GEORGIA COUNTY INTERNSHIP SPOTLIGHT

Kristy Guerrier, an international business major at Penn State Behrend, interned with Fulton County over the summer. She worked in the Fulton County Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs Division, where she learned first-hand about county government and interactions between state and local governments.

Before her internship, Guerrier was not familiar with county government operations. While working alongside intergovernmental affairs staff, she acquired a deep understanding of relations between state legislators and county operations. Guerrier's main project during the summer was the completion of the 2022 State Legislative Session Final Report.

The annual report covers county-related legislation that passed in the previous legislative session. Guerrier reviewed the report draft to identify errors and collected accurate details such as effective dates and sunset dates. She then coordinated and distributed the report to interested parties across the county. As part of the project, Guerrier traveled to the Georgia State Capitol to deliver the report and interact with state legislative staff. Reflecting on her experience, she said visiting the capitol was her favorite part of the internship.

In addition to completing the legislative report, Guerrier had the unique oppurtunity to observe Local Option Sales Tax (LOST) negotiations. LOST negotiations happen every 10 years, and she attended board of commissioners meetings to monitor them. Guerrier also supported community outreach events in the county. She assisted with the operations of an internal community outreach event and provided activity support to the annual It Takes a Village School Drive. During the event, Guerrier interacted with commissioners and provided school supplies to constituents and families.

At the start of her internship, Guerrier set goals for what she hoped to achieve through the summer: developing professional hard skills, sharpening soft skills, and gaining first-hand legislative knowledge. By the close of the summer, Guerrier said she was able to achieve the goals she set for herself. She noted that through the internship experience, she improved her attention to detail, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. “I do believe these three skills will help me with my future career goals by allowing me to carry out responsibilities accurately, make decisions, and think outside the box to solve problems," she said.

As an intern, Guerrier provided critical support to both Fulton County staff and residents. At the same time, she gained an experience she will carry on through her career. Though her future plans are not firm, Guerrier is interested in exploring legislative environments and is grateful for her internship for building confidence in herself and her skills.

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