Intern gets on the job experience with Hartwig

When looking at the 38-year-old Glenwood, Iowa, man, you might not think of him as an intern.

But Mike Nichols, a graduate student in public administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, is just that.

Nichols drives the 62 miles to Fremont every workday to serve as the intern for city administrator Bob Hartwig.

“Basically, I help the city administrator with routine tasks,” Nichols said. “That allows him to focus more on big projects that need more attention, but I’m also here to learn. In the 10 weeks that I’ve been here, it’s been invaluable.

“I’ve learned good stuff in school, but it’s nothing like what I’ve learned here. I owe a huge thanks to Bob Hartwig, Mayor ‘Skip’ Edwards and the city council for giving me this opportunity.”

So far, Nichols said he has been involved in several projects, including preparing the budget book for publication, being involved with the downtown revitalization group, economic enhancement and helping to develop the proposed events coordinator position.

“Bob Hartwig is a great guy to learn under,” he said. “He’s forward thinking.”

Nichols said he has been drawn to local government.

“It’s because of my mom and dad, even leading back to my grandfather. They have been involved in their community,” he said. “To me, it seems the best place to have the most impact.

“I believe community and local government is where you can really connect with the community on a personal level. It’s more intimate.”

Hartwig started discussing the benefits of having a graduate school intern during the summer when the 2008-2009 budget was first discussed with members of the city council.

The city administrator presented the idea as a series of 16-week internships with the possibility of retaining an intern for more than one session.

Nichols said he definitely hopes that he can remain working as an intern with Hartwig until he graduates in May 2009.

His original career was not in local government.

After graduating from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, Mo., in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science and mathematics, he worked as a consulting actuary for a life and health insurance company for five years before working at Glenwood Research Center as a management analyst.

“After I was there for a year, I knew I wanted more than what that position offered,” Nichols said.

He started graduate school in January 2007 and is completing a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in local government.