By 
March 19, 2018
Clay Martinson, a Huntsville native, is a sophomore history major at The University of Alabama. He was recently elected SGA’s Vice President of Student Affairs. This summer he has been selected to participate in the Mount Vernon Leadership Fellows Program.
The City of Huntsville has opened applications for its 2018 internship class. Apply here.
I started working in for the Mayor’s office in July 2017. I worked under Business Relations Officer Harrison Diamond. One of the projects I worked on was researching economic development in different counties throughout Alabama. This was a great way to learn more about the state and see which industries were better suited for different areas. I also prepared reports for the Mayor Battle on Blockchain technology, which has made city government run much more efficiently and more secure in Dubai. My favorite part of the internship was getting the opportunity to go with Mayor Battle and Harrison to different businesses around the city to see their successes.
I was able to make some really great connections in city government as well as in our city’s business community. The internship really opened my eyes to how municipal government is critical to economic development.
Learning the ins and outs of government really helped me grasp the importance of organization and collaborating with others to reach a common goal. This opportunity allowed me to talk and learn about policies that will continue to grow our city economically and socially. One of the things that I learned was the ability to create a stronger economy through having a fun social atmosphere. This makes young people, like myself, want to stay in Alabama and relocate to Huntsville.
Former intern Will Pylant talks internship experience
https://www.facebook.com/huntsvillecity/videos/10155346224056464/
This internship is an incredible opportunity, and I would recommend it to every college student who is interested in government.
The experience gave me a great perspective on the importance of having good leaders to help move our city forward. It helped me understand the administrative side of government and how to follow through on initiatives. If someone wants to be successful in government, at any level, they should first look at the basics – how municipal government works. Much of what we do in the City of Huntsville has a large national implication with Redstone Arsenal, NASA and the FBI. Our city is fortunate enough to have these types of organizations because of the strong leadership in City Hall.
My advice on how to have a successful internship with the city is deceptively simple but very important: Pay attention to every detail.
Everyone in the office has a firm grasp of what is going on in our city, and they always have great insight. It is important to make sure to pay attention and absorb as much as possible. Students must be committed to waking up early. Unfortunately, part of the job when interning for the Office of the Mayor is making it to the morning meetings – “dailies” – at 8:30 a.m. I am not a morning person, but I was able to make it to all the morning meetings, so it is doable!
This opportunity is a great way for students who are interested in government to have a hands-on experience working for one of the most efficient city governments in the southeast.
If a student is interested in government at any level, I highly recommend taking a look at this internship. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience, and I can’t recommend this program enough!
