Michael Dolton '27 strategizes with economics

What did you do this summer in your internship?

I worked as the AI and automation project lead at Rosebush Energies, a family-owned regional propane and fuel distributor serving Southeastern Ontario. As the company has expanded, I developed AI-driven automation tools to streamline internal operations, including a project using AI-powered route optimization to automate propane delivery dispatch. I also had the opportunity to sit in on real business decisions throughout the summer, which has added valuable context to what I’ve studied at Oberlin.

How did Oberlin shape or influence you to pursue this internship? 

Oberlin gave me the technical foundation and motivation to pursue an internship that combined economics, data analysis, and AI. Taking Intermediate Microeconomics with Professor Shana Cui strengthened my understanding of market competition, and I’ve since seen price competition in the fuel market play out firsthand. Additionally, Introduction to Econometrics with Professor Magie Brehm served as an introduction to coding and quantitative analysis, which prepared me to tackle automation and data analysis problems this summer.

How does this internship align with your post-college goals?

This internship has deepened my interest in the energy industry and reinforced my desire to work on projects that solve practical, real-world problems.

Is there anything you’ve learned this summer that surprised you or made a big impression?

I was surprised by how directly and consistently economic concepts I’ve studied--such as price competition and supply constraints--appear in the daily operations of a mid-sized, family-run company, not just in large corporations or abstract models. I was especially struck by the importance of long-term customer relationships and responsive, personal service as sources of competitive advantage.

How has your liberal arts education shaped the way you think about your chosen field of study?

My liberal arts education has taught me to approach economics not merely as a set of models and equations, but as a way of understanding how consumers, firms, and institutions make decisions and respond to incentives. I have learned to view the economy not as an end in itself, but as a means of creating the conditions for a society to flourish.

The breadth of a liberal arts education has also shaped the way I think about economics. Courses outside of my major, such as Problems in Philosophy with Professor Katherine Thomson-Jones, have encouraged me to think more deeply about the assumptions behind economic systems and the purposes they ultimately serve.

What drew you to your major or area of interest?

I was drawn to economics because of its practical relevance to everyday life. I enjoy thinking about how complex systems work and how incentives shape decision-making. Economics provides a useful framework for understanding these dynamics, and I find it compelling because thoughtful economic decisions have the potential to improve people’s lives in meaningful ways.

If you're looking for a summer internship that supports your area of study, check out our Internship+ Program.