Sodexo and Dress for Success Change the Life Hurricane Katrina Survivor, Monica Burns
By Michelle Thomas, Senior Manager, Diversity Recruitment

Monica Burns, Former Sodexo intern

Monica Burns, Former Sodexo intern

Typically, Sodexo’s Future Leaders Internship Program is geared towards undergraduate college students. However, this past summer in keeping with one of the company’s core values of spirit of service, the group made the decision to forge a new partnership with Dress for Success, a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support, and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. The result of this partnership was a 10 week internship which led to full time employment at Hillcrest Medical Center in Tulsa, OK for Monica Burns, a Hurricane Katrina survivor and evacuee. 

Please tell us about your background.
I am a 40 year old woman with three children from Louisiana. I consider myself a real go-getter. Before Hurricane Katrina hit and decimated my home, I lived in Louisiana and worked as a Catering Supervisor managing 30 employees at the New Orleans Super Dome. Life was good.

After the hurricane, life as I had known it was over. My world was completely turned upside down. My family and I were evacuated to the Camp Gruber Military Base in Braggs, Oklahoma. After being there for what seemed like an eternity, I decided to get on with my life and move my family to Tulsa, Oklahoma . Upon arriving in Tulsa, I began volunteering at the Metropolitan of Tulsa Urban League helping other hurricane survivors. What started off as a volunteer opportunity turned into a full time position. For the next year, I was employed as a Case Manager by the League. My job consisted of  working with various support agencies to help other survivors find financial assistance for utilities and housing as well as employment. This is actually how I was introduced to the employees at Dress for Success.

Why did you choose to pursue an internship with Sodexo?
My contract position with the Urban League was about to expire. Because of my previous involvement in helping with Dress for Success, I received a call from one of their employees informing me about an Environmental Services (Housekeeping) internship with Sodexo. What intrigued me most about this opportunity was that it would be something different from food service and catering which is what I had done before. Also, I was told that the intent of the internship was to hire interns into permanent positions. Needless to say, I pursued the internship and the rest is history. I am now employed by Hill Crest Medical Center as the 3rd shift Environmental Services Supervisor.

What was your most memorable experience from your internship?
I enjoyed getting to know people from different levels in the organization. In fact, I was able to meet the president of Hillcrest. Now that I am working on the nightshift, I am meeting even more people.

Why do you think that it is important for students to have an internship while they are in college? It will help them get real world experience in their major and find out what they really want to do in life.