Drew is recognized for being a dual major student who has taken full advantage of the opportunities Purdue has provided over the last four years. Academically, Drew has excelled in both of his majors, maintaining a 3.3 GPA while earning semester honors multiple times. Outside of the classroom, Drew is heavily involved in the campus community and has risen as a true leader. From serving as the president of his fraternity to being named Zeta Tau Alpha's Big Man on Campus, Drew has pursued passions while demonstrating qualities of a true leader. Other remarkable accomplishments include serving as Director of Scoring for Grand Prix, Director of Recruitment and Director of Alumni Relations for FarmHouse Fraternity. Professionally, Drew has also completed three internship experiences with the final internship position leading to a job offer upon graduation this coming May.
While his schedule is full of academic and extracurricular activities, Drew is a student with a "can do" attitude. He never shies away from a challenge and is often the first to step in and help whether that be from a department, college or university level.
What attracted you to the company/position?
"When first coming to Purdue I never thought I wanted to be in sales. However, after some experiences with classes, a previous internship, and leadership positions I realized that I might fit well in a sales role. Bane-Welker is an agriculture equipment dealership, and I have always had a passion for the equipment side of agriculture. When I interviewed with Bane-Welker in the fall of my sophomore year, I was very impressed with the company and was offered a Sales and Marketing Internship. I took the internship and learned a lot about Sales and Marketing throughout the summer of 2021. After I finished that internship, I was offered another internship opportunity for the summer of 2022, as a Salesman out of our Plymouth Indiana store. Bane-Welker has taken great care of me and has allowed me to find what I am passionate about, so it was a no brainer for me to take that internship. After my experience this summer, I have accepted a full-time job for after graduation with Bane-Welker Equipment. I will be an Equipment Salesman out of our Plymouth Indiana store."
Tell us about your overall experience working there?
"Working for Bane-Welker has been such a great experience. I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of people in the company, and everyone has welcomed me since the first day on the job. Bane-Welker has given me the flexibility to pursue my passions and shape my internships in a way that were most beneficial to my learning experience. I have shadowed many different employees and learn something new every day on the job. It truly feels like a big family, and I know there is always someone to help me out when I need it."
What does your typical day look like as an intern?
"This past summer I focused on equipment sales, which was new to me. As an equipment salesman every day is different. A lot of days I spent time out in the field meeting with customers. This is my favorite part about equipment sales, as I feel like I get to be a part of my customers farming operation. I also was able to spend some time in the shop with our technicians, whether I was putting together lawn mowers or meeting with them. As an intern, I have got to do a lot of traveling to see different stores, customers, and go on business trips."
What did you learn from this role?
"I have learned a lot in my last two summers with Bane-Welker and I am looking forward to continuing learning once I start full time. I can honestly say in this job you learn something new every day. I learned a lot about agricultural machinery, sales processes, completing paperwork, marketing tools, and most importantly how to communicate with customers. In a sales role you often have a lot of freedom in how you manage your schedule. I was able to learn how to manage that freedom and time, so I was able to complete the tasks that I needed to get done."
What is a piece of advice that you can share to students who are seeking an internship?
"During my time here at Purdue, I have had three internships. The amount of knowledge that I have gained through my three internships have allowed me to not only know what I want to do after graduation, but also have provided me with opportunities that I never knew I would have. I can’t speak highly enough about classes here at Purdue, however there is so much more that you learn through working in internships, as you are in the real professional world. When seeking an internship, take the time to build a good resume and do your best to stand out to employers. You never know where one conversation may take you."
