Meet the Midwest Hub Interns!

CS-Minneapolis is proud to host four Midwest Hub interns.  All four interns will be available for projects during the months of June, July and August, 2008.  Their bios and Goal/Areas of Interest documents are attached for your reference.

The interns have access to:  Lotus notes, all databases on the DOC Insider, ITA Ourplace, USITC Dataweb, Global Trade Information Systems databases

• Andrew Knips - Phone:  612-348-1638, Email:  Andrew.Knips@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov
• Kristen Lynn - Phone:  612-348-1638, Email:  Kristen.Lynn@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov
• Maria Phan - Phone:  612-348-1638, Email:  Maria.Phan@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov
• Katie Wertheim - Phone:  612-348-1638, Email:  Katherine.Wertheim@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov

Maria Phan -    Hello! I’m a soon to be graduate from the University of St. Thomas located in St. Paul, Minnesota.  I am majoring in International Business Management with a focus on China trade.  I’ve lived and studied in Beijing for a year in 2006-2007 and loved it! Aside from China, I’ve traveled to H.K, Macau, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia.  I’m excited to be a part of the U.S. Commercial Service Midwest Hub and look forward to any projects that you need assistance with. I’m particularly interested in exports to China and SE Asia within any industry.  When I’m not working on projects, I help out my parents at our small family restaurant in Dinkytown on the University of Minnesota Campus. During my free time away from office and restaurant, I’m out enjoying the summer weather at the Zoo, visiting a museum or the Walker Art Center, or just catching up with friends.  After graduating I plan to pursue any career prospects that will afford me the opportunity to work on trade issues abroad in China and Vietnam, or any other SE Asian country. So please keep me in mind!

Katie Wertheim - My name is Katie Wertheim.  I am currently a senior at the University of St. Thomas where I am majoring in Legal Studies in Business with minors in both Justice and Peace Studies and Spanish.  I am also an active member of the schools Marketing Association and chapter of Delta Epsilon Sigma, an honors organization.  During my time at St. Thomas I have also spent time studying abroad in Rome, Italy and Seville, Spain.  After graduating I plan an attending Law School here in the twin cities.  I am specifically interested in exports going to Canada, Mexico, Spain and China.  The areas I am most interested in are Environmental Technologies and the Information and Communication industry but I would love the opportunity to work on anything that comes my way.  

Kristen Lynn - My name is Kristen Lynn and I am a senior at the University of St. Thomas.  I am majoring in International Studies and Spanish, with concentrations in Economics and Latin America.  At St. Thomas I am a student leader for VISION—Volunteers in Service Internationally or Nationally— an organization that takes students on cultural immersion service trips over January-term and spring break.  With VISION I have spent time in Belfast, Northern Ireland and San Felix, Venezuela.  I will lead two trips this coming school year to Spanish-speaking destinations.  After graduation I plan to pursue a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and hope to find a career in the public sector.  From this internship I hope to gain knowledge regarding the logistics of international trade and a better understanding of the way in which the global economy operates.   I am eager to learn and open to any project, however; I am decidedly interested in emerging markets, Latin America, and NAFTA.  I am also interested in the medical and pharmaceutical, energy, and environmental technologies industries. 

 Andrew Knips -   I am originally from St. Paul, MN, and am a student at UW-Madison, studying Economics, International Studies, and Latin American Studies. I just returned from a semester abroad in Venezuela, where I finished up my Junior year. After I graduate, I hope to volunteer for Teach For America for a few years, work for the government, and then get my Masters. I am very interested in working in International Trade, especially dealing with Latin American countries, and am already enjoying the exposure from the U.S. Commercial Service. In my spare time I love to play sports, talk politics, and play Scrabble. I am always excited to work on new, challenging projects, so feel free to send anything my way.