C&N Bank internship steers business major toward a project management career

Heading into her senior year at Commonwealth University-Mansfield, Natalie Bliss got a jumpstart into the business world as an intern with C&N Bank.

Bliss spent her summer as a project management intern at C&N Bank at its Wellsboro headquarters. With over 30 locations in Pennsylvania and New York, C&N Bank is a community financial institution that provides personal and business banking services.

The primary focus of her internship was assisting with major vendor changes involving five sub-projects affecting the organization's storage and operating processes.

“I exported and formatted reports using Salesforce and assisted in the maintenance of multiple ongoing projects by gathering status updates and completing follow-up tasks while helping the team stay on track” said Bliss, a business administration major. “I additionally completed a capstone project identifying five key areas in project management that can determine the success of a project.”

Throughout her internship, Bliss networked with the executive team, department leaders, and fellow interns to complete her tasks. A highlight of her internship was being able to meet members of the executive team in-person and via Zoom.

“Even though I was just a summer intern, I felt that it showed the interconnectedness C&N exemplifies and that every individual is part of the same team, regardless of their leadership level,” Bliss said.

Mansfield’s business program through the Zeigler College of Business provided Bliss with the necessary knowledge and basic skill sets to enter the workforce with confidence.

“No two workplaces are the same, especially in business where there are endless industries, but the leadership opportunities on Mansfield’s campus definitely provided opportunities to go outside my comfort zone and build management skills,” Bliss said.

As a future graduate, Bliss noted that this internship helped her realize she’s capable of achieving more than she once thought.

“My biggest apprehension is whether I’m truly prepared for the workforce,” Bliss said. “This position showed me that my efforts are paying off, but it also highlighted the areas I can improve in to prepare for my next position.”

She added, “Being part of a professional environment and thrown into the deep end is the best way to test anyone’s abilities as a professional, and this internship provided that opportunity. I found that I quite enjoy the role of a project manager and hope to continue this particular profession after graduation.”