills, so now I’m moving forward when I’m in school to work on my communication skills, time management and problem solving for my classwork.”

In addition to a certificate of completion, updated resume and LinkedIn profile, each of the interns walked away with a roster of new contacts at Entergy and the promise of semiannual follow-ups from the diversity and workforce strategies team. Those follow-ups will continue until post-secondary graduation.

“Someone was willing to invest in me to show me all the different opportunities that are out there, and that’s all that I’m looking to do – to hopefully inspire kids and open their eyes to see that there’s so much out there in terms of careers,” Hudson said. “You can be working right here in your community and doing great things for the community.”

Other high schools represented by the interns were Livingston Collegiate Academy, Warren Easton Charter, Einstein: Sarah T. Reed, and Edna Carr.

Meet Kenneth Thompson, a supply chain intern at Entergy. He’s from Katy, Texas, and just started his senior year at the University of Houston.

Kenneth has always had an interest in business operations, specifically supply chain. A supply chain includes every step that is involved in getting a finished product or service to the customer. Kenneth says he knew he picked the right career path after seeing just how essential supply chain management was during the COVID-19 pandemic.��

“I knew I wanted to study business and decided to major in supply chain because of how important it is for companies,” said Kenneth. “I also wanted to be able to work with different companies that acted as both suppliers and customers.”

While searching for internships, Entergy caught Kenneth’s eye because the company services the Gulf Coast region, and he enjoyed the idea of working in the area where he grew up. He also liked that the opportunity would allow him to gain experience and learn about the energy and utility industry.��

During his internship at Entergy, Kenneth was part of the sustainable generation supply chain team, and his role was to create a market overview and sourcing strategy for wind energy.

“Working with Kenneth over the course of the last two months has been a great experience for me and our sustainable generation team,” said Cade Clanton, manager of sustainable generation for supply chain at Entergy. “Kenneth brought energy and eagerness to the table and quickly jumped into a very challenging project that involved working with our power development organization to structure a sourcing strategy for wind resources. He was able to present his work to many members of the power development leadership team and received high accolades. His project will be the foundation that we will continue to build on as we expand our presence in wind energy.”

Along with making his mark at Entergy, Kenneth learned the importance of networking.

“Everyone you meet has knowledge and experience that you don’t, so make sure to talk to everyone you can.”

Kenneth is expected to graduate from The University of Houston in December 2023. Afterwards, he plans to obtain a full-time position at a major energy company in Houston.��

In his spare time, Kenneth enjoys watching movies, spending time with friends, and trying new restaurants. He especially has a liking for Cajun style fried seafood!

Thanks for all your hard work and bright ideas, Kenneth!

As they wrap up their employment with Entergy Arkansas, they head back to college with some new skills and a new outlook on their futures and the company. Special thanks to their mentors: Pamela Brown, Kendra Jones and Sherita Taylor.

Meet the interns, who answered a few questions from corporate communications. Based on their answers, their futures look bright indeed!

Brian Gittens

What is your hometown and what high school did you graduate from?
I am originally from Arlington, Virginia, but I have been living in Arkansas for the last four years. I graduated from Little Rock Christian Academy High School.

What college do you attend, what is your major and when do you expect to graduate?
I currently attend Hendrix College in Conway, where I am a sophomore Politics major. I intend on graduating with my Bachelor of Social Sciences in May 2026.

Why did you choose to intern with Entergy Arkansas?
I chose to intern with Entergy Arkansas due to the honor of the opportunity provided. Entergy is a Fortune 500 company that powers life for 3 million customers through operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. To be able to intern at a corporation with that magnitude looks great on my resume and provides me with great experience. Also, on a more personal level, I get to be in a professional setting and gain wisdom from a unique opportunity of extended exposure to tenured employees, which helps me gain insight and fill in the gaps that college won’t.

What are some of the duties you have performed during your internship?
During my summer as a Customer Service Support Intern, my two main responsibilities were handling the Net Metering Preliminary Process and the Deceased Person Process. In order to fulfill these responsibilities, I had to get familiar with the main database used in the Customer Service Support (CSS) Department in order to look up customer information, leave notes on a customer account, retrieve billing and usage numbers and close out open notifications. I also helped manage the team’s CIR inbox and mark finished tasks in our teams’ Complaint Tracker. I also got the opportunity to ride along in the field, where I observed Entergy Journeyman Meterman Jeff Daniels perform calls and repairs safely and job shadowed work management.

What are some other things you have learned that you didn’t necessarily expect during your internship?
I was surprised how interested I was in the work I was doing. As a politics major and an aspiring law student, I didn’t really think I would be so intellectually curious about the CSS Department’s work. I had worked internships in the past and used them as work experience but wasn’t very enthralled in the work itself. During this past summer, I have been engrossed in Entergy’s current and future initiatives, community outreaches and the plans to keep the employees, stakeholders and customers happy. On multiple occasions, I’ve found myself probing for deeper information and asking why, along with feeling like my work is really affecting customers in Arkansas.

What do you hope to do upon graduation and how has this internship prepared you?
Upon graduation, I’d like to go into law school and obtain my JD degree. I have talked to lawyers in Arkansas, and they’ve said the biggest difference between the people they’ve hired and the people they’ve declined was communication and office etiquette. Everyone is smart and qualified leaving law school, but those who have experience working in an office environment and working in a professional team get the edge. This applies to not just getting into the door but performing better and being a more valued employee. Through my time in the Customer Service Support Department, I have gotten to practice these skills, be a team member, learn how to navigate in an office setting and pay attention to detail in order to be a solid and dependable asset to the team.

Anything else you’d like to add?
I am a proud recipient of the Oscar Washington Jr. Scholarship, which is given in honor of the late Entergy Arkansas vice president.��I appreciate the CSS team for being so accommodating and making this a positive experience. They were patient, wise and willing to help throughout my entire summer.

Madison Mobley

What is your hometown and what high school did you graduate from?
I am a proud native of Little Rock, Arkansas, and a 2022 graduate of Joe T. Robinson High School.

What college do you attend, what is your major and when do you expect to graduate?
I now attend Spelman College located in Atlanta, Georgia, where I am a rising sophomore English major, with intentions of graduating with my Bachelor of Arts in May 2026.

Why did you choose to intern with Entergy Arkansas?
I chose to intern with Entergy Arkansas to provide myself with the opportunity to immerse myself in the history and goals of an influential company, such as Entergy, while also taking advantage of an opportunity to spend my summer back at home. I believed that interning with Entergy Arkansas would help me learn how to conduct myself in a professional setting, while also allowing me to network with hard workers from my community. Furthermore, I thought that interning with Entergy Arkansas would help me continue to develop myself individually, as I continue to explore different areas of work that pique my interest, as well as suit my abilities.

What are some of the duties you have performed during your internship?
In my role as a Customer Service Support intern, I have primarily spent my time conducting the Net ���ϳԹ��� Metering and Deceased Persons processes. Through my introductions to these processes, I have successfully learned how to navigate the CCS platform to complete several tasks, including looking up customer billing histories, closing tickets, changing customer information based on customer feedback and issuing move outs. I have also helped ensure that the notifications in specialized email inboxes remain minimal. Most importantly, my main duty during my internship was to accomplish the goal I made for myself, in which I would be helpful and teachable in order to help the CSS group in any way that was needed.

What are some other things you have learned that you didn’t necessarily expect during your internship?
During my internship, I did not expect to develop a passion for the ever-evolving climate of the utility industry, nor did I expect to develop such strong relationships with the individuals in the Customer Service Support group here at Entergy Arkansas. I was also surprised to learn how much of an importance our corporation places on volunteering in the community; it truly warmed my heart to learn that the company I was working for not only wanted to help me be my best, but also finds it equally as important to help those in the community be their best as well. As I sadly reach the conclusion of my internship, one of the most intriguing lessons I am left with about Entergy Arkansas is their relentless passion to continue to elevate themselves, a passion that consumes all the departments at this company, which helps them to continue to play a prominent role in the community

What do you hope to do upon graduation and how has this internship prepared you?
Upon graduation, I hope to enroll in law school, to make my childhood dream of becoming a lawyer a reality. Because of my exposure to a new realm during my internship, I now believe that I would like to explore my options as a Corporate or Regulatory (Utility) attorney, in order to continue my work with my Entergy family. I was able to spend time with Sr. Legal Counsel Jana Law this summer to learn more about her role and how it ties into my interests. I also received an opportunity to job shadow work management and Customer Service Manager Katrina Brown. Through my time in the Customer Service department, I have acquired more confidence in myself as a speaker, writer and team player, as this summer pushed me to pay more attention to details in order to perform efficiently and contribute positively to my team.

Anything else you’d like to add?
My summer with Entergy Arkansas has influenced my life, both professionally and personally, as my new experiences have helped me grow as an individual. I look forward to seeing where my future takes me and hopefully Entergy is included in that future!