Originally electronically published on July 18, 2013 for Corning.

CORNING, N.Y. – Matt Sharkey understands Corning’s passion about innovation. The Bucknell University student is working through his third summer internship — this one with Corporate Environmental Control — before resuming his environmental science studies in the fall.

Matt and about 75 other interns attended the annual chairman’s luncheon at the Corning Museum of Glass on Monday and heard Chairman and CEO Wendell Weeks describe how and why innovation has driven the company for more than 160 years.

“Everyone’s always interested in having a new product. It’s pushing me toward wanting to be the one who made it.” said Matt, explaining why he keeps coming back to Corning.

He’s not alone. By a show of hands at the luncheon, several interns among the 117 with Corning this summer are returnees. In the Corning Valley alone, there are 76 interns this summer with another 41 scattered among other U.S. locations.

In his remarks, Wendell referenced Simon Sinek’s “Golden Circle” theory that emphasizes the “why” ― and not just the “what” and “how” ― behind effective leadership and how that relates to successful companies.

He pointed to Apple, noting that its focus on the “why” behind its products is what has made the high-tech company a resounding consumer success. Like Apple, Corning communicates its “why” ― producing life-changing innovations ― to customers.

“We structure the company around making that happen,” he said.

Focusing on innovation, Wendell said, has helped keep Corning among 65 companies out of those originally listed on Standard & Poor’s 500 Index in 1957. And though the ride since hasn’t always been smooth, Corning’s Values ― Quality, Integrity, Performance, Leadership, Innovation, Independence, and The Individual ― have served the company well.

Referring to the seventh Value, Wendell stressed the impact one person can make, even in a company of about 29,000 employees.

“We are not so vast that an individual can’t make a difference,” Wendell said.

From a summer intern’s perspective, Raymond Iurilli, a material science and engineering major from Georgia Tech, agreed.

“I’m getting real work assignments,” said Raymond, who works in Manufacturing Technology and Engineering and will be a senior in the fall. “I feel like I’m making a difference within the company.”

Maria Schimizzi grew up in Corning, but it wasn’t until her communications internship with Display Technologies that she came to appreciate Corning the company.

“I didn’t realize how prestigious of a company this is,” said Maria, whose father works for Corning. “Growing up here, I knew it was a big deal, but I didn’t understand the magnitude.”
Jim Eickmann, who works in Life Sciences in the Kennebunk plant in Maine, traveled 450 miles in a company van with the plant’s interns to attend the luncheon.

He noted that some of the plant’s newest hires are past interns whose experience has allowed them to “hit the ground running” with the company.

Both Matt and Maria can see themselves returning to Corning as a place of employment.

“I’m always learning,” said Matt. “Corning is an awesome environment to work in.”

Wendell reminded interns that summers at Corning can serve as a type of courtship ― for the company and students. “An internship at Corning is similar to how dating is to marriage,” he said. “It’s all about finding if we’re soul mates.”

And if the fit is right, the future can be fulfilling and financially rewarding after they graduate and join Corning, Wendell advised the students.

“Do you like the ‘why’? Do you embrace these values?” Wendell told them to ask themselves. If the answer is yes, he said, “Then you’ve found the right place.”