Twenty-four ITC Holdings interns came together in Novi, Michigan for a charity bike build. The group showed up in matching blue shirts, ready to compete. By the end of the afternoon, they had built four bicycles for CARES of Farmington Hills. The charity representative joined the group for the handoff and left them with an invitation to keep showing up.
ITC Holdings Corp. is the largest independent electric transmission company in the United States. Based in Novi, Michigan, the company owns and operates high-voltage transmission systems across seven states. ITC focuses exclusively on electric transmission, setting it apart from traditional integrated utilities.
ITC Holdings Interns Build Four Bikes for CARES of Farmington Hills at Charity Bike Build in Novi
The blue shirts were an early signal: this group came in unified and ready to go. A round of “Have You Ever” kicked things off and made clear what kind of energy was in the room. Connection, laughter, and a healthy dose of friendly chaos, all before a single bike part had been touched.
From there, the teams moved into earning parts and building bikes. The competitive instincts that came out in the warmup carried straight through to the build. Some groups moved fast and stayed ahead all afternoon. Others made up ground with sharp communication and steady problem-solving. The bikes took shape across the room with the kind of hustle you do not have to teach.
The cheer contest was the moment everyone remembered. Teams went all in, and the judges were not able to keep a straight face. The willingness to be a little ridiculous in front of peers says something real about a group’s culture. This intern class had it figured out from day one.
When the four bikes were finished, they were handed to the CARES of Farmington Hills representative. The afternoon wrapped up the way it was supposed to. She was deeply grateful and invited the group to continue giving back to the community. For interns just starting at ITC Holdings, that invitation was a meaningful note to end on.
Big thanks to ITC Holdings for building a summer program that makes room for this kind of experience. CARES of Farmington Hills, thank you for the work you do for youth in the community.
Want to give your intern class a strong start? A charity bike build is one of the better ways to bring a new group together.