Paying Dividends
Ohio Wesleyan Student’s Internship Helps Prepare Him for Business Career
Name: Andrew Williamson ’25
Hometown: Heath, Ohio
High school: Heath High School
Majors: Finance and Economics
OWU Connection Experience: 12-week summer internship at NiSource Inc. in Columbus, Ohio (Arena District)
Williamson is working through mid-August as an accounts payable intern at NiSource, a leading natural gas and electric distributer among multiple midwestern states.
My Duties
“My role includes ensuring NiSource vendors get accurate and timely payments. This includes working with vendors to get them enrolled in an electronic payment system, identifying overpayments made by NiSource so they can recover funds, and communicating with colleagues to ensure accurate reporting of financial information.”
My Favorite Moment
“My favorite moment has been the supply chain summit I attended with my colleagues. It was led by some executives and leaders in the organization, and it gave me a chance to meet a lot of people that I work very closely with and learn more about their sector, and how my work in accounts payable, interacts with their work in the supply chain and vice versa. I also was able to learn what NiSource has accomplished as a company and goals they are striving toward.”
Lessons Learned
“In accounting, we learn about debits and credits. I’ve been able to experience firsthand how important these are within a financial position. In one of the projects I’m working on, if NiSource overpays a supplier, sometimes the supplier will debit or credit specific accounts depending on what the companies agree upon.
“Another lesson I’ve learned is how to communicate better in a corporate setting. I often work with individuals who are not in my department, so they are not super familiar with some of the financial language. I’ve been able to learn how to communicate effectively with them so they understand what I am talking about.
“Something I will take into future experiences is how important communication between companies is, especially when it comes to finances. A lot of issues can arise if there is miscommunication, so the best way to avoid these situations is to communicate, and try to make sure you have the full picture before making a large decision.”
OWU Mentors
“I’ve had multiple OWU faculty members that have helped me greatly in my time at OWU so far. I came into the Economics and Business Department my sophomore year and was welcomed and helped by my adviser, professor (Barbara) MacLeod, and additionally professor (Emily) West, professor (Jon) Younkman, and Carolyn Lammert (internship coordinator) – all who have helped me to get to where I am at today.”
Campus Involvements
“I am a part of the varsity cross country and the varsity indoor and outdoor track teams. I am joining Accounting and Finance Fellows in the fall, along with the Economics Student Board. Additionally, I work as a sports commentator for OWU and commentate for a variety of different sports.”
Why Ohio Wesleyan?
“I chose to attend Ohio Wesleyan because of the great opportunities here, along with the running program.”
Plans After Graduation
“After graduation, I plan to gain work experience, attend graduate school for an MBA, and, potentially, obtain a CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) or CPA (Certified Public Accountant) certification.”