This summer, we were lucky to have five amazing interns join the Lot Sixteen team: Catherine Weber, Helen Sorme, Matthew Shabino, Matthew Shawah, and Phillip Blumberg. From Hill hearings to ping pong battles, they each brought curiosity, energy and humor to the office. Before heading back to school and to their next adventures, we asked them to share their favorite parts of the summer, what they learned and what surprised them most. Here’s what they had to say:

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Catherine Weber

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Catherine highlighted a mix of classic D.C. experiences and deep policy learning:

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“One of my favorite parts of the summer was attending a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on electricity demand. Going to the Congressional Baseball Game with the whole team was also a highlight – it was great to experience a classic D.C. tradition!

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I learned a lot from working with experts from diverse backgrounds on client teams across a range of topics – from geothermal energy to STEM education programs. I also gained a much deeper understanding of the Hill, especially the complexities of processes like reconciliation and appropriations, and how firms like Lot Sixteen play a key role in shaping policy behind the scenes.

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I was surprised – and impressed – by the variety of professional backgrounds people brought to the table from political campaigns, federal agencies, law firms and more. Everyone worked seamlessly together to deliver the best possible results for clients. I also really appreciated how welcoming and helpful everyone was – it made the experience even more rewarding!”

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Helen Sorme

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Helen said what stood out most to her was the Lot Sixteen culture:

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“My favorite part of this summer was the Lot Sixteen culture! It’s a very encouraging environment to enhance different skills and strengths, and the people here are truly some of the best in D.C.! The happy hours, the in-office lunches and the day-to-day conversations I’ve had with people here have been nothing short of insightful.

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I learned how to effectively capture a company’s message and transform it into an easily digestible format for a social media audience. It’s been really rewarding to take a big, multifaceted concept and shape it into a social-friendly format for audiences.

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D.C.’s humidity! Also, people walk much slower than I anticipated here!”

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Matthew Shabino

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Matthew Shabino. said it was impossible to pick just one favorite moment:

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“It’s hard to pick just one favorite, so I’ll share a few highlights. All of the office events were incredible and gave me some of my best memories with the interns and Lot Sixteen staff – especially the ping pong battles with intern Matthew, Gus, and Josh. The people in the office are truly brilliant, amazing people, and getting to work with and learn from them made the summer great. I also really enjoyed the lunch-and-learns that Lot Sixteen organized; they were consistently engaging, and the included lunch was a great bonus. Another highlight was getting to work on strategy memos with my client teams, which I found both challenging and rewarding.

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I gained a much deeper appreciation for how government policy directly affects the private sector – particularly in areas like permitting and environmental regulation. I also feel like I grew a lot as a writer and critical reader, especially when reviewing legislation and legal documents.

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I was most surprised by how diverse everyone’s policy backgrounds were in the office – from people with experience in law, environmental science to those coming from political campaigns, journalism and the private sector. It really showed me how many different paths can lead to this kind of work, and how valuable it is to have a variety of perspectives at the table. I was also struck by just how complex and multi-layered the approval process is for energy and mining companies operating on public lands, involving numerous agencies, legal requirements and stakeholder considerations that can stretch over many years.”

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Matthew Shawah

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For Matthew Shawah, the summer was all about the people:

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“My favorite part of the summer was spending time with my fellow interns and colleagues in the office. From sharing work ideas, to lunch-and-learns, to the omelette bar, there was always someone to talk to and learn from. I loved being excited to get to the office every day to share more laughs, knowledge and memories with my coworkers.

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I learned what a colloquy is. This was just one of the many things I learned about the convoluted, complex inner workings of Congress. It was fascinating to learn from the policy and government experts we have at Lot Sixteen. Outside of work, I learned that you should be careful where you lock your bike up!

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I was shocked at how hot it was. Although I had been warned about D.C. summers, I was not prepared for the nearly triple-digit temperatures and torrential storms. I’ve never appreciated having powerful air conditioning more than this summer.”

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Phillip Blumberg

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Phillip says the best part of his summer was connecting with the Lot Sixteen team:

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“My favorite part of the summer has been getting to know the different team members of Lot Sixteen, each of whom have an interesting and unique background. Hearing about work on the Hill, on campaigns, or in trade policy has been insightful and has helped me think about my own future. There are so many talented professionals here who have shared helpful advice and wisdom.

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It was interesting to see all of the background preparation necessary when launching a communications campaign in this politically charged environment. Whether it was a television interview, an op-ed, or a press release, precise language and tone are crucial in conveying the right message to the audience. Advancing the goals of an organization or industry group requires a carefully orchestrated communications strategy, and that’s something I hadn’t fully appreciated before this summer.

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I was surprised by the intricacies of congressional procedure and how arcane rules are utilized by both parties to either force or block votes. While I knew that leaders sometimes resorted to unusual tactics, I didn’t realize how routine it has become for procedural workarounds to be used when deliberating on important policy work.”

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From Hill hearings to humid commutes, this summer gave our interns a true taste of life in D.C. We’re grateful to Catherine, Helen, Matthew Shabino, Matthew Shawah, and Phillip for spending their summer with us, and we can’t wait to see what they do next!