The Intern Impact

Published on July 29, 2024

by Elizabeth Sutphin
Communications Division

Celebrating National Intern Day with Pauline Allera and Anthony-Xavier Smallwood

Launching the next generation into their future careers while propelling forward today's businesses, internships promise invaluable rewards - both to the organization and the intern! Each year, CATS offers a myriad of internships to budding young professionals, inviting them into the world of public transportation, community service and local government. 

This summer, two incredible interns joined the CATS corporate team, embarking on an eight-week journey of hands-on learning and mentorship. Stepping into roles within Human Resources, Communications and Marketing, Anthony-Xavier Smallwood and Pauline Allera bring eager spirits of collaboration and curiosity to the CATS family.  

Anthony-Xavier’s love of transit is deeply rooted in his childhood. “My parents drove the bus for CATS for about 16 years, so I grew up riding with them while they were on and off the clock,” Anthony-Xavier said. Beyond the bus seats, Anthony-Xavier shares many fond memories with his father riding their bikes along the Rail Trail and other greenways across the city. 

Entering his final year at the Charlotte Engineering Early College, Anthony-Xavier aspires to continue his family’s legacy by establishing his own career in transit, with plans to study civil engineering, urban planning or public administration. When he found out he’d been placed in an internship with CATS through the Mayor’s Youth Employment Program, he was ecstatic to gain professional experience with an organization he hopes to serve in the future.

“This is actually my first job ever, so getting the experience of taking myself to work, being in an office setting, having autonomy, earning a paycheck, networking with other interns and employees and getting to see CATS from behind the curtain has all been absolutely the best," Anthony-Xavier said. "I know I want to work in public transit, but this internship is helping me decide where I’d want to contribute - from bus and rail operations to transit planning, civil engineering, marketing and maybe even human resources."

Pauline, a recent graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, has her sights set on a career in corporate communications and public relations. With a major in Communication Studies and a minor in Russian, Pauline is eager to put the skills she’s gained into practice for an organization making a difference - joining a team committed to serving the community she calls home. 

“My favorite part of the internship so far is meeting the rest of the team,” Pauline said. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know everyone and how their roles piece the organization together. Additionally, I’ve loved learning about different projects we’re working on and seeing what CATS is cooking up for the future.”

Her focus this semester is creating promotional materials for CATS’ newest initiative, the eSERVE Academy. The Academy offers paid, on-the-job training in a thriving industry, providing priceless opportunities to build a sustainable career for countless individuals in the community. With every social media post she writes, Pauline pours her talents into workforce development.

“Before coming into this position, I’ll be honest, it didn’t really click to me how important public transit was,” Pauline said. “I live in a car-centric area, so I have to drive everywhere I go. But after witnessing the personal impact public transit has within the community, I realized transit is important to me because it focuses on serving others.”

“For me,” Anthony-Xavier adds, “public transit is a passion. It has the coolest machines and systems on planet Earth. Buses and trains are also so fun to ride. Public transit is also a 

means of inexpensive transportation for me and many others. The fact that someone can get to all the major destinations in this city for $2.20 is really amazing. Plus, riding transit is better for the environment and social well-being of citizens.” 

Just as public transportation provides endless benefits to the community, we’ve found interns who contribute to our organization in incredible ways. Today, on National Intern Day, we celebrate the legacy of CATS interns and their tremendous impacts on the Charlotte community. Thank you, Anthony-Xavier and Pauline, for your commitment to learning, growth and moving people forward with efficiency and excellence.

For more on internship opportunities with CATS, follow along us on LinkedIn

Back to CATS Chronicles