CMU connection opens doors at Stellantis for Lauren Bonomo

When Lauren Bonomo transferred to Central Michigan University from Macomb Community College as a sophomore, she arrived with a clear goal: to become the kind of student who shows up, takes ownership and keeps growing. Two years later, that mindset has carried her to an internship at Stellantis and a place in the company's Student Program.

Now a senior, Bonomo is a triple major in Logistics Management, Purchasing and Supply Management, and Marketing, with a minor in Information Systems. She credits CMU's environment with helping her become an active, accountable student, and her resume shows it.

She is a Resident Assistant, co-president of a professional business fraternity, a peer mentor, and a member of the CMU Cheer & Stunt team. So how does one student juggle three majors, a minor, leadership roles, and a summer at one of the world's largest automakers? How does she find the time, and what keeps her going? For Bonomo, the answer starts with one habit, and it's the same one that led her to Stellantis.

A connection made at CMU

Bonomo's path to Stellantis began on campus, at the Supply Chain Management Association's fall networking night. There she met two Stellantis representatives and started a conversation.

Conversation is one of her strengths. Bonomo calls herself a conversationalist, and she never walks into one unprepared. Before meeting recruiters, she researches their company. Then she asks about their own experiences and talks with them about the company. She says that preparation has helped her move forward at every step.

It paid off. Bonomo received five internship offers. She chose Stellantis, in part because it let her spend the summer near her family in Auburn Hills.

Supporting outbound transportation

At Stellantis, Bonomo supported the outbound transportation team, handling special transport requests. When asked to sum up the experience in one word, she didn't hesitate to say "Transformational."

The internship opened her eyes to how the industry works in the real world, and she discovered how much she enjoys hands-on, practical work. One highlight of her summer was the bond she built with her director, Tammy Ruelland.

Asked how she turned a summer internship into a student program offer and a potential full-time role, Bonomo pointed to a mindset she believes every student should adopt, whether they hope to break into the automotive industry or any other field: "Your internship is an interview for the next role."

Putting CMU knowledge to work

Bonomo found her CMU education useful from the start. She worked daily with data tools such as Power BI and IBM Cognos. The Excel skills she sharpened at CMU, especially pivot tables, carried directly into her work. She also noticed differences between classroom and workplace tools: Tableau, which she learned at CMU, wasn't in use on her team.

The internship had its challenges. Learning unfamiliar software took time, and at first she had to figure out how to navigate new systems. Bonomo doesn't hesitate to ask questions, though, and her eagerness to keep learning got her up to speed.

With her Stellantis internship complete, a place in the Student Program and a potential job offer ahead, Bonomo has her future planned out. That doesn't stop her from trying new things.