Love’s retail management interns gain confidence while being immersed in store operations

Aneri Patel loves greeting Love's Customers with a big smile. On Mondays, she sometimes gets confused looks from those who walk through the door.

"Every so often, a Customer will ask me 'Why are you so happy on a Monday?' I tell them 'I'm just a happy person!'"

As a retail management intern, Aneri is getting valuable experience this summer at Love's 403 in Binghamton, New York. She found out about the program while looking for internships during her spring semester at The Pennsylvania State University. In the fall, she will be back in class as a senior, pursuing her bachelor's degree in business administration with a focus on management and marketing.

One of Aneri's professors suggested Love's, and she later visited with the store's district manager, Pat Schappell, to learn more about the company and the internship. Ten weeks in, she has absorbed everything there is to learn about running the store, thanks to her inquisitive mind.

"When I'm learning something new, I'm not afraid to ask a lot of questions," Aneri said, "All the team members have been very helpful."

By immersing college students in Love's store operations, the Retail Management Internship program serves as another recruiting tool to help meet Love's ever-growing demand for store leaders.

At Love's 712 in Newcastle, Oklahoma, Chennyri Whitaker has relished the opportunity to build on her skillset. She decided to apply for the internship after researching Love's family-oriented culture.

"I believe a store is only as good as the person who runs it, so I'm learning everything it takes to be a great, productive manager and leader," she said.

Chennyri will be a senior this fall at the University of Oklahoma, pursuing a bachelor's degree in international business and supply chain management. She and has previous retail experience in the fast food industry.

"What's rewarding for me is the chance to go outside my comfort zone and work with different team members," she said.

Austan Lee, the general manager at Love's 712, has been Chennyri's biggest mentor throughout the summer, teaching her something new about the business every day.

"This has been a great opportunity for Chennyri, but it's also been a great opportunity for Love's," Austan said. "She's going to go back to OU and share her experience with others, so they can learn how we're more than just a truck stop."

For Aneri, observing her general manager, Phil Horan, has taught her a lot about how to be a leader and how personality style matters.

"I've never seen him upset," she said. "He approaches every challenge with a positive attitude and projects happiness."

No matter what path Aneri and Chennyri take after college, they both feel more confident and capable of succeeding in a face-paced, Customer-focused environment.

"My favorite thing, hands down, has been interacting with Customers," Chennyri said, "I've met so many cool people along the way."

Find open management positions with Love's here!