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Hello Detroit!

Dear AutoCom Team,
Dear All,

Six months ago I was sitting in the lobby at the Sheraton Frankfurt hotel in Germany, waiting for an interview with Larry. I ordered a fresh strawberry juice that for some reason had a blue coloring and strongly resembled a cocktail. I realized that it looked like I was drinking a cocktail, relaxing before the interview at 1:00 pm. In that connection, I was thinking about the importance of the first impression…Good thing I can laugh at myself!

And here I am. My name is Alina Kharchenko and I am a new intern for the next six months; I am 25 years old and come from Ukraine. Currently, I am pursuing a master’s degree in International Business at Nuremberg University, Germany. Regarding my work experience on the field of marketing and PR, I interned at Bosch Security Systems, Munich Area, at the department for Marketing and Communication. I took part in several projects covering Europe, South Africa and Asia. Automotive background is also present in my work biography, as I served at Bosch Gasoline Systems, a developer and manufacturer of modern gasoline-engine systems, on the field of human resource management. I am very excited about the opportunity to gain a valuable experience at AutoCom and to get to know the way of doing business in the U.S!

Thus, I am happy to be in Detroit, the birthplace of the American car industry. The city of the Big Three. The city of contrasts. The city that has gained its world fame not only through the assembly line developed by Ford Motor Company, Greenfield Village, the GM Renaissance Center, but also - causing by that auto industry decline - through hundreds of abandoned houses, empty factories and ruined skyscrapers. The city that is often called the Industrial Ghost.

I believe the future of Detroit and its suburbs depends on such small companies, like AutoCom, that help keep people employed. Although, if corporations and the U.S. government would consolidate their efforts in revitalization of industrial policy, maybe, then one could really say dreams made, dreams lost and dreams built again?

Alina

Comments

Winfried Menge said…
Hi Alina,
obviously the "first impression" of Larry about yourself was not very much influenced by the drink you had in front of you ;-)
Welcome at Autocom and all the best for your internship!

Best regards from Hella/Germany
Winfried

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