Intern Spotlight: Jonah Schmitz
Jonah Schmitz
School: Edina High School
Internship: Sales Development Representative Intern
Jonah is from St. Paul, Minnesota, and graduated from Edina High School in 2023. Outside of work, he enjoys working out, reading books on history, business, and investing, and attending church and small group at Everyday Church in Roseville.
Choosing Design Ready Controls: A Place to Learn, Build, and Belong
Jonah first heard about Design Ready Controls during a workout class with Joe House, where he learned about all the great work happening at the company. Reflecting on his conversation with Joe, Jonah shared, “I believed in the company and knew it would be a great place to learn.” With a strong interest in the manufacturing space, he sees the industry as the future and the backbone of what keeps America running. Jonah enjoys working with his hands, so seeing the physical projects that make the world function is especially rewarding. A key factor in his choice to join Design Ready Controls was the leadership of Joe House and Amanda Gregory—he knew their guidance and support would help make his experience a positive one.
A Workplace That Inspires and Empowers
Reflecting on his first few months at Design Ready Controls, Jonah says, “The people are what make this the best workplace. The leaders here are incredibly open and always willing to support me with responsibilities that help me grow as a Sales Development Representative.” He loves that Design Ready Controls offers a hands-on environment, allowing him to take ownership of his projects and truly make an impact.
Passion for Sales
Jonah has always had a passion for connecting with people and naturally enjoys engaging in conversation. He says, “Making connections and talking with people just came naturally, so why not use that skill?” Jonah also shared that he has looked up too many individuals in sales, including Joe House. He adds, “Sales is a crucial skill that you can use in any business and throughout life.” One quote Jonah finds especially inspiring in Sales comes from Warren Buffett: “The one easy way to become worth 50 percent more than you are now—at least—is to hone your communication skills.”
Highlights of his Role
A couple of projects stand out to Jonah when he thinks about his current favorites. Recently, he has been working on a lead he discovered for a company that manufactures cooling units for data centers. Jonah shares, “It has been very rewarding to go through this process and find potential customers.” Another project that stands out to him is helping launch a new product line and identifying new customers for it. Jonah enjoys making connections with people and finding new ways to better serve them.
Looking Forward
After completing his internship this summer, Jonah plans to continue his career in sales—ideally at Design Ready Controls. He shares, “I hope to continue to grow and learn from my peers and managers every single day.” Jonah is excited to build on the skills and experiences he has gained so far and is eager to contribute even more to the team. He looks forward to new challenges, ongoing learning, and making a lasting impact at Design Ready Controls.
