Summer 2026 is coming to an end, and the thing we may miss most is our summer interns! As they head back to school and settle into the swing of fall, we want to take a moment to reflect on having them with us this summer and once again put their stories in the spotlight. This group is incredibly intelligent, well-spoken, and already taking the corporate world by storm with their poise, communication skills, and directness.
Group Breakdown, Mentor Thoughts, and Intern Q&A
This summer, VCU’s College of Engineering shared five of what we’d call their most promising students (we may be a little biased), who explored our customers’ real-world use cases and delivered innovative, agentic solutions that they demonstrated to the entire company. Each demo, better than the last, showed how they were able to push their limits and find ways to make the customer experience significantly easier for three separate companies
We had three groups this summer. One group included Theodora Yakoub and Savir Raj Singh Mohil. This group worked hard on creating an agentic AI solution focused on the customer experience for a luxury auto company. Their agent was able to: verify customer accounts, solve balance inquiries, collect payments, discuss lease inquiries, find a dealership locally, take care of retention offers, automatically send the customer a summary email, and much more. This group was mentored by resident AMC software engineer Josh Peck, who regards them highly:
“As a mentor in the AMC Summer Internship program for over 5 years now, my involvement has only grown more rewarding with each pass. As rewarding as it can be, it can also weigh heavy at times as you decide when to give precise direction, when to let them learn through their own trial and error, and hope that the balance you reach is the best you can give to help them find their way to a professional career. That being said, I have no doubts that the team of interns I had the pleasure to work with will be strong contributors to the industry in the very near future. Theodora and Savir were both excellent throughout the Summer. The scope of the project they were tasked with, and the independence they displayed in keeping progress moving with momentum, was truly remarkable. The maturity and capability that such performance requires is noteworthy and far beyond anything I would be capable of during my undergrad. Their technical skills are top-notch, but one of the ways Savir stands out to me are his excellent communication skills. Speaking calmly, clearly, and to the point goes a very long way when speaking to highly technical topics and is a skill that even professional engineers can struggle with. Theodora has an incredible intuition for crafting coherent, concise, and impactful presentations that maximize the time allotted for meetings and demonstrations and shows a significant depth of understanding of the subject matter and the audience. It has been a privilege to work with these two, who have everything that it takes to make it far in the field. I am very grateful to AMC for the opportunity, and I wish Savir and Theodora the best of luck as they move forward with their education and their careers!”
Theodora Yakoub
What made the AMC team a great place to intern?
Last summer, when I first began interning at AMC, I had just finished my freshman year and was still building confidence in my technical skills.
What makes AMC a great place to intern?
To intern is that everyone on the team is kind and patient, and genuinely invested in supporting you every step of the way. I worked part-time through the last two semesters, and on every project I’ve been assigned, the team has answered my questions thoughtfully and taken the time to thoroughly explain new concepts. I’ve learned what it means to be handed a task I’m unfamiliar with, using technologies I’d never touched before, and to approach it with confidence, knowing I have the support of my mentors behind me!
What has been the most rewarding part of your internship at AMC?
Besides working with a lovely team, the most rewarding part of my internship has been the breadth of hands-on experience I’ve gained across the AI and cloud ecosystem. Our projects center on agentic AI, and I’m currently building with Salesforce Agentforce, drawing on what I learned last summer with Microsoft Azure AI Foundry. Along the way, I’ve also worked with WordPress, Microsoft Copilot Studio, Twilio, and Azure Communication Services, gaining exposure to everything from conversational AI design to telephony integration. Being able to work across such a diverse stack, and understand how these pieces connect, has been one of the most valuable parts of this experience.
How has your internship at AMC complemented what you’re learning in school?
My VCU coursework gives me a strong foundation in computer science fundamentals, but there’s a real gap between learning concepts in a classroom and applying them on enterprise platforms such as Salesforce. My internship experience has bridged that gap, teaching me how to translate theory into practical, working solutions!
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to an incoming VCU freshman?
Get involved in the wonderful CS clubs VCU has to offer! As a member of the VCU Computer Science Student Advisory Board, I can guarantee you’ll find a club that broadens your exposure to your CS concentration, explore new interests, and meet great people along the way.
What’s your favorite Richmond coffee shop?
Blanchard’s! Their espresso is a must-try!
What hobby would people be surprised you enjoy?
I enjoy watching European football, go Man City!
Savir Raj Singh Mohil
What made the AMC team a great place to intern?
What made the AMC team such a great place to intern was how willing everyone was to help me learn. As an intern, it’s easy to feel intimidated walking into a new environment, but I never felt like I couldn’t ask a question or admit when I didn’t know something. Everyone was approachable, patient, and genuinely invested in helping me grow. At the same time, they trusted me with meaningful work and encouraged me to take ownership of my projects, which made the experience both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
What is one thing you’ll miss most about your internship?
I’ll definitely miss the people the most. Working alongside a team that’s not only incredibly knowledgeable but also genuinely supportive made coming to work every day something I looked forward to. I learned a lot from the projects themselves, but I’ll remember the conversations, the willingness to help, and the collaborative environment just as much. It’s the kind of team culture that makes you excited to keep learning and improving.
Has your internship changed how you think about your future? If so, how?
Before my internship, I saw AI as just another technology that software engineers would eventually use. After spending the summer building AI-powered solutions, I realized it’s fundamentally changing the way software is developed. Tasks that once took hours can now be completed in minutes, which made me understand why so many people are worried about AI replacing traditional software engineering work. At the same time, my internship showed me a different perspective. The engineers who are succeeding aren’t competing against AI, they’re learning how to use it effectively. Building reliable AI systems still requires people who understand software engineering, know how to ask the right questions, validate results, design workflows, and integrate AI into real products. That realization has changed how I think about my future. Instead of seeing AI as a threat, I see it as a tool to help me move forward in this industry.
What motivates you to keep learning and growing?
What motivates me most is knowing that technology is constantly evolving, which means there’s always something new to learn. I enjoy being challenged by problems I don’t immediately know how to solve because every challenge pushes me to become a better engineer. Whether it’s learning a new framework, understanding how AI is changing software development, or building something I’ve never built before, I find the process of figuring things out incredibly rewarding. I’m also motivated by the impact my work can have. It’s exciting to build software that makes someone’s job easier or solves a real problem. Seeing an idea go from a concept to something people actually use reminds me why I chose this field in the first place and inspires me to keep improving my skills.
If we gave you 10 minutes to teach us something, what would it be?
If I had 10 minutes to teach something, I’d teach people how to think through problems instead of rushing to find answers. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that curiosity is often more valuable than already knowing the solution. I’d talk about asking better questions, challenging your assumptions, breaking big problems into smaller pieces, and being willing to change your approach when something isn’t working. You definitely can’t master problem solving in 10 minutes, but you can walk away with a different way of thinking about challenges, and that’s a skill that sticks with you whether you’re at work, in the classroom, or just navigating everyday life.
Our next group consists of Christian Simon and Christopher Miller. Christian and Christopher worked tirelessly to create an agentic AI solution for a leading shipping company. Their AI agent was able to solve lost package claims, handle delivery address changes and updates, assist with sending packages, validate tracking numbers, display a live carrier tracker, and more This group was mentored by AMC resident software engineer Finn McGothlin, who shared his thoughts on their progress:
“Christopher and Christian both started the summer with strong problem solving skills and real knowledge of AI and its applications. I’d hand off the requirements, check back in later the same day, and they’d be further along than I expected, usually with a question I hadn’t thought to ask yet. Neither had spent time developing in Salesforce before, and they spent the summer building Agentforce agents. Creating a basic agent isn’t the hard part. Figuring out how to build a good one is — how to scope topics, write instructions the agent will consistently follow, and handle unexpected prompts. There isn’t much of a playbook for that yet, so a lot of it is trial and error. They worked through it faster than I expected, and within weeks they were building agents around specific use cases, starting from what the customer was trying to get done and working back to the agent that would do it. They also cared about who the work was for, not just finishing what was in front of them but whether it would hold up for the person on the other end.”
Christian Simon
What has been the most rewarding part of your internship at AMC?
The most rewarding part of my internship at AMC has been the people I’ve met and the relationships I’ve built. Working alongside my fellow interns has made the experience both enjoyable and collaborative, and I’ve learned so much from the engineers who have taken the time to mentor us. It’s also been exciting to gain hands-on experience in a company dedicated to developing innovative software solutions.
What surprised you most about working at AMC?
Before starting my internship, I knew AMC was a company focused on developing software for businesses rather than individual consumers. What surprised me most was learning just how much value goes into understanding each customer’s unique business needs and use cases. I gained a new appreciation for how enterprise software is designed, not just to solve technical problems, but to improve workflows, create better customer experiences, and deliver real business value. It completely changed the way I think about software development and the impact it can have behind the scenes.
How have you grown personally or professionally during your internship?
One of the biggest ways I’ve grown during my internship has been in communicating technical ideas. I’ve become much more confident explaining complex concepts, sharing my thought process, and walking a team through how I would approach solving a problem. Working with experienced engineers has taught me that strong communication is just as important as technical ability, and I’ve learned how to collaborate more effectively by clearly presenting my ideas and being open to feedback.
What new skill or confidence did you gain this summer?
This summer, I gained hands-on experience building AI agents using Salesforce Agentforce, which was something completely new to me. I also became familiar with Salesforce’s developer tools and learned about technologies like Salesforce Voice and the SIP protocol that power enterprise communication systems. Beyond the technical skills, I gained confidence in learning unfamiliar technologies quickly and applying them to real-world projects, which has been one of the most valuable parts of my internship.
What problem would you love to help solve in your career?
There are a few problems I would love to help solve in my career some slightly more realistic than others. On the ambitious side, it would be incredible to contribute to solving problems like P vs. NP or advancing our understanding of integer factorization. On a more practical note, helping address challenges like the Year 2038 problem and other large-scale reliability issues in computing would also be exciting. While I may not solve all of these in my career, I enjoy the idea of working on problems that push the boundaries of what we currently understand and improve the systems we rely on every day.
What’s one value you’ll never compromise on?
One value I’ll never compromise on is staying loyal to myself and being authentic to who I am. I believe it is important to stay true to my values, interests, and the way I approach challenges, even when faced with new environments or different perspectives. Being authentic allows me to build genuine relationships, continue growing, and make decisions that align with the person I want to become.
Christopher Miller
What made the AMC team a great place to intern?
One of my favorite parts of the internship was getting to work alongside the development team. Everyone was approachable and genuinely willing to answer questions or explain how things worked. As an intern, I felt included and encouraged to learn, which made it easy to ask questions and grow.
How has your internship at AMC complemented what you’re learning in school?
AMC has given me the opportunity to apply concepts I’ve learned in my computer science and AI courses by building AI agents that are designed to be useful, reliable, and practical for real users. It’s been a great way to bridge the gap between what I’ve learned in the classroom and how those concepts are applied in a professional setting.
Why did you decide to pursue your major?
Before returning to school, I spent several years working in construction installing alternative septic systems. I enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of the job and working with complex systems, but I wanted to transition into a career that was less physically demanding and offered more opportunities to keep learning. Computer science felt like a natural fit.
What motivates you to keep learning and growing?
What motivates me to keep learning and growing is the realization that there’s always something new to discover. Whether it’s a different way to solve a problem or a skill I haven’t learned yet, I enjoy the challenge of figuring things out.
If we gave you 10 minutes to teach us something, what would it be?
I could teach the basics of operating an excavator or other heavy equipment, assuming we had one handy. 10 minutes would be enough time to explain the controls, basic techniques, and some safety guidelines. It’s a skill I don’t get to use much anymore and I think everyone would have fun giving it a try.
What hobby would people be surprised you enjoy?
I’m big into growing plants/ plants in general. Outdoor gardening, indoor plants, and aquatic freshwater plants are all operations at the house. If anyone ever wants a plant pup or cutting, I’m your guy.
And then there was one: Quan Tran. Quan unexpectedly found himself a team of one, yet though there was a lack of partnership, there was no lack of detail in what he was able to accomplish with his agentic AI solution. Quan’s agent assisted a popular emergency towing and recovery company. This agent was able to manage customer memberships and benefits, perform roadside intakes, answer general questions, update customer addresses, locate the customer based on their phone’s GPS through a QR code, expedite safety risk cases, and much, much more. Quan was mentored by resident AMC software engineer Eric Neiman, who had this to say about their summer:
“Working with Quan over the course of the summer internship was fantastic! He is a hard worker who is dedicated to always improving. Watching him overcome design and implement innovative Geolocation features into his Agentforce Agent is what this kind of internship program is all about! Learning to adapt and overcome obstacles is what it means to be an engineer. Quan has excelled at these aspects and has produced a great application as a result!”
Quan Tran
What made the AMC team a great place to intern?
One of my favorite parts of the internship was getting to work alongside the development team. Everyone was approachable and genuinely willing to answer questions or explain how things worked. As an intern, I felt included and encouraged to learn, which made it easy to ask questions and grow.
How has your internship at AMC complemented what you’re learning in school?
AMC has given me the opportunity to apply concepts I’ve learned in my computer science and AI courses by building AI agents that are designed to be useful, reliable, and practical for real users. It’s been a great way to bridge the gap between what I’ve learned in the classroom and how those concepts are applied in a professional setting.
Why did you decide to pursue your major?
Before returning to school, I spent several years working in construction installing alternative septic systems. I enjoyed the problem-solving aspect of the job and working with complex systems, but I wanted to transition into a career that was less physically demanding and offered more opportunities to keep learning. Computer science felt like a natural fit.
What motivates you to keep learning and growing?
What motivates me to keep learning and growing is the realization that there’s always something new to discover. Whether it’s a different way to solve a problem or a skill I haven’t learned yet, I enjoy the challenge of figuring things out.
If we gave you 10 minutes to teach us something, what would it be?
I could teach the basics of operating an excavator or other heavy equipment, assuming we had one handy. 10 minutes would be enough time to explain the controls, basic techniques, and some safety guidelines. It’s a skill I don’t get to use much anymore and I think everyone would have fun giving it a try.
What hobby would people be surprised you enjoy?
I’m big into growing plants/ plants in general. Outdoor gardening, indoor plants, and aquatic freshwater plants are all operations at the house. If anyone ever wants a plant pup or cutting, I’m your guy.
It goes without saying that this group of interns was nothing short of impressive — willing to take risks and put their work on full display. But what was truly a privilege was getting to know their passions, enthusiasm, love for software engineering, and most importantly, who they are as people!
