Six students joined MFA Oil this summer for the company’s 2022 internship program. Here is a look at each intern and what has kept them busy this summer.

James Ferguson

Hometown: Lowry City, Mo.
College: College of the Ozarks
Major: Computer Science
MFA Oil Department: IT Service Desk

What was the main project you worked on over the summer?
My project has involved replacing 30 computers at MFA Oil bulk plants. I have imaged and prepared the computers here at the Home Office and then sent them to the plants. Once they are hooked up with power and internet at the plants, I connect printers and check scanners. The project has helped me build my time management, communication and organization skills as I must discover the location of computers to be replaced, organize calls and ensure the old computers are shipped back to the Home Office.

What’s one thing you learned from your internship that you did not know before?
I have learned quite a bit about professional IT project flow and how different types of issues are elevated for resolution. In addition, I have received experience with a variety of software as well as multiple new devices.

What would you like to do professionally after you finish your academic studies?
Following college, I would like to work in the tech industry. I’m interested in software development and coding.

Jay Sakabu

Hometown: St. Charles, Mo.
College: University of Missouri
Major: Information Technology
MFA Oil Department: IT Service Desk

What was the main project you worked on over the summer?
The projects I’ve worked on have varied, but mostly I’ve been upgrading viewing templates for the Orion monitoring system.

What’s one thing you learned from your internship that you did not know before?
Companies have many technology needs, and a complex combination of various systems is needed to run one optimally and cost-effectively.

What would you like to do professionally after you finish your academic studies?
I want to go into software engineering.

Lacy Schoneboom

Hometown: Mexico, Mo.
College: University of Missouri
Major: Accounting
MFA Oil Department: Accounting

What was the main project you worked on over the summer?
The biggest project I’ve been working on is analyzing and organizing MFA Oil’s company credit card system. It has been an educational and interesting project. Another thing I’ve gotten to do is shadow all the accounting functions like inventory, accounts payable and accounts receivable. In addition, I sometimes get to help with Big O Tires accounting.

What’s one thing you learned from your internship that you did not know before?
I’ve learned a lot about accounting from my internship, but I think the internship meetings where we have conversations about other topics have also been very informative. For example, we learned about health care and retirement plans in one of our meetings. I learned a lot about health care plans that I had never known before.

What would you like to do professionally after you finish your academic studies?
I am in Mizzou’s Accelerated Master’s Program for Accounting, so I won’t be graduating until May 2025. I’m not sure what my next move will be after that because I still have so much to learn. I have enjoyed the atmosphere here at MFA Oil and hope to work somewhere with a similar atmosphere.

Lily Weirich

Hometown: Alton, Ill.
College: University of Missouri
Major: Psychology
MFA Oil Department: Human Resources

What was the main project you worked on over the summer?
My main project this summer is composing a benchmark benefit survey analysis. This project was all about gathering benefit information from different businesses across Missouri to create an extensive comparison.

What’s one thing you learned from your internship that you did not know before?
One thing I learned during my internship that I did not know before was the processes that go into filing and accepting different types of leaves of absence.

What would you like to do professionally after you finish your academic studies?
After I finish my studies, I would like to continue my career in the entertainment industry, working with employee relations.

Matthew Worden

Hometown: White Bear Lake, Minn.
College: University of Missouri
Major: Finance
MFA Oil Department: Big O Tires

What was the main project you worked on over the summer?
My main project, which is almost complete, is generating return tire list for each of our Big O Tires locations. I am looking at tires that have not moved from our inventories in the last 180 days and setting up a return for them. Returning inventory helps free up cash on MFA Oil’s balance sheet. Currently, 11 stores have confirmed a return of over $100,000! I am also doing several things with Jesse Burg on behalf of the stores, like end of year inventory audits.

What’s one thing you learned from your internship that you did not know before?
I learned from my internship that a professional setting does not have to be boring. The guys I work with in the Big O Tires division are great people who have facilitated my growth with a friendly and lighthearted demeanor.

What would you like to do professionally after you finish your academic studies?
I would work in any position that I felt could facilitate growth for me at a professional level. I am willing to expand my boundaries and adapt to any setting I face once I graduate from college next May.

Shannon Wortmann

Hometown: Huntsville, Mo.
College: Truman State University
Major: Business Administration
MFA Oil Department: Warehouse

What was the main project you worked on over the summer?
My project has been to learn everyone’s job in the warehouse. I have worked in E1 to create bills of lading, receive purchase orders and adjust inventory levels. I have learned how to pick and stage orders using the forklift. I also helped with receiving and shipping packages.

What’s one thing you learned from your internship that you did not know before?
I learned how to drive a forklift.

What would you like to do professionally after you finish your academic studies?
I don’t have a specific job in mind. I want to find something that I enjoy that pays the bills.

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We sincerely thank these students for their contributions to MFA Oil this summer and wish them well in their future careers.