The Intern Diaries (S2E10): Chicken Soup for the Intern’s Soul

Week 10 is the reason for the teardrops on my laptop. We’ve reached the end of the internship program! Before you storm out in utter disgust (although I support the drama), stay with me one more time as we navigate through the interns’ last days at Hightower. I’ve jam-packed this post with lots of fluff and comforting words to soften the blow. It’s like ASMR, but all in your head. So lay back, put on some smooth jazz, sip your favorite tea and let us paint you a pretty picture of Week 10.

A Happy Little Hackathon

As previously mentioned, the interns had their final project presentations this week. It was held in the board room for extra pizazz, but our masterpieces-in-the-making were calm, cool and collected. Each group got to present their findings with a 10-minute deck and then took turns in the hot seat for some Q&A. Executive leadership and managers were able to ask about their solutions and inquire as to what else would improve the Hightower experience for all. Little do they know the answer is simply “a designated nap room for after lunch.”

Hackathon observer and actual artist Natalie Kirst (her real title is graphic designer) said, “I was impressed with the level of detail that went into the hackathon presentations! You could tell the interns did their research and dove deep into their topics. I was only going to stay for one, but I was so interested that I ended up staying for all four.” I can relate; sometimes I commit myself to only one episode of Love Island and then, suddenly, it’s midnight. It’s called work/life balance, people.

The interns also gained a lot from working together with people they don’t normally interact with on a day-to-day basis. Part-time marketing intern/full-time angel goddess Yadahris Rosario said, “During the hackathon project, I found it fun to work with my peers on a common goal. It was the only assignment we had as a group!” They should all be proud of their hard work. I think each and every intern has earned one (1) uninterrupted afternoon of curling up with a good book/video game/cat with a glass of wine/beer/La Croix while the rain pitter-patters on the window outside.

Love Letters from Hightower

A naïve person once said, “Don’t cry it’s over, smile it happened!” But we are going to embrace that sentiment today and remember all the good times. I asked the interns’ managers to write some kind words, a digital snap cup if you will. It’s like a warm hug from grandma before you get on the bus to school. Embrace all the love; you deserve it!

For Caleb Carlson

“Caleb has been absolutely amazing and instrumental in some great hires for the firm. I hope that he has learned as much here at Hightower as I have learned from him.” – Brandy LeCoure

For Will Miltenberger

“Will was awesome to have at Hightower this summer on the tax team! He’s a very energetic and hardworking individual that was an asset in helping the team for the past two months. I know he will succeed at IU the rest of his time there. He’s a great co-worker, but even better person.” – Kevin Linne

For Joe Daw

“Joe was an amazing help this summer and our team will miss him! He is always eager to learn and contribute to projects, and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors!” – Amanda Tran

“Joe was an outstanding addition to the team this summer. Hard working and professional, he was quickly entrusted with a high degree of autonomy and consistently performed at a high level.” – Mark Boyle

For Ashley Baka

“Ashley consistently demonstrated professionalism and respect in her interactions. She maintained a positive attitude and became a valuable team player in the short period of time she was with us. I have no doubt that Ashley will excel in all her future endeavors and achieve remarkable success. I wish her all the very best!” – Hiba Chaudhry

For Kristopher Sweringen & Sean Danks

“Kris and Sean are both top notch and have bright futures ahead. Thanks to both of them for their quality work, dedication and keeping things fun in the office this summer!” –Jordan Wolff

For Caroline Ji

“My favorite meetings this summer were my 1:1s with Caroline. When I would ask her perspective on a particular topic or project, she would consistently respond with an enthusiastic breath of optimism and a declaration of “I have a lot of thoughts!” Caroline’s intellectual curiosity, combined with her strong work ethic, quickly transformed her into a valuable asset for our Advisor Engagement team. Her positive energy is contagious, and I am genuinely excited to see where she goes – and where she brings her insightful thoughts – next. They will be very lucky!” – Alex Zanetti

For Cole Kitchens

“Cole has been such an amazing member to our team!! He really rolled up his sleeves and took initiative on projects this summer, I am so excited to see what he accomplishes!” – Natalie Wheeler

For Ethan Hammond

“Ethan has been a valuable asset within the private markets team. Our projects, including software integration, fund and market research, third-party platform analysis, CLEAR presentations and the private markets security master were core tasks that were a great benefit to our team.” – Robert Picard

For Sydney Lapper

“It has been a real pleasure working with and getting to know Sydney. From her tenacious data gathering to keeping us on track with SOPs…. she’s been awesome! We hope to see her come back in 2024!!” – Ryan Primrose

For Evan Echlin

“Evan is a team-player and a fast learner, with a great attitude to boot (and his “Excel Kung Fu” skills are strong)! His contributions to our department and projects, in just the short time that he was with us, were immense. It was a pleasure to have him on the team!” – Dan Gilfand

For Carter Lazarski

“We greatly appreciate all Carter’s help and hard work over the summer. He was an asset to our team! I hope we can work together in the future, and that he doesn’t forget about us in cold Chicago while he’s in Tampa!” – Trevor Lipsett          

For Jack James

“I want to thank Jack for his hard work this summer. His assistance on the audit and broker-dealer processing was beyond helpful. We very much appreciate his willingness to jump right in. I hope he enjoys his junior year!” –  Jennifer Landgraf

For Sam Randman

“Sam was an awesome addition to our team this summer! His positive attitude and willingness to jump in and help was very appreciated!” – MC Magner

For Hemali Bulsara

“It was a pleasure working with Hemali and getting to know her. She made great contributions to the team with the limited time she was given. I wish her success in her future endeavors, and I hope our paths cross again.” – Muzammil Ali

For Bernardo Sanchez

“Bernardo is an absolute rockstar. I’m excited to follow his journey and learn about the amazing things he is destined to go on and do in his life. I hope he stays curious and keeps asking questions. It is an amazing quality. One of these days I’ll catch him on the pitch for a pickup soccer game.” – Mussaab Hussain

For Ashleigh Szydlowski

“Ashleigh was incredibly helpful this summer assisting in integrating all the newly acquired firms from a finance lens. She was always eager to jump into any task or project and consistently asked thought-provoking questions to ensure she understood the why and how she was adding value. I am so excited to see what the future holds for Ashleigh, and I wish her all the best!  PS – Have the best time studying abroad in Scotland next spring!” — Taylor Koplow

For Reagan Towers

“Reagan is an absolute star! She is an amazing designer and person; I don’t know how I got so lucky to have such a great intern. 😄 She’s going to go far!” – Natalie Kirst

For Yadahris Rosario

“We are incredibly lucky to have had Yada on the marketing team! From her social media savvy to willingness to learn and tackle any project, she’s a joy to work with. I can’t wait to see all she accomplishes in her college career — anyone who gets to work with her knows she is going to do great things!” – Hannah Cougill

For Ethen Fagerland
“Ethen has been a great addition to the Risk team! He drove all the way from Illinois to New York [for this internship], and he brings great curiosity and eagerness to learn with him. His enthusiasm and willingness to contribute haven’t gone unnoticed and the team appreciates his presence. Thank you, Ethen!” – Tiara Talenta

For Josey Hackemack

“Josey was able to jump in with our acquisition integration team and make a big impact.  We’re so glad she was able to spend her summer with us.” –  Bryan Jaffe

For William Aylesworth

“We really enjoyed having William on our Expense team. Everyone he encountered had nothing but positive things to say! William had a great attitude, was willing to learn and asked great questions. He was a big help on some projects that had been on the backburner, and we appreciated the help.” – Michelle Jefferson

For Angel Serrato

“Angel was a great addition to our team this summer! He was enthusiastic to learn new technologies and immediately put that knowledge into practice.” – Michael Conolly

For Robert Yun

“Robert went beyond the call of duty this Summer! He completed three projects using three technologies he’d never worked with before — and he did so with flying colors. We hope to see him again at Hightower!” – Ken Roberts

For Alex Varady

“Alex made an instant impact improving our business from Day 1 and never looked back. His willingness to learn and help no matter the project was infectious and overall was a great member of our team.” – Jeff Brown

For Patrick Helfrich

“Patrick was a great addition to our team this summer! He was eager to jump right into work and brought this energy and passion with him in every meeting and interaction. Patrick’s assistance with talent management projects this summer has been invaluable and allowed our team to successfully operate at a higher level than we were able to before. Patrick’s hard work and dedication has been integral to the success of our team and projects this summer. He thoughtfully listened and was able to come to the table with well-researched solutions and proposals. We were able to banter back and forth and build off each other’s ideas and finalize a strong work product that added so much value to our team and projects!” – Kate Cassidy       

For Jack Hughes

“It was a joy having Jack as an intern this year! I enjoyed managing him in this internship experience and getting the opportunity to know him as a person; he is a true gem! I hope this internship was everything he imagined and more. I wish him well with his fall semester!” – Valerie Moore

For Sarah Welch

“Sarah, I wanted to express my gratitude for your incredible contributions to our team. Your dedication, enthusiasm and hard work have left a remarkable impact on the Talent Development team. Beyond your professional achievements, you are a fantastic person, and we are fortunate to have you at Hightower. Thank you for your valuable presence and the positivity you bring to our team. Excited to see what the future has in store.” – Joe Loyer

For Matt Snell

“It was great having Matt as part of the M&A team this summer! We particularly loved seeing the partnership between him and the FP&A intern, Sam, as they worked through a project together for both teams. Can’t wait to see what Matt has in store as he heads into his final semester! Good luck, Matt!” – Amanda Manfredi

If you need something to quell those tears, imagine a bunch of Corgis chasing butterflies along the English countryside. All better!

The Joys of Interning with Bob O-Ross

Bob has been following the interns’ journey since the start of the program. Bob Oros, Hightower Chairman & CEO that is. From the first intern breakfast to the final presentation, he has helped them along the way by providing infinite wisdom and encouragement. Bob had this to say about the 2023 intern class: “As we come to the end of our internship program, I can’t help but reflect on the incredible journey I’ve witnessed from the very beginning. It’s been a privilege watching these talented individuals grow, learn and contribute to our company. The end of this chapter marks the beginning of theirs, and I am genuinely excited to see the bright futures they’ll shape. I’ve always been passionate about fostering connections and encouraging people to seek out mentors and I have no doubt that our interns have built lasting relationships during their time at Hightower that will guide them towards success.”

Nothing but kind words from this artist…maybe he could have his own PBS show too. Call the networks!

And with that, the time has come to close the curtains and take down the sticky notes. On behalf of all of us here at Hightower, good luck and happy working!