July 20, 2026
Ethan Pokress is leveraging the organization and communication skills he learned at Mizzou Engineering in his summer internship with EquipmentShare.
Information technology (IT) senior Ethan Pokress is currently working as an intern in the learning and development department at equipment sales and rental services company EquipmentShare in Columbia.
Pokress grew up around computers and began working in his family’s IT consultancy business in high school.
“IT was something I was drawn towards and wanted to pursue,” he said. “I knew a degree in information technology would give me the tools I needed to pursue it.”
Pokress followed his passion for technology and development to Mizzou Engineering, where the focus is on finding practical solutions to real-world issues.
“I especially love it when tech doesn’t exist in a bubble like a website or other cloud solution, but when it integrates with a real process line and an existing market,” he said.
Pokress first encountered EquipmentShare his freshman year, when the company presented to his Engineering 1000 course. In the presentation, Pokress learned about the EquipmentShare T3 technology platform, which integrates construction equipment with smart technologies, and fell in love with the company immediately.
“That initial presentation made me know I want to work here,” he said. “It was later at the Mizzou Engineering Career Fair that got my foot in the door.”
On the job, Pokress helps ensure the accuracy of training materials, technical documentation and standard practices documents for the company’s nearly 8,000 employees.
“A typical day for me includes meetings with various members both within and external to my department and reaching out to subject matter experts to generate learning materials and information that can be passed on to our technical writers,” he said.
Pokress appreciates the opportunities EquipmentShare offers its employees.
“Although my current internship program does not center around IT, my manager has made an effort to put me in contact with leaders within the IT and T3 departments,” he said. “They want to see you succeed within the company, even if that isn’t the department you’re currently in.”
Pokress encourages students to get to know their colleagues as soon as they land an internship.
“The most important skill you can have is the ability to be outgoing and communicative with your coworkers,” he said. “A lot of my role is reaching out to and working with different departments, each one has its own goals and terminology.”
Pokress credits Mizzou Engineering for setting him up for success in his internship.
“The college taught me the value of strong organization and communication skills,” he said. “A lot of my job involves working with a wide variety of departments and groups within the company, the basis of which I learned in Mizzou Engineering.”
Leading employers are looking for Mizzou Engineers like you. Here’s how to meet them.