West Central Initiative Welcomes Greta Hentges and Stella Wilton as Summer 2024 Communications Interns 

West Central Initiative is excited to welcome two Communications Interns this summer. Greta Hentges is rejoining our team for her second year, and we’re excited to introduce Stella Wilton as our newest Communications Intern.  

Greta Hentges

“Greta excelled in her internship last summer,” said Marketing and Communications Specialist Ashley Quam. “Her writing and design skills are an asset to West Central Initiative. Greta is a go-getter, and I’m glad to have her back on our team.” 

Greta, from Morris, Minnesota, is a senior at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND, majoring in Marketing with a minor in Graphic Design. She is a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, Women in Business, Marketing Club, and Business Leadership Club. She has a passion for leadership and has held executive positions for two years, including roles as the online media director for Kappa Alpha Theta and the social media chair for Women in Business. 

“I am excited to rejoin the West Central Initiative team and continue my work in the marketing and communications field,” Greta said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to return to this organization to build on my skills and contribute further to impactful community projects.”  

Greta recently returned from a semester abroad in Europe.  

“Last semester, I moved to Rome, Italy, for a semester abroad,” Greta said. “I am eager to apply what I learned during my travels to my work at West Central Initiative. Studying abroad allowed me to gain insights into diverse behaviors and preferences, enhancing my ability to create effective campaigns.” 

Stella Wilton

Stella grew up in the small town of Floodwood, Minnesota, and graduated in 2017 with a class size of 17 students. She went to Itasca Community College to get her Associate of Arts degree and a Child Development Certificate and graduated in a virtual ceremony in 2020. Stella worked as a child care teacher before returning to school to pursue a degree in communication at the University of Minnesota Crookston. She looks forward to graduating in December.  

“Stella brings a variety of experiences to our team,” Ashley said. “She is uniquely qualified to communicate about our Early Childhood Initiative, and her aptitude for learning will benefit our organization as a whole.” 

Stella lives in Duluth with her husband and their dog, Scamp. Stella loves kids and is passionate about early childhood education. She chose to pursue communications because of the various career paths and creativity it offers.  

“I want to continue to work on creative projects and help people of all ages,” Stella said.  

“I’m eager to learn and excited to join West Central Initiative and the mission to improve communities across Minnesota.”  

Both Greta and Stella collaborate with all departments to create visual and written communications for West Central Initiative and Live Wide Open.  

“We’re glad to have both Greta and Stella on our team this summer,” Ashley said. “And eagerly anticipate the impactful contributions they will make.” 

Welcome, Greta and Stella!