From Brookings to Baltimore: An Intern's First Solo Trip

In late April, I traveled to Baltimore, Maryland, to support Daktronics at the Wärtsilä User Simulation Conference. As a Product Demo Technical Intern, this trip was especially memorable because it was my first time traveling solo for work. It gave me the chance to represent Daktronics, work alongside customers and partners, and gain hands-on experience supporting an event in the maritime simulation industry.

My role was to transport, set up and support a 0.9mm curved LED display and a 1.2mm LED display lift kit. One of the highlights of the conference was seeing the curved display integrated into a ship bridge simulator. What made it especially interesting was seeing how the curved LED display compared to the LCD screens currently being used throughout the simulator. While the LCD screens provided a functional view, the seamless LED display created a much more realistic environment by eliminating visible bezels and creating a wider field of view. The display wrapped around the simulator environment, creating an immersive experience that allowed users to navigate realistic waterways and harbor environments. It was exciting to see attendees interacting with the simulator and experiencing firsthand how Daktronics LED technology can be used in advanced training applications.

The conference also gave me the opportunity to work alongside Electric Picture, a longtime Daktronics partner. Their team was awesome to work with throughout the week. Austin Caracciolo, Jake Caracciolo and the rest of the Electric Picture crew were always willing to help, whether it was setting up displays, moving equipment or making sure everything was ready for attendees. It was easy to see why Daktronics has built such a strong relationship with them.

One of the best parts of the trip was getting to meet people from across the simulation industry. Everyone I met at the conference was welcoming and willing to share their experiences. As an intern, it was a great opportunity to learn more about the industry and see how much teamwork goes into making an event like this successful.

I also want to thank Thomas Welling, Daktronics Southeast Regional Sales Representative, for helping make my first solo trip a great experience. He made me feel like part of the team from day one and was always willing to answer questions or help whenever needed. He also introduced me to my first Baltimore crab cake, which definitely lived up to the hype.

Overall, the trip was a great experience and one of the highlights of my internship so far. I learned a lot, met some great people and got the chance to represent Daktronics at a unique event. I'm thankful to everyone at Daktronics, Electric Picture and Wärtsilä who helped make the week such a success.

Gabe Olson is a Product Demonstration Technical Intern at Daktronics. He recently graduated from Dakota State University with a bachelor’s degree in cyber operations.