Lexington resident Jason Healy interns at Embark Veterinary, dog DNA-testing startup

Healy is a senior economics major at Hamilton College

Clinton, NY (08/24/2021) — It's reasonable to assume that an internship at a company called Embark Veterinary might appeal mostly to would-be veterinarians. But for Lexington resident and Hamilton College senior Jason Healy, the position provided him the opportunity to dive headfirst into the financial and logistical aspects of running a business. Healy is an economics major at Hamilton.

Embark is a "venture-backed Boston startup that specializes in DNA testing for dogs in order to identify traits, breed, and health abnormalities," Healy explained. His position was a financial planning and analysis intern - a role, he said, that allowed him to "pursue my interest in finance while also working toward the greater goal that Embark preaches; that is, extending the lives of dogs, which is something that everybody can get behind."

Healy's day-to-day responsibilities included updating company models with sales from the previous day, in addition to meeting with his boss, Embark's senior financial analyst, to discuss upcoming projects and ask questions. Healy said he also attended meetings with Embark management, where inventory might be discussed and his own work employed to inform company decisions.

"The bread and butter of what I did," Healy said, "was try to bring data together in the way that I believe will be most effective for fueling business decisions." One of his recent projects involved creating an inventory model that will allow the company to have enough stock come the holiday season when sales rise significantly. "I was tasked with creating a model that projects out inventory levels, so on a weekly basis we could ensure we were on track and build new kits when necessary," he said.

Healy stressed the importance of networking in the internship-finding process. While initially looking for a position in the banking industry, he ended up on the path to Embark through a connection he had at the company.

The experience of working at Embark was overwhelmingly positive for Healy. "I felt valued and as if the work I did contributed to major decisions. I had the ability to work with and gain exposure to many aspects of the business by working with experienced professionals," he said. Healy is not entirely certain about his post-graduation plans, but he nonetheless appreciates the important finance skills he has gained at Embark.

Reflecting on how his time at Hamilton proved valuable at his internship, Healy highlighted the overall experience of his college education rather than a particular course. "It's so important to be able to converse, present your work, write, and email," he said. "As simple as it sounds, it goes a long way - and these skills are built into nearly every course at Hamilton."

Jason Healy is a graduate of Lexington High School

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