Meet Louis Barrett

We encourage everyone to proudly be themselves and want you to know the people behind the work that we’re so proud of. That’s why we are launching a “Meet the Team” blog post series, which highlights one of our team members. 

Meet Louis, Punch Through’s 2019 Summer Intern. He’s a doer who enjoys playing guitar, retro video games, and spending time at his cabin.

What were you doing before you started interning at Punch Through?

I chose to pursue a Computer Engineering degree at the University of Minnesota. It combines electrical engineering and computer science. I enjoy the software side of computer science and the hands-on experience of electrical engineering, so it is the best of both worlds. While attending the UofM, I also interned for three years at a medium-sized medical products company before joining Punch Through.

What was your favorite part of your internship at Punch Through?

On my first day, I received all of the hardware for a large, complicated project. I was partnered with a mentor who helped me, taught me, and answered all of my questions. The friendly and open environment accelerated the time it took to get up to speed. I also got all of the tools and support needed to be successful right from the start, including support from other engineers. Most of the time, I worked closely with one engineer on one project. Later in the Summer I got to work with more team members on a different project. I collaborated with the project lead to participate in aspects of the project that I found interesting, and it was nice to have that support and interest from my co-workers.

What cool or rewarding things did you get to do or work on?

I got to work very closely on things that are used in the real world; writing code and implementing features that go into real medical devices. I’ve spoken to others about their internship experiences, and they don’t always get to work directly on client projects. Typically, the work is an internal project to gain experience.

On the cultural side, there was a pool table in the office, and my desk was in a great location right by the pool table. I would often take a short break to play a quick game or play board games with co-workers during lunch. And dogs. Having dogs in the office on a regular basis is fantastic!

What makes Punch Through different from your previous internship experiences?

I got to know everyone in the company, and that doesn’t always happen as an intern. During my first week, I went to lunch with 3-4 new people each day. It helped to get to know people on a more personal level and put names to faces in a smaller setting.

Summer is a time when I like to take vacations and get outdoors while not in school. While at Punch Through, I was able to maintain a full work schedule and have the freedom to enjoy the Summer. At other companies, there may not have been as much flexibility.

What are you going to do after your internship?

Continue to go to the University of MN and start my Junior year to finish a Computer Engineering degree. While I still have a few more years in school, working at Punch Through solidified my interest in working for a small to medium-sized business that helps customers and spreads culture to others.