Meet Autumn Monsma, a 2019 Alumnus from Grand Haven, MI. Autumn currently resides in Kansas City, MO. She currently works as a Distribution Leadership Program Trainee for Border States Electric
Can you give us a brief description of what you do?
My current role through Border States Electric (BSE) is called the Distribution Leadership Trainee (DLP). BSE is an electrical utility wholesale distribution company. The DLP position is a two year position where I get the opportunity to work in each role throughout my two years while being mentored by our leadership team. At the end of the program, the hope is that the DLP will be able to step into a leadership position of their choice within the company at one of our 102 branches across 23 different states.
What at NMU helped you most in your current role?
At NMU, what helped me the most as I transitioned into my current role is the professors and the smaller class sizes. Our professors continuously support and push the students to step outside of their comfort zone encouraging us to explore our own personal leadership abilities that we were able to implement both within the classroom and in our professional careers. This support has given me the confidence to never shy away from challenges. I have learned from NMU to say "Yes" more often.
What advice would you give current students?
The advice that I would give current NMU students is to advantage of all of the opportunities that both NMU and Marquette have to offer. Make connections with those around you, because these will be the relationships that will last a lifetime. You will discover more about yourself over the next 4-5 years in your college experience than you have thus far. Become comfortable being uncomfortable, that's where the most growth happens.