I spent two summers in a row interning and living in Virginia Beach!
I am grateful for my experience at STIHL Inc.
I completed a Human Resources Internship in 2024
and a Brand Marketing Internship in 2025.
These experiences taught me so much and I love to talk about my experience.
What is STIHL Inc.?
Let's Recap
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Let's Recap 〰️
STIHL Inc. is the U.S.-based arm of a German company that produces outdoor power equipment, including chainsaws and leaf blowers. It operates as part of the STIHL Group, overseeing manufacturing and distribution across the United States.
2024
Human Resources Internship
During my Human Resources internship at STIHL Inc., I followed a rotational schedule throughout the summer of 2024, shadowing all departments of HR in Virginia Beach, VA.
I gained valuable experience working across teams such as Payroll, Recruiting, and HR Business Partners.
However, what truly inspired my creative abilities was collaborating with Talent Development and HR Operations to plan and execute company events, combining strategic thinking with creative execution.
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• Assisted with logistics, planning, and graphic design for the 10th Annual STIHL Manufacturing Technology Summer Camp
• Supported internal training initiatives and employee development programs -
Observed payroll processing workflows and learned about compliance and confidentiality in handling employee compensation
• Gained insight into timekeeping systems and payroll reporting
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• Learned about HR systems, data management, and employee lifecycle processes
• Created graphics and helped with the logistics for significant company events
• Gained experience in event planning
• Gained proficiency in Canva for graphic creation -
Explored compensation structures, benefits packages, and employee incentives
Learned how STIHL communicates and manages employee rewards
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• Shadowed strategic HR planning and employee relations discussions
• Observed how HR supports department-specific needs and drives organizational goals
• Gained experience in Microsoft Excel for reporting purposes -
• Gained exposure to the hiring process, candidate screening, and onboarding procedures
• Learned about employer branding and recruitment marketing strategies
E-board Graphics
E-Board graphics: I created graphics for each department.
I sent out weekly “Mindful Monday” newsletters to interns
DEI & B Initiative
Internal Corporate Event Planning
During my internship at STIHL Inc., I helped plan multiple corporate events, including the
Employee Summit
The STIHL Manufacturing and Technology Summer Camp
STIHL Inc. Family Picnic
On June 8, 2024, STIHL Inc. hosted its annual Family Picnic at its Virginia Beach, VA headquarters, welcoming over 3,000 employees and their families.
THE ASK: Support the HR Operations team by designing event graphics for the Company Picnic, while also celebrating STIHL Inc.’s 50th anniversary in the United States.
THE SIGNIFICANCE :The Company Picnic reflects STIHL Inc.’s strong company culture and emphasis on community. Graphics like “We Are STIHL Family” reinforced a core brand belief: employees and customers alike are part of a shared, family-driven culture, strengthening emotional connection and brand identity.
STIHL Manufacturing and Technology Summer Camp
At the 2024 STIHL Manufacturing Technology Summer Camp, I:
Designed T-shirts and polos
Created, organized, and led an interactive presentation on budgeting for the final-day “Shark Tank” competition
Assisted with event setup, coordination, and organization
Budget Presentation
2025
Brand Marketing Internship
In the summer of 2025, I interned in the Marketing Department at STIHL USA.
The most significant project I worked on was reporting and data analysis. I analyzed metrics from the STIHL USA website to evaluate performance across different sections, including the Q+A section and the Frequently Asked Questions page.
Using this data, I developed actionable insights and recommendations, which I presented to the Vice President of Marketing, outlining opportunities to improve the website experience and performance.
Throughout my Summer 2025 Brand Marketing internship, I sharpened my skills in:
Data analytics
Marketing analytics
Attention to detail
Navigating the STIHL Brand Portal
PowerPoint design and presentation
Microsoft Office Suite
REFLECTION
Interning at STIHL Inc.’s headquarters in Virginia Beach, VA was an incredible opportunity, and one I feel very grateful to have had. As a Communication Studies major at Christopher Newport University, I wasn’t entirely sure what path I wanted to pursue after graduation. Starting in Human Resources gave me the chance to explore a new area, and ultimately led me to the Marketing Department, where I discovered my passion for advertising.
My time in HR helped me better understand where my strengths lie, particularly on the creative side. While I was able to design graphics and contribute creatively within HR, transitioning to the Marketing Department in 2025 expanded my perspective even further. There, I gained insight into the legal side of marketing through studying STIHL’s brand book, deepening my understanding of how creativity operates within structured brand guidelines.
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