When Watford City (ND) High School student Kollin Klang started working at restaurant Twist 2.0 in 2022, he never could have predicted his summer food service job would eventually lead to a career-focused cooperative work experience. Now a senior, Klang is working as a business and marketing employee for Farmers Union Oil Company, the cooperative that owns the restaurant and drive-thru. In fact, Farmers Union created the work-based learning (WBL) experience for him, impressed with his customer service skills, work ethic, and enthusiasm.
“When Kollin started working for us, we realized he was a really well-rounded employee and we thought he would work well in marketing,” says Farmers Union General Manager Dave Hansen. “Creating the cooperative work experience benefitted both of us.”
Coordinated through the Cooperative Work Experience class at the high school and managed through Golden Path Solution’s online platform Compass, Klang’s WBL opportunity is giving him valuable hands-on business and marketing experience. Since starting at the co-op this summer, he’s decided to attend the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks next year to study marketing.
“Without this work experience, I wouldn’t have found what I like doing now,” Klang says. “It really gives me a sense of maturity because I have so many different responsibilities and I’m developing a strong idea of what I want to do. When you take an opportunity like this and really put some effort into it, you can figure out what you want in life.”
Jill Leach, Bakken Area Skills Center (BASC) and Cooperative Work Experience teacher, says work experiences like this are key to students discovering where their interests lie and what might be a good fit for them and their future goals.
“It is a great feeling when you get to see one of your students thrive in their job experience, to see the confidence they are building and the passion they feel for what they want in a future career,” Leach says. “Being a part of all that and watching this all come together is a wonderful feeling.”
Stepping into his role
After morning classes at the high school, Klang heads to the Famers Union convenience store, gas station, and service shop for three hours every afternoon. With a desk near the front of the store, he warmly greets customers while designing new marketing brochures, reviewing financials, or creating advertisements. Klang’s bright and talkative personality shines through his work as he develops monthly specials, interviews job applicants, takes photos during events, helps with the food truck, completes invoices, inputs tickets, and continues to work his Saturday shift at Twist 2.0 in the store. He’s willing to jump into any project, not afraid to ask questions, and treated as an equal co-worker. The 2:30 p.m. burger breaks don’t hurt either.
“I have the ability to really do a little of everything here,” he says. “Every day is honestly something new and I’m always learning.”
Klang’s cooperative work experience will last the entire school year and he hopes to continue at Farmers Union during the summer as he prepares for college. He’s appreciated the insight, help, direction, and mentorship from all of the employees, but especially Hansen and Nikki Erwin in Accounts Payable/Cardtrol. They’ve pushed him to work hard and stay focused on his goals.
“My first week working here, I was thrown into everything and it was overwhelming,” Klang says. “But they explained to me that during college I would have internships and asked if I could hire someone or had general business skills. They really want me to have all the skills I needed to work in a business setting and to connect this experience to college itself.”
Helping students prepare for their futures
Erwin says the co-op has worked with students for years and they are the driving force behind Twist 2.0, making up 85 percent of the staff. Creating a new business and marketing role for Klang at the co-op was the next step in offering additional student learning opportunities, while also benefiting their business.
“We offer a very unique opportunity for students as we have business and marketing in the office, c-store/gas station, restaurant, and a mobile food truck,” she says. “There are many business/marketing opportunities within our co-op and no two departments are alike.”
Erwin credits Leach and Golden Path with making the entire cooperative learning experience easy to set up and manage.
“The process seemed to be very smooth for first-time users and we’re excited to be part of the program,” she says.
Hansen says helping Klang prepare for his future is key to the WBL experience.
“I know the importance of bringing teens into your business,” he says. “We’re teaching them life skills, holding them accountable, and giving them jobs to do with timelines. Hopefully, he can look back on what he’s learned at the co-op and realize he can make a good living here.”
Erwin agrees.
“Being involved and connected with the youth in our community is very important to the success of future employees and business relationships for the future,” she says.
To learn more about WBL opportunities, contact Golden Path Solutions today.