AKC Summer Interns

Allison Johnston
My time at the American Kennel Club was well spent. I had the opportunity to meet people from all aspects of dogs and learn the many facets of the AKC. My foundation, the Canine Health Foundation, is funding a multitude of projects with results that will be of great interest to all dog enthusiasts. My project was to create a database of doctors to review grant proposals. Every project that is received by the Canine Health Foundation has to be peer reviewed to ensure that funding is spent wisely. My work has created a source to search for reviewers based on their expertise with canine health. Implementation of this database has allowed for faster reviewing. I would recommend this internship to anyone who was interested. Everyone is very welcoming and appreciative of the interns work. The opportunity to witness the business side of dog shows and the many areas that the American Kennel Club supports was eye opening. I take great memories and experiences with me from my summer internship.

Megan Mybeck
The AKC Summer Intern Program is a great way for juniors in the sport to get relevant work experience while being surrounded by individuals who are not only knowledgeable about their field but are also passionate about purebred dogs. The program immerses the interns in projects that interest and challenge them, while giving the interns new perspectives on how complex an organization the AKC really is. The American Kennel Club has a department for every interest, from Legislation to Communication, and Finance to the Executive Office. This experience is valuable to the intern both professionally and as an exhibitor. I had the additional adventure of living in a college dorm and having a roommate for the first time. Combined, the eight-week internship made for a memorable time, one I will not soon forget.

Eve Rivinus
I left Oregon for North Carolina not really knowing what to expect. Would I like the people? Would the job be fun? Would the weather be awful? Once I arrived, though, I almost immediately knew that my two month internship at the AKC would be lots of fun. I met lots of really wonderful people and, despite all the rain, enjoyed Raleigh as well. I also discovered that those of us in the fancy really have no idea what goes on at the AKC. We live our lives enjoying AKC events and don't realize everything that goes into making this organization what it is. I strongly recommend that anyone interested in the sport of dogs at least tour the office. Anyone who can, should definitely pursue an internship as well. It's a wonderful experience and will help you learn much more about the dog show world.

Kristy Siefkin
It has been my honor and pleasure to work with the talented, intelligent and passionate AKC staff over the past year. As an intern to the Public Relations Department during the summer and fall of 2003 and as an intern to our AKC President and CEO, Dennis Sprung in the summer of 2004, I acquired a tremendous body of knowledge about the organization and developed a business skill set that I know will serve me well as I enter the work world.

My experiences as an AKC intern have varied tremendously, from writing press releases for the ACE award to serving as spokeswoman for the NC Responsible Dog Ownership Day Event, to developing marketing plans to surveying AKC's external revenue history. In each endeavor I have undertaken, my skills as a writer, public speaker and creative thinker have been challenged. I look forward to watching the AKC continue to grow and thrive in the years to come. The people and programs of the AKC will always hold a special place in my career history as well as in my heart.

New York interns with President Dennis Sprung: Emily Bisso, Kristy Siefkin, Michelle Gross and Megan Mybeck.	NC Interns with COO John Lyons: Whitney Meeks, Eve Rivinus, Correy Krickeberg, Allison Johnston, Peter Kubacz and Danica Burge.