Future in focus: Inside JELD-WEN's 2026 internship experience

Sustainability in action | Kate Van Farowe

As a sustainability intern, Kate Van Farowe spent the summer helping advance the company's sustainability initiatives through data analysis, emissions reporting and cross-functional collaboration.

Working alongside ESG leaders and stakeholders across the business, Kate gained first-hand experience supporting projects that contribute to JELD-WEN's long-term sustainability goals.

One of Kate's proudest accomplishments was developing a methodology for calculating Category 1 Scope 3 emissions, one of the company's largest sources of indirect emissions.

"This was the first calculation model that I had to develop practically from scratch due to the nature of the data not fitting with previous templates," said Kate. “Category 1 is one of our largest sources of Scope 3 emissions, so I was especially proud of this model and how I documented my method for future calculations."

Beyond her project work, Kate had opportunities to learn from sustainability professionals outside of JELD-WEN. One of her favorite experiences was attending a networking event in Charlotte, North Carolina, featuring sustainability leaders from organizations including Ally, NASCAR and UNC Charlotte.

"It was encouraging to see the progress the city is making while listening to leaders from a variety of organizations," she said. "It gave me a broader perspective on sustainability efforts happening across different industries."

Like many interns, Kate experienced a learning curve when she first joined the company.

"At the beginning of this internship, I had a lot of imposter syndrome," she said. "I felt overwhelmed, and it took me a second to wrap my head around JELD-WEN's business functions and all the data the ESG team manages."

As the summer progressed, Kate gained confidence in her role and developed a stronger understanding of the business.

Looking back on her experience, Kate encourages future interns to give themselves time to learn and grow.

"Don't be scared," she said. "Ask questions, be patient with yourself and trust that your confidence will build as you gain experience.

Supporting quality and operations | Caleb Ward

As a quality assurance intern, Caleb Ward worked closely with manufacturing facilities and suppliers across North America, helping recover supplier credits for defective materials and supporting projects focused on quality and operational performance.

"A typical day for me consists of lots of communication with our plants and suppliers," said Caleb. "Alongside that, I've been working on projects involving quality concerns at our plants, from transportation damage to production efficiency improvements."

Throughout the summer, Caleb expanded his technical knowledge while adapting to new systems and processes.

"There has been a steep learning curve this summer," he said. "A lot of the projects I've worked on involved learning new software, systems and terminology so I could complete the tasks assigned to me."

As his responsibilities increased, Caleb also developed skills that extend beyond engineering.

"I've learned a lot about time management and workload management," he said. "As the summer progressed, I was given more responsibility, and I had to learn how to balance everything in a timely and organized way."

One of his most memorable experiences was participating in the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance InternCLT program, where he connected with fellow interns from organizations across the region and expanded his professional network.

"This was a great experience because it allowed me to connect with other interns and build my confidence in networking," said Caleb.

Reflecting on his experience, Caleb believes curiosity is one of the most important qualities an intern can have.

"Don't be afraid to ask 'dumb' questions," he said. "When you start an internship, you're coming into a completely new environment with systems, acronyms and workflows that you don't know yet and the sooner you ask those questions and learn the answers, the more successful and productive you'll be."