By Lauren Lawley Head – Writer, TBJ Content Studio
Students in the Genesys Works program take on meaningful responsibilities at the companies where they work.
Terrell Spruill knew his IT department’s stockroom was due for an overhaul. There had to be a better way to organize the components and equipment that support nearly 300 attorneys and other team members at Kirkland & Ellis’ Washington, D.C., office. So, he turned to his intern.
“What he presented was far past what I would ever imagine,” said Spruill, the firm’s senior technology support manager. Today, each section of the stockroom is clearly labeled with icons so anyone who walks in can tell at a glance where equipment belongs. Everything is sorted and stored appropriately. Colleagues still comment on the setup. “We started with an idea, and he turned it into a working product.”
Results like that are what Spruill has come to expect from Genesys Works National Capital Region interns. Kirkland & Ellis is starting its 10th cohort of interns in the region this year and has partnered with Genesys Works nationally since 2012.
“From day one, they consistently demonstrate respect, maturity and have a genuine eagerness to learn,” Spruill said. “They come in ready to contribute and quickly become part of our team culture.”
Genesys Works National Capital Region, a youth workforce nonprofit organization, has been placing high school seniors into year-long paid internships at D.C.-area companies for the past 10 years. The program counts more than 600 alumni, with graduates attending colleges and working for businesses across the region.
Training for workplace success
Each year, juniors from high schools across the metro apply to Genesys Works with the goal of securing an internship. After a robust application and interview process, selected students spend eight weeks of their summer break in a training program focused on business operations, technology and professional skills before being matched with employers for year-long internships during their senior year. Students attend high school in the morning and work for their assigned company in the afternoon.
The curriculum evolves annually to meet employers’ changing needs. The 2026 summer cohort was the first to complete new modules on responsible AI use and expanded cybersecurity training.
“Across the country, the pace of work and the pace of change has become so great that companies need workers who can hit the ground on day one. Sometimes it’s hard to find that, especially at the entry level,” said Elizabeth Lindsey, executive director of the Genesys Works National Capital Region. “That’s probably the biggest gap we seek to fill.”
In addition to a rigorous selection process and upfront training, Genesys Works makes the internships easy for employers to implement. The nonprofit serves as the employer of record, handling payroll, taxes and other human resources needs, so partner companies can take on an intern without adding headcount or running a lengthy onboarding process.
Employers make donations to Genesys Works, which covers the bulk of student wages. Other philanthropic giving covers the cost of training, transportation assistance and wraparound services for students.
Interns make legitimate contributions
Like the intern who revamped Kirkland & Ellis’ IT stockroom, students in the Genesys Works program take on meaningful responsibilities at the companies where they work. They help run IT help desks, manage projects and contribute to data analysis and accounting.
“When people think of internships, they often think of someone who is maybe getting coffee for their boss or doing some photocopying,” Lindsey said. “Our young people are embedded in teams and work side-by-side with full-time employees.”
Comcast has worked with Genesys Works interns for two years. Supervisors and senior leaders alike are often surprised at the high level of professionalism and polish the students demonstrate, said Martel Neville, vice president of human resources. They come in with strong presentation skills, and the year-long structure gives them time to become valued members of their teams.
“I see the Genesys Works interns as having skin in the game,” Neville said. “They’re determined and committed to delivering results. That’s huge, especially for an organization like ours. We’re matrix, lean and looking at how to be more efficient.”
Investing in the region’s skilled workforce
Comcast also invests in Genesys Works as part of the company’s commitment to the community and long-term workforce development for the region, Neville said. Companies won’t have a healthy talent pipeline to draw from if no one invests in building a pool of skilled workers ready to enter the workforce.
“Our stance has always been we’re not just in these communities, we are these communities,” he said. “I need to make sure the community is healthy and that we have citizens who are employable for opportunities that provide a living wage.”
This year, 200 students applied for 60 spots. Over the next decade, Lindsey wants to boost the number of internships available, particularly in high-growth industries like healthcare and construction. The constraint is finding more companies like Comcast and Kirkland & Ellis.
“The only barrier to us growing is identifying employer partners who want to make this investment in our young people and also have this incredible part-time employee for an entire year,” Lindsey said.
The case for doing so is simple, Spruill said. “You’re helping a young professional gain meaningful, hands-on experience while also strengthening your own team. I view it as a true win-win.”
The interns at Genesys Works complete key projects, allowing you to develop future talent and rising leaders more effectively to achieve your goals. As one of nine Genesys Works sites nationwide, we engage with over 25 local companies to expand the talent pool with skilled and motivated early-career professionals for entry-level roles. Let’s partner to achieve your business goals.
Lauren Lawley Head is a freelance writer with The Business Journals Content Studio. The original article can be found here: 10 years of impact: How Genesys Works connects Capital Region employers with skilled interns – Washington Business Journal.
