Transforming talented underserved youth into the leaders of tomorrow is the mission of INROADS, Inc. The organization offers highly-competitive paid summer internships for current college students nearing the completion of their undergraduate degrees at four-year colleges or universities
INROADS successfully placed roughly 2,000 students in internships nationwide this past summer, according to Lathon C. Ferguson, regional director. Locally, students have interned with some of St. Louis’ largest companies including BJC, Centene, JP Morgan Chase and Aldi.
The internship program offers leadership and professional development training programs designed to be immediately applicable to the “real world,” Ferguson said. The internship program incorporates a blended learning model that includes monthly coaching and advising, classroom and online training, experiential learning and community service.
He plans to expand INROADS’ strategic corporate partnerships throughout the St. Louis region. He is actively establishing new partnerships with companies such as Express Scripts, Nestle Purina, Energizer, Emerson Electric and the Saint Louis Zoo.
The Zoo, he said, is a “hidden gem” for interns with a plethora of STEM-related career fields to explore.
When considering corporate partnerships, a company’s size, its regional presence and its economic impact are all factors, he said. He said he learned to make these judgments as a 2013 member of the Regional Business Council Leadership 100.
He also plans to continue increasing the number of interns employed with sponsoring companies throughout the St. Louis region. Since joining INROADS in February of 2013, he has fueled growth in the Midwest region consisting of the Greater Kansas City area, St. Louis, Nebraska and Western Iowa.
Under his leadership, INROADS in St. Louis saw an eight percent growth of the numbers of students placed in internships from summer 2012 to 2013. This number represents an increase of six interns, growing the region from 75 placed interns in the summer of 2012 to 81 in 2013.
Overall, he improved regional impact by developing and growing regional board of directors and local advisory boards. He also plans to reengage INROADS Alumni with the development of a St. Louis INROADS Alumni chapter.
Currently, Ferguson is working to restore College Links – INROADS’ pre-college component for high school students – throughout the Midwest region and is looking for community partners.
“They would pipeline directly to college and then transition to internship, and from internship to full-time employment,” Ferguson said of high schoolers who participate in the program.
Ferguson said taking on the regional director role seamlessly blends his love of civic engagement with his professional background in sales. He has more than a decade of experience in business development, revenue growth, relationship-building and account management in the telecommunications and healthcare industries.
His professional experience includes leadership roles coaching associates to top sales performance, developing and executing training programs and implementing initiatives and incentive programs, leading his team to top regional sales performance.
He holds a master’s degree in business management and leadership from WebsterUniversity and a bachelor’s degree in political science from University of Missouri-St. Louis.
In March, he received the 2013 St. Louis American Salute to Young Leaders Award and is a member of the 2013 St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Fellows Program Cohort 8. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and a cabinet member of the Charmaine Chapman Society.
INROADS was founded in 1970 by the late Frank C. Carr to increase the number of ethnically diverse employees in corporate management positions. It has placed students in over 127,000 paid internships throughout its history and graduated over 25,000 alumni into full-time professional and managerial positions with over 1,000 corporate partners.
With over 35 offices throughout the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, INROADS serves nearly 1,800 interns and 230 corporate clients.
INROADS is now accepting applications for summer 2014. Visit inroads.org for more details.
Follow this reporter on Twitter: @BridjesONeil.
