Intern Spotlight: How Evie DeCarlo’s Early Inspiration Led to a Summer at Battelle

We’re excited to feature Evie DeCarlo, one of our talented interns at Battelle this summer. When Evie first walked through the doors of Battelle as a child during “Bring Your Child to Work Day,” she had no idea that years later she would return, not as a visitor, but as a valued member of the team. Now a Procurement Intern and Finance major at Northern Michigan University, Evie is spending her summer immersed in the fast-paced world of supply chain operations.

“My father used to work at Battelle,” Evie recalls. “Getting to see everything Battelle had accomplished and what they were currently working on always intrigued me, even as a 10-year-old. The experiences and people I met back then always stuck with me.” 

That early exposure planted a seed. When it came time to search for internships, Battelle was at the top of her list. “I applied to a few of Battelle’s internship opportunities and was lucky enough to get selected for the procurement position,” she says. 

Learning the Language of Procurement

Evie’s role involves more than just paperwork. She collaborates with teams across the organization to connect with suppliers, create and send purchase orders, and ensure that projects run smoothly behind the scenes. It’s a hands-on experience that’s pushed her to grow in unexpected ways. 

“I am very proud of the improvement made to my communication skills,” she shares. “I’ve always favored face-to-face communication, so making the change to sending more emails or pinging co-workers on Teams started as a minor struggle. But after sending numerous emails each day, I’ve gained more confidence and comfort with my digital communication skills.” 

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Innovation 

One of the highlights of Evie’s internship was a visit to Battelle’s armored vehicles site, a moment that brought the company’s mission to life in a tangible way. “It was such a fun experience getting to walk through the facility and witness all the vehicles being uparmored,” she explains.

Expanding Horizons 

Though she’s studying finance, Evie’s time in procurement has opened her eyes to new career possibilities.  

“It has been an interesting experience doing a job that has a supply chain focus rather than a finance focus,” she explains. “Getting to work in procurement has piqued my interest in the supply chain process, and I’m more open to doing something that may not be fully finance-related after college. This has expanded my vision for career goals.” 

Teamwork and Daily Sync-Ups 

Evie credits her team’s daily 30-minute sync-ups as a key part of her learning experience. These check-ins help keep everyone connected, especially remote team members, and provide a space to ask questions and share updates. 

“As an intern, I don’t always have something to share,” she admits, “but I’ve found it helpful in learning more about my team and what each person is doing.” 

Advice for Future Interns 

When asked about the significance of internships, Evie’s manager, Katie Mattioda emphasized, “Internships offer more than a glimpse into the professional world—they provide real-world experiences, mentorship, and the opportunity to stretch beyond the classroom. For growing professionals, they’re often the spark that transforms curiosity into capability.” - Katie Mattioda, Manager, Procurement Compliance and Operations  

For those considering an internship at Battelle, Evie offers this advice: “It can be intimidating on your first day, but don’t let that stop you from exploring new friendships and opportunities the second you walk through the door. Internships are meant to be a fun learning experience that helps you discover what your career goals are. Participate in as many activities as you can and come to work with an open mind.” 

Thank you, Evie, for sharing your story! Stay tuned for more intern spotlights and inspiration from our Battelle team.