Johnson Controls celebrates National Intern Day with recognition as a Top 100 Internship Program

MILWAUKEE, WI, July 31, 2025 – In celebration of National Intern Day 2025, Johnson Controls is proud to honor the contributions of its current intern cohort and announce its recognition as one of the Top 100 Internship Programs in the United States, awarded by WayUp x Yello. This prestigious recognition highlights Johnson Controls’ commitment to developing early career talent through meaningful, hands-on experiences that prepare interns for long-term success.

Over the past year, the company has welcomed 274 interns across North America from over 75 different schools. The cohort was selected from a competitive pool of over 12,900 applicants and is based across 46 unique Johnson Controls locations.

“The Future Leaders Global Internship is a launchpad for bold, purpose-driven careers,” says Zack Whitman, Supervisor of the Future Leadership Program. “Our interns are gaining hands-on experiences, mentorship, and exposure to real-world projects that align with Johnson Controls’ mission to create smarter, safer, healthier, and more sustainable buildings.”

Johnson Controls’ Future Leadership Program provides internship opportunities in a variety of fields, including sales, accounting and finance, engineering, supply chain, legal, communications and tech. The program also encourages interns to participate in leadership and off-site opportunities including group projects, networking events and volunteer opportunities.

As part of their internship experience, participants engage in two signature challenges that foster innovation and collaboration. The Innovation Challenge, a global competition and cornerstone of the program, unites intern teams across business units, time zones and geographies to tackle real-world business problems. Interns work together to transform initial concepts into strategic business case presentations. Additionally, interns take part in the Light the Hoan Bridge Challenge, an annual competition involving nearly 15 companies, where teams design a light show for Milwaukee’s iconic Hoan Memorial Bridge. In 2024, our interns distinguished themselves by winning the competition for the very first time, a proud milestone for the program.

“There are a lot of great aspects to the internship program,” says Samantha Plumridge, Public Relations and Media Intern. “I love having the opportunity to collaborate with other interns outside of my team along with doing tasks that truly impact the company. It’s not just busy work; it’s real projects that continuously help me grow my skills. It’s also a great feeling to be part of a team that wants to see you succeed.”

Johnson Controls’ investment in early career talent reflects its broader commitment to innovation, inclusion, and leadership development. The company continues to build a strong pipeline of future leaders through programs like the BEST Program, a global onboarding and career development platform for field labor employees that has supported more than 1,500 participants since early 2022 and delivers a 3:1 return on investment by reducing attrition, accelerating readiness and increasing engagement. The Community College Partnership Program, launched in 2021, has supported 3,868 students, awarded 655 scholarships and is on track to invest $15 million in HVAC, fire, security and digital technical programs by 2026, offering participants mentorship, internships and job opportunities. Additionally, the JCI Academy, a partnership with Lincoln Tech, provides a six-week training program for aspiring building technicians, including housing and relocation support, with over 150 graduates hired to date and plans to train more than 300 annually.

To learn more about internship and employment opportunities at Johnson Controls, visit johnsoncontrols.com/careers.