Nope. I don't believe it. I do not believe that we have already been here for three weeks. In this busy week we have managed to fit in an assortment of experiences and cupcakes. Let's start with the experiences.
Our week started with some recipe and product testing. On the menu for this session was fries, pulled pork sliders, and sriracha chicken. For the fries we sampled seven different kinds and had to decide if it was an acceptable product and then rate based on taste, appearance, quality, etc.. The kinds that are deemed acceptable and meet specification are then included in the bidding process we learned more about in the purchasing session.
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| Caitlyn and Jessica sampling fries. |
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| Everyone looking determined to sample recipes. |
After our recipe sampling, we met with former NACUFS mentor, Marianne Howell, and discussed how to get the most out our experience as interns and we had time to sit down and discuss career goals. Being three weeks into the program it was a well timed activity which brought back some focus to our original goals. During a separate session, we were quizzed on our business etiquette knowledge. Did anyone else know that the proper way to eat a dinner roll was to rip it into small pieces all at once and then butter individually prior to eating each bite? We were all shocked for hours.
During the week we also had the pleasure of meeting with Michele Newhard. Sessions involved the ever important topics of leadership and management styles. We started with an exercise where we were challenged to describe ourselves in one word and our life story in six. Looking for four steps to becoming an effective leader? Try first, fair, firm, and flexible. For management styles, we dedicated time to learning about the Native American medicine wheel. This activity allowed for us to reflect upon how we choose to lead and ways to best work with all sorts of other leadership styles to bring your one team to the desired single goal.
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| Where we all landed on the wheel of leadership style. |
And now for the cupcakes. First off, we had the long awaited tour of the Penn State Bakery. This elaborate operation keeps every sweet tooth on campus pleased and I only drooled a little bit when we toured the chocolate storage area. Throughout the tour we learned much about the importance of maintaining equipment and the pros and cons of buying new versus fixing existing. At the end of the tour we were treated to a cupcake decorating session.
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Caitlyn, myself, Jessica, and Josh (and Maria in the reflection) standing in front of the bakery's ovens.
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| My cupcakes before adding sprinkles. |
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| Josh's cupcakes after adding sprinkles. And more sprinkles. |
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