Community Events
Internship Program Provides Hundreds of Students with an Experience Advantage
Since it started, the SHA-Putnam High School program has helped more than 250 students to gain valuable experience and, for some, even led to a fulltime job.
From L-R: Paul Spedero, facilities maintenance manager for the Springfield Housing Authority (SHA), works with Steven Monteiro, a former Putnam High School Intern who has been working with SHA since graduating six years ago. Monteiro was recently promoted to Mechanic II.
Springfield, MA (November 9, 2010) Paul Spedero, facilities maintenance manager at the Springfield Housing Authority (SHA) knows the internship program precedes his tenure at SHA. Some have told him it has been in existence for over 40 years. One estimate is known, however: literally hundreds of students from the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical High Program gained valuable work experience through it and, for some, it has led to fulltime employment with the SHA.
“I’ve worked for the SHA for 28 years and the program was already operating when I started,” said Spedero. “We average around nine or ten interns a year, so conservatively I estimate that about 250 have gone through the program while I was here. In recent years, we have hired seven of those students for fulltime employment.” Spedero has nothing but praise for the interns as well. “All the students referred from Putnam High School are very smart, sharp kids who are good workers. I wish we had more openings because I would definitely hire more of them.”
According to Spedero, during their internship the students work at specific trades such as carpentry, mechanics, plumbing, or office administration. While the program provides them with valuable work experience, it also helps the SHA. “We do not have the resources to do all the work that needs to be done, so the interns are really providing a valuable service to us,” notes Spedero. “They make repairs, help us keep the properties up, and handle the administrative work. We may call them interns, but they are certainly doing real work!”
For former intern and Putnam High School graduate Steven Monteiro the experience provide not only valuable, it also led to a job. Monteiro has been employed by the SHA since graduating 6 years ago and he was recently promoted to Mechanic II. “I really enjoy working for SHA because I get to work on something different every day,” said Monteiro. “The program is great and I want to show other people just how well it worked out for me and could work out for them too.”
About: The Springfield Housing Authority is the third largest housing authority in Massachusetts. Established in 1946, the SHA is the largest property owner in the region with more than 2,300 housing units spread over 27 separate sites. It also provides over 200 Massachusetts Rental Vouchers and more than 2,400 Housing Choice Vouchers. The organization’s $33.5 million dollar budget is estimated to have a local economic impact of approximately twice that amount. The SHA provides jobs, hires contractors, buys supplies, and pumps approximately $17 million into the local economy through its rental assistance programs.
