Happy National Intern Day from Greater Rochester Chamber!
Here’s to the Interns: our region’s future talent. Today, Thursday, July 31st is National Intern Day. We’re celebrating more than just the bright young minds who spend a few months contributing to our organizations. We’re celebrating the future of Rochester’s workforce—and the growing role internships play in shaping it.
In his recent column for the Rochester Business Journal, Greater Rochester Chamber President & CEO Bob Duffy made the case clearly: investing in internships isn’t just good for students. It’s a smart, long-term move for employers and our regional economy. When businesses nurture young talent, especially homegrown talent, we all benefit—from stronger pipelines to greater retention. Read the column here.
At Greater Rochester Chamber, this belief isn’t theoretical—it’s foundational. Through our CampusROC initiative, we’ve created a hub for internship support and early talent engagement that connects students, colleges, and companies throughout the nine-county region. We know that when students experience Rochester’s opportunities firsthand, they’re more likely to build a future here.
Through CampusROC, we host events like TalentFEST—a high-energy showcase where employers meet hundreds of local college students looking for internships and early-career opportunities. It’s a celebration of our region’s talent, and a chance for employers to make meaningful connections.
We also equip organizations to start or strengthen their internship programs through tools like Internship in a Box and Micro-Intern in a Box—easy-to-use, practical guides that walk companies through how to structure, support, and maximize intern success. These tools have helped businesses of all sizes make internships a lasting part of their talent strategy.
We don’t just talk the talk. At Greater Rochester Chamber, we’ve experienced firsthand the power of internships to build lasting value. Several of our key players on our team are former interns, now full-time professionals growing their careers in Rochester. And, we hire interns each year from local colleges and universities or high schools through the SYEP and SOOP programs.
Our values at Greater Rochester Chamber—inclusion, passion, integrity, collaboration, and service—are deeply reflected in how we approach workforce development. We believe that talent doesn’t need to be imported; it can be nurtured right here. That belief drives our CampusROC efforts and everything we do to elevate the region through connected prosperity.
To the interns making an impact today—and to the companies giving them a shot—thank you. Your investment is already shaping the Greater Rochester of tomorrow. Want to learn more about CampusROC or how to build your internship program? Visit CampusROC.org or connect with our team.