At Pilot, people are at the center of everything we do, which is why we are committed to our team members’ personal and professional growth. But don’t just take our word for it – read below to hear from former Pilot interns about their experiences in the internship program and how they were set up to excel as full-time team members!

Evan Hurley, senior manager, operations financial planning and analysis

Evan interned with the loyalty team in 2016 and joined Pilot full-time the following summer. Since then, he has held various roles on teams across the company.

How did your internship experience align with your career goals and aspirations?
“I’ve cherished having the chance to become more well-rounded as part of my overall experience. From learning “hard” skills (resume writing, interviewing, networking, communication) to “soft” skills (interactions with others, navigating tough conversations, etc.), my time at Pilot has provided many opportunities to grow. Through my internship, I had the chance to interact with many leaders, which helped me establish relationships I still hold close today.”

Reflecting on your internship experience, what were the biggest challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?
“I think there’s a natural learning curve that comes along with being a new intern and general navigation of the overall corporate workplace. There’s an assumption that others’ time is more valuable or that one may not feel “worthy” of higher-level leaders’ time. The awesome thing about Pilot’s company culture is that this could not be further from the truth – we all matter and are truly better together. I am grateful that I had tremendous supervisors and mentors early on who helped me understand this, and their dedication to my success really accelerated my growth potential.”

What advice would you give to current interns to make the most out of their experience?
“Mistakes are learning opportunities; you learn much more from your mistakes caused by trying something new than not trying in the first place. Also, realize that everyone is here to help, so embrace mentorship opportunities and take coaching for what it is – a chance to get better!”

Joanna Martin, senior manager, well-being and benefits

Joanna interned with the talent development team in 2017. Following her internship, she held various positions within Pilot which led her to where she is today.

What initially attracted you to Pilot’s internship program, and what made you stay?
“An internship was a requirement of my HR master’s program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I spoke to a Pilot recruiter at a job fair about available internships, but I wasn’t sure what area of HR I was interested in. I ended up interviewing with the leaders in talent development and felt like that group aligned with my passions and interests the most. Pilot’s internship program is structured in a way where I received a lot of personal and professional development, and it was great having a group of interns to learn from and share experiences with. I was also lucky to have a great manager and be surrounded by people who made sure I had an impactful experience and always felt part of the team.”

How have you grown both professionally and personally since joining Pilot?
“I really feel like I have grown up here (literally and figuratively). As a student-athlete, my time was limited; my internship at Pilot was my first “real world” experience. I have learned so much over my time here and have had the opportunity to take on several different roles that have challenged me and developed my career. One area that I feel I have really grown in is the ability to build great relationships, which helps me feel more connected to my work and the organization and provides me with great opportunities.”

What advice would you give to current interns to make the most out of their experience?
“Ask questions, take initiative and meet as many people as you can!”

Kacie Skeen, senior manager, IT service management

Kacie started as an intern with the sales team in 2015. She returned to the internship program the following year for a role with the operations excellence team before joining Pilot full-time.

What initially attracted you to Pilot’s internship program, and what made you stay?
“Pilot is a company with many opportunities for growth and learning. The amazing people and relationships I have built while here are what make me stay.”

How have you grown both professionally and personally since joining Pilot?
“Professionally, I have had the opportunity to play many roles within the company, which has given me a wide range of valuable experiences.”

Reflecting on your internship experience, what were the biggest challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?
“Adjusting from life as a student-athlete to a corporate environment was a big challenge for me. I overcame this by finding my new routine over the summer with my internship. Another challenge was learning to interact with people in a professional environment rather than an academic setting. Over time, you figure out your personal brand and what role you play within the teams you work with.”

Matthew Walker, supply optimizer, supply and distribution

Matthew interned with the supply optimization department in 2023 before accepting a full-time position with them.

How did your internship experience align with your career goals and aspirations? 
“I wanted to work in a field that dealt with large complex industries, and that is exactly what Pilot offers. The scale of the business and diverse strategies keeps the work interesting and rewarding.”

Reflecting on your internship experience, what were the biggest challenges you faced and how did you overcome them? 
“One challenge I faced was fully understanding the energy and refined products industry, as it is so complex and well-developed. Thankfully, my leaders were able to facilitate the learning process in a simplified way.”

What advice would you give to current interns to make the most out of their experience? 
“My advice would be to ask plenty of questions, engage with your team and the company as a whole and focus on developing a few technical/professional skills that will be useful throughout your career.”

Sydnie Cziep, data strategist, IT service management

Sydnie interned with the IT service management department in 2022 before accepting a full-time role with the same department.

How have you grown both professionally and personally since joining Pilot?
“Most of my professional growth has been due to my confidence in my work and abilities. I am constantly being encouraged to try and do new things. And personally, I am more outgoing than before.”

How did your internship experience align with your career goals and aspirations?
“During my internship, I met with different teams within IT which gave me a good foundation of knowledge before starting my full-time employment.”

What advice would you give to current interns to make the most out of their experience?
“Get to know your co-workers! It gives you much more perspective when you know peoples’ background and how they got to where they are now.”

Thank you, Evan, Joanna, Kacie, Matthew and Sydnie for being role models for our current interns and sharing your experiences. Stay tuned for a recap of the 2024 internship program at the end of summer!

If you’re interested in joining the Pilot family, explore open positions on our career site.

Help our Intern Program be recognized as one of the top in the country by voting through this link daily. It takes less than 10 seconds to do!

Ranging from rising sophomores to recent graduates, this year’s cohorts represent 17 colleges and universities across the country and have joined more than 40 departments throughout the company.

So far, the professional development workshops have included seminars on professional etiquette, time management, and communication workplace styles. The interns have conquered a local mountain challenge, broke out of an escape room, and had an afternoon of fun and bowling at the arcade. Out of the 46 interns, five are returning to the program. Hear from them below in their own words why they came back for another summer of fun and learning with Pilot!

Name: Jackson Kizer

Education: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Area of study: Double major in Finance & Supply Chain Management; MBA with a concentration in Finance
Department: Financial Planning & Analysis

Q1: Why did you choose to come back for another year in the Pilot Internship Program?
A: “I chose to return to Pilot this year because I found last year’s program to be a wonderfully put together and enriching experience. I also made lots of new friends in my department and internship class that I wanted to see again. Everyone was nice and the work that I did help me develop my business skills.”

Q2: What was something you enjoyed from your last experience that you hope to see again this time around?
A: “One thing that I enjoyed last summer that I hope to see again is the breakout room day. It was a very fun experience doing one for the first-time last year with a group of my fellow interns and know that the breakout this year will be just as fun.”

Q3: What’s something new that you have gotten to experience this far that you didn’t get to experience last time?
A: “Something new that I am getting to experience this year is calculating ROIs for different store locations. I shadowed someone in my department last year on this but never got around to actually calculating them. This year I am getting hands-on experience working on them.”

Q4: What advice would you give to all the other interns who are new to the program?
A: “My advice that I would give to the new interns is to treat your coworkers like respected colleagues rather than professors or bosses. They are not out to get you nor judge you harshly based on your understanding of certain topics; you just got here, and nobody expects you to know everything right away. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions and network.”

Name: Diego Longoria

Education: University of Texas at Dallas
Area of study: Finance
Department: Houston-Settlements

Q1: Why did you choose to come back for another year in the Pilot Internship Program?
A: “I chose to continue my career at Pilot because I felt like part of the team from Day 1. This internship blends the lives of corporate America with the feeling of a family business. Everyone in the organization was open to intellectual curiosity and challenged me to think about the ‘why?’ I am excited about another Summer with Pilot and highly recommend joining to anyone who wants to be a part of something special.”

Q2: What was something you enjoyed from your last experience that you hope to see again this time around?
A: “There were many things that I enjoyed throughout my internship. However, the laughs, smiles, and conversations are something that I look forward to experiencing again. I always feel like I am valued, and my ideas are important. The people here are truly amazing, and they are people who I enjoy being around.”

Q3: What’s something new that you have gotten to experience this far that you didn’t get to experience last time?
A: “I am doing a rotational program at the Houston office which means I am in a different department than I was last time. This has given me the valuable opportunity to learn more about the intricacies of the PFJ Energy business. Furthermore, I am working on projects that will continue to improve our processes so I believe my internship projects will have a lasting impact to the business.”

Q4: What advice would you give to all the other interns who are new to the program?
A: “The largest piece of advice for new and future interns is ASK QUESTIONS! I know that is what everyone says, but it is extremely important. Someone in PFJ Energy recently told me, ‘The worst-case scenario is you learn something.’ It is also equally important to ask people outside of your department questions. This is how you grow and learn as a person and a team member.”

Name: Veda Seay

Education: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Area of study: Business Analytics, Mathematics, and Statistics
Department: Connect

Q1: Why did you choose to come back for another year in the Pilot Internship Program?
A: “I chose to come back because I felt I had the perfect balance of guidance and independence with my last internship with Pilot. I was able to work independently and take ownership of my projects while also having ample support systems to lean on anytime I needed it. It was such an incredible feeling to end the summer with finished projects and personal growth that I could be proud of thanks to Pilot challenging me and pushing me out of my comfort zone.”

Q2: What was something you enjoyed from your last experience that you hope to see again this time around?
A: “I really enjoyed all the people here at Pilot last summer, and I am so excited to be back and see so many familiar faces. I love being able to look around in my department, the intern group, and other areas of Pilot and see so many friends and colleagues. Everyone here is so supportive and friendly, and I feel welcome everywhere I go.”

Q3: What’s something new that you have gotten to experience this far that you didn’t get to experience last time?
A: “As a returning intern, the pace definitely picked up compared to last summer. When I first joined the team last year, there was a huge learning curve for me to understand the company itself and the everyday lingo my team uses in meetings. Because I had experience with my team going into this summer, I was able to jump in and understand things faster than I did last year, allowing me to start my project earlier and move at a much faster pace. There’s still a learning curve, it’s just a little less steep this time around.”

Q4: What advice would you give to all the other interns who are new to the program?
A: “My advice to other new interns is focus on learning, networking, and being true to yourself this summer. Your team doesn’t expect you to know everything, so be open to learning as much as possible about everything you touch this summer, and don’t be afraid to ask questions! The more connections you can make, the better. Try to say hi to as many people as possible, you never know when your paths may cross again. Lastly, you want to be memorable as an intern, so be yourself!”

Name: Logan Bowers

Education: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Area of study: Computer Science
Department: Network Operations

Q1: Why did you choose to come back for another year in the Pilot Internship Program?
A: “To stay closer to home for the summer, and to build on the relationships I formed last summer.”

Q2: What was something you enjoyed from your last experience that you hope to see again this time around?
A: “Making new friends and connections within the intern group.”

Q3: What’s something new that you have gotten to experience this far that you didn’t get to experience last time?
A: “New projects and more trust.”

Q4: What advice would you give to all the other interns who are new to the program?
A: “Work hard and make as many new relationships as you can.”

Name: Ethan Naugle

Education: University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Area of study: Computer Engineering
Department: Enterprise Applications

Q1: Why did you choose to come back for another year in the Pilot Internship Program?
A: “I felt very welcomed by the Pilot family. The “people first” culture made me want to return for another year. “

Q2: What was something you enjoyed from your last experience that you hope to see again this time around?
A: “The Breakout escape room was really fun last year, and I am excited to go back.”

Q3: What’s something new that you have gotten to experience this far that you didn’t get to experience last time?
A: “I really enjoyed the travel center tour. It helped me better understand what we are working towards in terms of guess and team member experience.”

Q4: What advice would you give to all the other interns who are new to the program?
A: “Make as many connections as you can. Whether it is with other interns, people in your department, or people in totally different departments, the relationships you make can help shape your career down the road.”

We can’t wait to see what this group and the entire amazing cohort will do this summer – stay tuned for more blog updates. Don’t forget to vote for our program every day until July 20, 2023.

Interested in joining the team here at Pilot? Explore open opportunities here!

Name: Samantha Germain

School/Major: UT / Retail & Consumer Sciences & Finance

Department: Merchandising

Favorite thing from the café: I’m a sucker for the salad bar!

Most exciting moment so far: Getting to speak to all of the vendors, interact with products, getting to experience the decision process of merchandising, and visiting the fieldhouse.

Q: Can you describe the differences you’ve noticed so far between learning about your field in the classroom versus actually working in your department?

A: There are quite a lot of differences between my classwork and the actual work within the department, but at the end of the day, both my work and class work are consumer-focused and figuring out what is the best option. So, I am taking my studying of the consumer and implementing it when I analyze consumer trends and products that the customer would enjoy.

Name: Blake Curtsinger

School/Major: UT / Business Analytics

Department: Business Intelligence

Favorite thing from the café: Unorthodox salads from the build-your-own salad bar (especially with asparagus)

Most exciting moment so far: Moments that were shared with the entire group of interns, like the mountain challenge that reinforced innovation and teamwork

Q: Can you describe the differences you’ve noticed so far between learning about your field in the classroom versus actually working in your department?

A: Being a business analytics major, I’d have to say the most obvious difference between the classroom and the real world is the data that I am using. Everything is prepped for you in school, but in reality, data is very messy and can be difficult to interpret. We also have a LOT of data here at Pilot, so I’ve had to spend a lot of time just getting to know how data flows through our organization and what it is representing. It’s been a challenge, but a fun one!

Name: Greer Giffen

School/Major: UT / Accounting

Department: Corporate Accounting

Favorite thing from the café: I’ve enjoyed the fountain drinks.

Most exciting moment so far: Doing the mountain challenge!

Q: Can you describe the differences you’ve noticed so far between learning about your field in the classroom versus actually working in your department?

A: It’s different working with real money rather than imaginary amounts in an accounting textbook. Accounting at Pilot has been a more detailed and complex application of a lot of the content of my classes.

Name: Jacob Bisping

School/Major: UT / Marketing

Department: Business Integration

Favorite thing from the café: Definitely the giant Rice Krispies Treats. They make for a great pre-workout snack.

Most exciting moment so far: When my director told me that she used my visualizations in her presentation to the higher-ups of the company. It felt good to know my hard work was being implemented.

Q: Can you describe the differences you’ve noticed so far between learning about your field in the classroom versus actually working in your department?

A: The biggest difference between the classroom and the work environment are my views toward meetings. In school, they teach that meetings will be very professional and nerve-racking. I hosted my first meeting the other day and it just felt like a conversation with friends. I love that I feel at home with Pilot and get treated as a friend first.

Stay tuned for more intern spotlights over the summer, and best of luck to all our interns in their departments for the rest of the program! If you’d like to read the first post about our 2022 interns, click here.

From New York City’s Tartan Week to the five-day Tartan Film Festival in Los Angeles, people of Scottish descent across the United States grab their kilts, sporrans, belt buckles, and kilt pins and gather to commemorate.

To celebrate, we are spotlighting some of our Team Members with ties to Scotland and their love of the tartan!

Joanna Martin, Benefits and Well-Being Supervisor

Joanna was born in Edinburgh but grew up in Aberdeen, Scotland. She represented Scotland and Britain as a junior tennis player, a sport that would eventually bring her to Knoxville, Tennessee.

Her maiden name is Henderson, and like most Scottish families, they have an ancient and modern tartan design.

She prefers the modern Henderson tartan because of its lovely mix of green with a little white and yellow running through the pattern.

Her husband, Eric Martin, who is also a Pilot Team Member, wore a modern tartan tie to add a nice Scottish touch to their wedding. However, at their wedding party in Scotland later, Eric sported the full kilt and sporran, going all-in on the traditional Scottish attire (Photo Below).

Joanna loves connecting with people and sharing more about Scottish culture and her never-ending craving for Scottish Chocolate!

Mark Phillippo, Floater – Region 41

Mark Phillippo has been a truck driver with Pilot for almost 17 years. Currently, he lives in Cullman, Alabama but is originally from Indiana, which is where he was able to attend some Scottish festivals as a child. This was his initial exposure to the traditional kilt and bagpipes, which he became intrigued by. Eventually, after digging into his family history, he and his wife Jill took an ancestry test, finding out that he was 50% Scottish and his fascination with the kilt continued to grow.

Now he rocks the “Got Kilt?” sticker on the cab of his tanker truck and has a collection of universal kilts.

Keeping with his style, he tends to stick to the muted tartan patterns that are primarily black with hints of green or blue.

This year Mark and one of his good friends are traveling to Scotland to hike the West Highland Way, a 96-mile trek from Milngavie to Fort William. “Hiking and haggis,” Mark says, “not a bad way to see the Scottish countryside.”

This year for National Tartan Day, attend a festival near you, play some Scottish games with your family, or cook a traditional Scottish meal! Learn more by clicking here.

Thank you, Joanna, and Mark, for sharing your love of the Tartan!

Like most companies, we faced a major challenge when the pandemic hit. We had to find a way to keep training our team members remotely. It turned out to be a fantastic opportunity to refresh and enhance our offerings. Take our General Manager Leadership Development (GMLD) Program for example. What used to be a 5-day program at our SSC in Knoxville, TN where general managers would learn various processes, company initiatives, best practices, and leadership coaching quickly had to be redesigned.

“The pandemic was not discriminant,” Gene Baquet, Pilot Company Manager of Learning and Development, said. “Organizations that did well and performed well were the ones that could pivot to train and develop team members in new ways while being just as effective, if not more effective in some cases. That’s one reason why we jumped 30 spots in the ranking.”

There’s another reason for winning this training award. Our senior leaders are invested in our Team Members training and success. For instance, Jason Nordin, Pilot Company chief operator, attends every GMLD orientation session and graduation, and he signs each certificate of completion. “For Jason to talk to our team members and ask what’s working well and what’s not shows that he’s willing to listen and take the time to hear,” said Kina Chapman, Manager of Field Learning and Development. “It shows that our leaders  care and are invested in our team members.”

We have similar support for our other programs which is a key ingredient to success. “Any training program will fail if it’s not aligned with your business imperatives and where your company’s going,” Gene said. “We couldn’t do what we do without the sponsorship from our senior leaders.”

Along with the overall ranking, Pilot Company was also recognized for a Best Practice Award for Service Leader Development, which is based on project scope, link to business goals, innovation, reinforcement, senor leadership involvement, and business impact.

The Service Leader (SL) Development Program provides SLs with a defined career path and development plan:

After 20 days of in-store training, our SLs attend off-site classes – facilitated by Region Managers and HR Business Partners. They learn HR, leadership, and job specific skills they can put into immediate action back in their stores. While the course also has a virtual option, the in-person classes have proven to increase confidence, build skill, and reduce turnover for our highly valued Service Leaders.

“I am very proud of what our team and Company has and continues to accomplish. This year we’re particularly excited about the Team Member Experience (TMx) initiative and ways we will evolve and expand our programs, tools, and classes. We look forward to continued alignment with business needs, delivering outcomes-based development opportunities, and strengthening business partnerships to positively impact the Team Member experience and overall growth and success of our company.” – Craig BeVier, Pilot Company’s Director of Talent Development.

Over the past 12 years, there’s been an 88 percent increase in female drivers – a huge accomplishment! However, there’s still only a small number of women drivers overall, totaling in at 7.8 percent of the industry. Here are some women #BreakingTheBias and adding exceptional female leadership to a historically male-dominated industry.

Women are the real architects of society. – Cher

1. Pilot Company’s HR Business Partner, Division 11, Melinda Samuel

What does International Women’s Day mean to you? This is a day to celebrate strong, talented, and intelligent women who have made a significant impact in our lives and communities across the globe. It’s also a day to reflect on equality and equity – how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.

What do you do to celebrate women and women’s achievements (inside and outside of Pilot)? I’m a member of a local women’s organization that focuses on the potential of women, voluntarism, and community service where we have celebratory activities during the month. I also enjoy watching movies that celebrate women empowerment like Hidden Figures, Fried Green Tomatoes, The Color Purple, Erin Brockovich, etc.

What woman has inspired you and why? Personally – My mom. My dad passed when I was 10 years old and my mom single-handedly raised a big family, instilled strong morals/values, and taught us the importance of having a strong work ethic and the rewards of helping others.

Professionally – Marilyn Tipton, who gave me my first job in HR almost 20 years ago. She taught me the importance of listening, gaining trust, and establishing fairness and consistency when working with people.

What advice do you have to encourage other women to continue their drive to succeed? Continue to work hard, ask questions, forge relationships, and help other women when you can. If you don’t have a female mentor, find one – it’ll have a significant impact on your life.

2. Pilot Company’s VP of Store Modernization, Allison Cornish

What does International Women’s Day mean to you? International Women’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge all the incredible women out there who are contributing to society.

What do you do to celebrate women and women’s achievements (inside and outside of Pilot)? When female leaders have been promoted or celebrated within the company, we’ll often send notes of congratulations celebrating them. It’s been great to see more women at our company promoted into key roles and recognized for their efforts and achievements.

What woman has inspired you and why? I’m extremely fortunate to have grown up under the influence of many strong and intelligent women in my family. It’s very hard to narrow it down to just one. These women include my mother, aunts, stepmother, and grandmothers. Each one has their own incredible story of accomplishment and have provided me countless words of wisdom, motivation, and inspiration.

What advice do you have to encourage other women to continue their drive to succeed? Don’t be afraid to try new things and to place yourself in uncomfortable situations. You can’t learn or grow without a little discomfort.

3. Decker Truck Line Driver Lisa Ohrmundt

What does International Women’s Day mean to you? International Women’s Day is important as the generations change and equality is slowly, very slowly, beginning to turn the tide.

What do you do to celebrate women and women’s achievements? I celebrate women in an everyday life sort of celebration. As a female in the trucking industry, I encourage and mentor women that are just starting in the industry. There are a lot of truck driving Facebook Pages and other female pages I’m on that are incredibly uplifting to each other!

What woman has inspired you and why? It all starts with my mom. She was a single parent and taught me what it means to have a good work ethic and to take care of the people around you! In trucking, my teacher, Judy, has been incredible as a mentor and friend. I have one Facebook friend that’s an amazing inspiration and she probably doesn’t even know – Gwen Black. She hauls heavy equipment is a straight-up bad ass!!! There are so many women helping women out her on the road, it’s really something special!

What advice do you have to encourage other women to continue their drive to succeed? One of my favorite things about this job is the women new in the industry that reach out to me who I get to help….there’s so much to learn in the first year, and I’m always willing to share the things I’ve learned and experienced over the years….I spend a fair amount of time trying to get other women to come to work at Decker Truck Line because I love it so much and the culture is driver-focused!!!

4. Pilot Company’s Region Manager Donna Brough

What does International Women’s Day mean to you? It means a since of accomplishment. It’s a feeling that others recognize of how it hasn’t always been easy for women to have opportunities to lead.

What do you do to celebrate women and women’s achievements (inside and outside of Pilot)? I’m excited to say I have a region of 12 locations, 10 being led by women. I personally try to attend local events and invite others to join me. (Note: COVID has had an impact on my ability to do this over the past few years)

What woman has inspired you and why? I got my first job when I was 15 working at a local diner. It was owned by a woman named Wanda Rayburn. She taught me how to “work” if you will. I learned from her the skill of connecting with people and the importance of creating a great work atmosphere. She allowed me to grow and learn continuously.

What advice do you have to encourage other women to continue their drive to succeed? Leverage what makes you unique. Be true to who you are and take time to celebrate all of the small accomplishments. They’ll add up over time. Never let anyone tell you tears are a sign of weakness.

5. Over The Road Driver Clarissa Rankin

We wanted to end this blog with a quick video from Over The Road Driver Clarissa Rankin. She’s an incredible example of breaking the mold in this industry and encouraging women to live out their passions and become their best selves. Click here to watch.