Dynamic Duo Welcomed To The Intern Bridge Team

BOSTON, MA July 8, 2010 - Intern Bridge, a leader in the college recruiting consulting and research space, today announced the hiring of David Cofer as the firm's Director of Client Solutions and Dr. Phil Gardner as the firm's Lead Research Advisor. "David brings to the table a wealth of knowledge and experience strategizing and implementing entry-level recruiting programs. Dr. Gardner is the most respected and recognized name in college labor market and internship research," said Richard Bottner, Founder and President of Intern Bridge "These two individuals will provide innovative and exciting methods for our firm to continue making an impact in the college recruiting space by providing top-notch professional development opportunities and thorough research for universities and employers."

David Cofer most recently served as the President of Cofer Consulting Solutions, a full service provider of millennial talent management solutions. Prior to starting his consulting practice, David spent over 15 years working in various strategy roles for JPMorgan Chase. In his last role prior to leaving the company, David served as Recruiting Manager and Intern Program Manager for the Corporate Sector’s entry programs.  In this Vice President level role, Dave oversaw the firm’s largest entry talent recruiting team and summer internship program globally.  David’s team was responsible for hiring over 700 people annually (full-time hires and interns) and overseeing a 350+ person summer internship program. 

Cofer knows first-hand the important role internships can play in forging a successful career path.  He is an alumnus of the prestigious INROADS program. In addition, he holds a B.S. in Business from Miami University (Organizational Behavior & Human Resource Management) and an M.A. in Education from The Ohio State University (Workforce Development & Education).

Dr. Phil Gardner is the Director of the Collegiate Employment Research Institute at Michigan State University. Prior to joining MSU, Dr. Gardner spent six years on the faculty at the University of California, Riverside. His research interests cover the transition from college to work and early workplace socialization; labor market dynamics for college educated employees, especially career development; student engagement, learning and competency development; and impact of the first and second year of college on commitment to learning.

In addition to membership in various professional organizations, Dr. Gardner serves as senior editor for The Journal of Cooperative Education and Internships. Dr. Gardner has been quoted countless times in national media regarding the college labor market, and has presented his data on numerous occasions to national and regional audiences such as the Human Capital Institute, National Association of Colleges and Employers, Campus Recruiting Forum, and Monster.