ARLINGTON, VA — The Meat Institute is pleased to welcome four talented interns — Elena Gwartney, Alexandra Reyes, Jacob Solomon, and Sebastian Vizarreta Luna— to its team for the summer of 2026. Supporting the organization's public policy, membership experience, accounting, and sustainability efforts, these interns will gain hands-on experience while contributing to projects that serve Meat Institute members and advance the meat and poultry industry.

"Developing the next generation of industry leaders is a worthy investment in the future of animal agriculture," said Julie Anna Potts, President and CEO of the Meat Institute. "Our internship program gives students and recent graduates the opportunity to work alongside experts on meaningful projects that shape public policy, sustainability, and industry communications, while providing valuable professional experience they can carry throughout their careers."

Elena Gwartney is pursuing a degree in Agricultural Economics with a concentration in Policy and Economic Analysis at Texas A&M University. As a Government Affairs Intern at the Meat Institute, she supports legislative research, monitors policy developments, and assists with projects that help engage with lawmakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders. Elena is passionate about the intersection of agriculture, business, and public policy and is eager to deepen her understanding of how trade associations advocate for the meat and poultry industry.

Alexandra Reyes, a rising sophomore at Virginia Tech majoring in Communications and minoring in Digital Marketing, joins the Meat Institute as a Membership and Experience Intern. She supports the Member Experience team at the Meat Institute by assisting with event planning and marketing initiatives as well as helping to build impactful member engagement campaigns through effective communication strategies. After graduating, she plans to work for a non-profit company that focuses on advocacy.

Jacob Solomon, is a senior at George Mason University studying Accounting. Jacob is working with the Accounting team on invoicing, organizational support, and software adoption. He brings a systems-thinking approach to the team, and is eager to learn more about nonprofit accounting and auditing.

Sebastian Vizarreta is an Impact MBA candidate at Colorado State University, graduating in December 2026, with a background in marketing, sustainability, and ESG reporting. He is serving as a GHG Accounting Resource Development Fellow at the Meat Institute, supporting the GHG Accounting Resource Hub, contributing to the Strategic Project Direction, and helping member companies prepare for climate disclosure compliance under California's S.B. 253 and 261. Sebastian brings a data-driven approach to translating complex emissions data into clear, actionable business insights, drawing on 7+ years of experience in marketing and product management across Peru and the U.S.

The Meat Institute's paid internship program offers students and recent graduates the opportunity to build professional experience while contributing to meaningful work that supports one of the nation's essential industries. For more information about internship opportunities with the Meat Institute, visit the Meat Institute's website.

About the Meat Institute

The Meat Institute represents the full community of people and companies who make the majority of meat American families rely on every day. The Meat Institute’s hands-on regulatory and technical expertise, proactive advocacy, unique convening power, collaboration within and beyond animal agriculture, and sector-leading continuous improvement initiatives drive relationships and resources that ensure meat continues to be a vital, trusted pillar of healthy diets and thriving communities for generations to come. To learn more, visit: MeatInstitute.org.