Del Mar College students can turn their current jobs at local small businesses into higher-paying internship opportunities through Del Mar College’s Small Business Internship Program (SBIP).

 SBIP is a resource available to all majors and small businesses that are in Nueces County with 49 employees or fewer.

“The program is funded by the City of Corpus Christi to aid small businesses in business growth, economic development and increase job retention,” Program Coordinator Jacqueline Roberson said. “While also giving students the chance to gain hands-on experience in their field of study before inserting into the professional workforce.”

According to Roberson, businesses receive help from the reduced costs in recruiting and training employment by taking advantage of wage incentives offered.

“Students benefit from earning a minimum of $14.50 an hour through part-time work while pursuing their education and gaining valuable professional experience prior to graduation,” Roberson said. 

According to business owner and program participant, Michelle Roddel, founder of Beauty and the Bistro Catering, the internship program has helped her with combating the high turnover and training challenges within the food industry by offering career-focused student interns with structured skills.

“Because the students are on a chosen career path and they are also accountable to their professors and the SBIP administrators, their attention, job performance and work ethic results in a more professional and committed workforce,” Roddel said. “This stability helps me, as a small business owner to free up and focus more time to grow my business, which, in turn, helps justify taking them on full time when they graduate, and their internship is complete.”

Christopher (Tyler) Tichacek, a hospitality major, joined the small business internship program after meeting Michelle, the owner of Beauty and the Bistro, at a Del Mar College job fair. Although he received nine job offers from the fair, he was drawn to Michelle’s charisma and appreciated that her business was locally owned, setting it apart from the others.

Michelle, a business owner who effectively utilizes resources from the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) located within the Economic Development Center, learned about the internship program from a business advisor. As a Del Mar alumni, she was eager to give back to students in her community.

Through his internship, Tyler has gained valuable networking opportunities, including becoming a student ambassador with the Viking Vanguard Team, an advocacy group for Del Mar students.

“I’ve been so blessed to develop priceless relationships with my supervisors and colleagues at Beauty and the Bistro, and I will truly cherish those connections for the rest of my life.”

As a hospitality major, Tyler said, “It’s been an amazing experience. I genuinely enjoy working events and interacting with people. I always strive to create a positive and memorable experience for others. In addition to my major, I also really enjoy cooking.”

When asked if he would recommend the internship program to other students, Tyler replied, “I already do! I mention it to everyone because, really, why wouldn’t you want to?”

Students interested in participating in the program—whether they are currently working at a small business and want to enroll that business as a site or are not yet employed and want to be matched with a business that is hiring for their major —can apply by visiting www.delmar.edu/sbip and submitting a Student Intake Form for enrollment consideration.

Applications are accepted year-round and are open to all Del Mar College majors and programs.