Alaska’s incoming workforce gets firsthand experience through GCI internship program

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — GCI, Alaska’s largest telecommunications company, is helping usher in the next generation of the state’s workforce. Through the company’s high school internship program, Alaska teens are getting firsthand experience in supply chain and logistics, one of the nation’s fastest-growing career fields. Nearly 20 Alaska high school students have participated in the internship over the past two years.

During their internship, students have access to nearly every aspect of GCI’s complex supply chain and logistics efforts, including sourcing, purchasing, logistics, demand planning, receiving, provisioning, fulfillment and shipping.

“Our program gives students the opportunity to learn a great deal about a field with incredible opportunity that most schools don’t normally teach,” said GCI Chief Procurement Officer Dan Brogan, who created and leads the program. “Several of our interns have become full-time GCI employees, which is huge. Even if they opt for another career path outside of supply chain, we’re helping develop and build future leaders for GCI and the community at large.”

The interns’ experience isn’t limited only to the specific functions of supply chain and logistics. They also have opportunities to hone other skills that will serve them well throughout their careers.

“Entering the professional workforce is intimidating and not always intuitive,” said Brogan. “Through our program, interns are required to practice public speaking, white board presentations, how to build relationships and how to increase productivity. While we hope our interns decide to stay with GCI and pursue a career in supply chain and logistics, we’re also equipping them with important skills that will be applicable regardless of their career track.”

Students who take part in the program are paid competitive wages, starting at $16 per hour, and can participate as long as they are in high school. Brogan credits GCI’s Supply Chain hiring managers – Ashley Dries-Grell, Atina Pou, Christopher Dye, Jane Martin, Kaila Tisdel, Liana Andrews and Matt Hayes – for their key roles in recruiting nearly half of the program’s interns to become full-time GCI employees after graduating high school.

To learn more about GCI’s workforce development efforts, visit https://news.gci.com/topic/workforce-development.

About GCI

Headquartered in Alaska, GCI provides data, mobile, video, voice and managed services to consumer, business, government, and carrier customers throughout Alaska, serving more than 200 communities. The company has invested more than $4 billion in its Alaska network and facilities over the past 40 years and recently launched true standards-based 5G NR service in Anchorage, now the nation’s northernmost 5G service area. Learn more about GCI at www.gci.com. GCI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Broadband Corporation (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP). Learn more about Liberty Broadband at http://www.libertybroadband.com.