“The cool thing about my internship is that I applied what I learned in the classroom to real situations,” says Randolph-Macon College student Jonathan Heuchert ’19.

This summer, Heuchert, a business major and accounting and economics minor, was an operations management intern at the Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), one of the nation’s leading wholesale beverage alcohol distributors. Heuchert secured his internship with the help of staff from the EDGE, RMC’s four-year career preparation program.

Fast-paced days translated into Heuchert learning what it takes to run the company smoothly and efficiently. Jonathan Snell, distribution manager of the Ashland, Virginia company, served as Heuchert’s internship supervisor.

Multifaceted Training
Heuchert spent the first weeks of his internship shadowing staff from a variety of departments within RNCD’s warehouse.

“These departments perform different functions but share a common goal: to receive wine from suppliers and deliver it to grocery stores, restaurants, and other businesses,” says Heuchert, who followed his shadowing experience with management training. He spent a week overseeing inventory and large orders, a week in transportation, and a week on the night shift, which is responsible for loading trucks for delivery. Heuchert then focused on the final piece of his internship project: exploring ways to make RNCD’s online labor-management system more user-friendly for warehouse associates.

Busy Days, Bright Future
Heuchert met with Snell daily to ask questions and get advice.

“Jonathan did a great job of teaching me how to properly manage, while at the same time allowing me to learn independently,” says Heuchert. “He was always available, and I appreciate his leadership.”

Snell says internships are a way for students to glimpse many sides of a possible career path.

“Internships allow students to adjust their career plans accordingly,” says Snell. “After time spent in each department of the operation, Jonathan was able to propose new ideas to better our processes, and he learned the challenges of managing a blue-collar workforce. This was a successful endeavor on both ends, and I can see that Jonathan has a bright future either with RNDC or another area of profession.”

Hard Work + Dedication
Heuchert is a proud member of the Yellow Jacket football team and credits Coach Pedro Arruza for teaching him valuable skills that he can use both on and off the field.

“I cannot say enough about how Coach Arruza has helped me grow,” says Heuchert, a member of Phi Delta Theta, Omicron Delta Epsilon, and the 2017-18 Old Dominion Athletic Conference All-Academic Team. “What he instills in players is not just the importance of hard work and dedication. He teaches us about accountability, leadership, integrity, professionalism, and loyalty. I have learned so from Coach Arruza and the football program that will help me in every aspect of my life—now and in the future.”

RMC Internships = Real-World Experience
A vital part of the RMC experience is experiential learning. Internships offer a real-world setting for connecting academic learning with the workplace.

Internships allow students to explore a career path before committing to it; network, practice career skills, and expand learning beyond the classroom; discover interests and capabilities; and make confident choices about the future.