During his internship, Oden gained hands-on experience with the electric cooperative industry and had the opportunity to see firsthand how technology, engineering and operations work together to provide safe and reliable electric service to members. His internship is among several that have led to full-time positions with electric co-ops, sparked through North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives’ statewide internship program.

“The internship program has become an important workforce development tool for electric cooperatives, particularly those serving rural communities,” said Lauren Liles, human resources operations manager for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “By introducing talented students to the cooperative business model and the increasingly technology-driven electric utility industry, internships can open the door to careers students may not have previously considered.

The program connects college students with electric cooperatives across the state, giving students valuable real-world experience while helping cooperatives develop the next generation of employees. In 2026, electric co-ops hosted 10 engineering and cybersecurity interns, along with six at North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives’ statewide office in Raleigh and two at co-op owned generation plants.

“Internship programs give us an opportunity to introduce talented young professionals to the cooperative industry while developing employees who can help us meet the changing needs of our members and our industry,” said Tri-County EMC General Manager Mike Davis.