Iowa State University Research Park tenants turning coffee-run clichés into career-launching work
When computer-science major Carly Seeck walked into Curries’ new Ames office in the Iowa State University Research Park (ISURP), she expected a semester of “look but don’t touch.” Instead, the IT intern found herself writing production code for electronic key-management systems that protect Fortune 500 campuses worldwide.
“They understand that being a student comes first,” Seeck says. “But they were always available to teach—and they wanted me to be successful.”
Six months later Curries hired her full-time, proof that an address inside the ISURP can turn a short-term internship into a long-term win for both student and employer.
That outcome is by design, explains Alison Doyle, Associate Director of ISURP.
“We built the Park to collapse the distance between class and career. When interns can quickly and easily move from lecture hall to office, they stay longer, contribute more, and—crucially—see a future for themselves right here in Iowa.”
The Campus-Next-Door Advantage
Proximity is the secret sauce. Metalcraft CEO Kyle Bermel says the RFID tag maker’s satellite lab, barely a mile from campus, lets students “work part-time during the school year, stay on longer, and get deeper into projects that matter.”
Mechanical convenience quickly scales to business strategy. Flatbed carrier TMC Transportation grew from “a handful of students…to 45 interns across the nation last summer,” said now-retired internship leader Kenny Kyle at the time. “Being so close to campus offered seamless access to talent passionate about logistics and IT.”
Doyle explains: “At the Research Park, internships aren’t a quick fix; they’re woven into the talent strategy of so many of our tenants. These organizations are mapping out talent needs a year or more in advance and building internship tracks that let students grow alongside the projects that many times they’ll eventually own.”
Real Work, Not Busywork
Walk through the hallways of virtually any ISURP tenant and you’ll hear interns pitching patentable ideas, not doing to stereotypical newbie duties like brewing coffee. At Workiva, more than 100 interns a year rotate through engineering, marketing, even sales.
“Our interns are critical to our company’s future—we want them to feel part of the team and know their contributions matter,” says Melissa Farmer, who manages the program.
Ag-tech powerhouse Sukup Manufacturing puts students on the factory floor designing fan blades, automating lines, and troubleshooting electrical systems.
“Sukup is committed to giving interns more than just a résumé boost,” says Renee Hansen, External Relations Manager. “They leave with industry knowledge, technical skills, and tangible contributions they can showcase.”
Food-science titan KENT Corporation hands interns lab-scale product tests and enterprise IT builds. “Our interns tackle real projects—it’s far beyond the traditional internship experience,” says Jeff Underwood, Vice President of Enterprise Innovation.
Doyle’s take?
“Students don’t want ‘exposure’; they want ownership,” she says. “Companies here understand that and structure projects so than interns are playing a hands on role in innovations as frequently as possible.”
A Pipeline That Pays Off
The return on investment is tangible. Workiva doubled its intern-to-employee conversion rate in 2024. TMC’s program now spans 11 universities, feeding national expansion. Sukup’s very first intern is still on staff, eight years later.
“Internships aren’t just summer jobs—they’re a way to build relationships, develop talent, and bring fresh ideas into our business,” Bermel says.
For students, the payoff is equally real: year-round income, mentorship from industry pros, and job offers inked before graduation.
“We see the Park as a living lab where industry tests ideas and students test-drive careers,” Doyle says. “When both sides invest, students become professionals and stay here—when that happens Iowa’s economy wins.”
The Virtuous Cycle
Ask any of these companies about their next step and you’ll hear the same plan: more. Metalcraft is doubling its software team. Sukup is adding internships in legal and marketing. KENT projects a record cohort this fall.
Doyle sees the momentum as a flywheel.
“Every time an intern becomes an engineer, a product manager, or a plant supervisor, they mentor the next class. The cycle accelerates, and suddenly Iowa State is exporting less talent and importing more innovation.”
Carly Seeck agrees. “I thought I’d have to leave the state to work on cutting-edge tech,” she says, now as a full-time employee at Curries. “Turns out the future was 10 minutes from my apartment all along.”