Torch Talk
Torch Talk is the podcast for bold local leaders.
Each week, we sit down with entrepreneurs, experts, and change makers to talk strategy, leadership, marketing, and what it really takes to grow a business today. Honest insights. No fluff. Real stories.
Torch Talk
Learning by Doing
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In this episode of Torch Talk, Lindsey Chupp sits down with Wyatt Dickmyer, Fierce Creative Solutions’ videography intern, to discuss how he turned his interest in creative work into hands-on experience and a clearer career path.
Wyatt shares how his interests shifted from photography toward video editing while studying communication technology at York Tech. Since joining Fierce in April 2026, he has worked primarily in video editing while also joining client shoots, gaining production experience, and earning his drone certification.
The conversation also explores what makes an internship valuable for both the intern and the employer. Wyatt discusses the importance of getting hands-on experience, asking questions, trying different responsibilities, and making sure an internship gives someone opportunities that align with what they actually want to learn.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
• Wyatt’s path into video editing
• What he has learned as an intern at Fierce
• Gaining hands-on experience on client shoots
• Becoming a certified drone pilot
• Why internships should be learning experiences
• How employers can create better opportunities for interns
• Finding the type of creative work you want to pursue
This episode offers a look at internships from the intern’s perspective and how real-world experience can help young professionals build skills, explore career options, and discover what they want to do next.
You know, like that's probably one of our biggest media weeks of the year. It's kind of like media Christmas, whatever you want to call it. I don't know, but it is like the um biggest event of the year for us. So I'm excited for you to get to see that. Welcome back to Torch Talk, the show where we spotlight bold leaders growing businesses and communities with grit and purpose. Today's guest is Wyatt Dickmeyer, who's been our videography intern since April of 2026. Wyatt is originally from Pennsylvania and after graduating from a technical school, decided to try out an internship at Fierce Creative Solutions. We're excited to have Wyatt as a part of our team and to hear about his experience about being an intern here at Fierce Creative Solutions. Okay, so you've been an intern here since April, as we stated. You're doing what? Tell everybody what you're here doing.
SPEAKER_01The main thing right now is video editing. Um sometimes I'll go out on content shoots for the clients, uh, get some videos and photos there, but mainly it's just been editing anything that needs done.
SPEAKER_00When you came to Fierce, what had you what was your experience? What had you gone to school for? Where were you at?
SPEAKER_01Uh I went to York Tech, it's called. Um, I went for communication technology. So pretty much what I'm doing right now, uh video editing, um, some videography. Uh we did graphic design as well.
SPEAKER_00Okay. I didn't realize like what all you had learned. So they taught you more about editing, not so much on shooting.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I would say more editing aspects they taught us, um, how to use the applications. Um, we didn't really have many opportunities to go and do videos or anything in the school.
SPEAKER_00When you were in high school and you were thinking about what you wanted to do, like did you choose the technical school because you're interested, or were you like, I don't, this is like the best choice. Like, what what are you seeing, or what are you seeing thinking, dreaming about, I guess, long term as a career option that's kind of taking you through what you're going through right now?
SPEAKER_01Well, when I first went into school, I went in thinking I wanted to be a photographer. Okay. Um, and then as I went through the four years, it kind of changed into I like the video editing aspect more than going out and doing shoots. So I didn't really know what I wanted to do at first, but now you think you do now? I would say now I kind of I I think I want to stick with video editing and just do that for further the career.
SPEAKER_00Okay. Um, but you came with a really awesome drone, although you were not certified. No, but you are now.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00Okay, so that's one of the things that you've accomplished while you've been here. You became drone certified. Tell us about that process.
SPEAKER_01That was I wouldn't say too difficult of a process, more just nerve-wracking, trying to study and learn all the things you need to know in order to take your test. But after the test, I was like, well, that was easy.
SPEAKER_00That you thought the test was I kept trying to tell you. The test is not as hard as you think it's going to be.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00You were definitely in your head a little bit about it.
SPEAKER_01It was nerves the whole time.
SPEAKER_00And then when I went to take the test, I was like, I mean, I appreciate it because you didn't want to let us down. Like you knew we were paying for the test, you didn't want to fail. Like, I understand. Sorry, I appreciate the um concern, but I knew I knew you have pro you have the most amount of experience with a drone. You're gonna be really comfortable with this. Is not that complicated, just go take the test.
SPEAKER_01Well, all the studying guides and the videos that I was watching, they make it seem so much more difficult than what it really is.
SPEAKER_00I think they do that. So you'll buy the course.
SPEAKER_01Probably.
SPEAKER_00It's a marketing play. Imagine that.
SPEAKER_01Expensive book.
SPEAKER_00Mm-hmm. Tell us what your experience has been like since you've been here as an intern. Um, what is it like to be an intern at Fierce? And you can say whatever you want. I'm not gonna hold it against you.
SPEAKER_01I think it's been a good experience. I've learned a lot in a short amount of time, I feel. Being able to go out and be in the action and ask questions is really helpful. Um, getting the experience and practicing with editing and you know, being told different styles or um techniques and just improving overall has been fun for me. I think it's a good experience overall.
SPEAKER_00Do you have any fun projects, like favorite projects you've been able to go out in the field on for shooting?
SPEAKER_01Currently, I would say Miller's has been fun for Miller's Portable, going out and learning their process and how so tell everybody what we're doing for Miller Portable. Uh, we're doing their training videos.
SPEAKER_00So we're doing a 35 or 40 video training series that they're gonna use for I don't know how many, it's a endless amounts of videos, that's what it feels like. We're trained, we're creating training guides that they're gonna use for their team. And so you're getting to see the the shooting in the field, but you're also helping support on the editing side. So, how has being out there, even though you don't necessarily want to be a videographer, how has being out there and seeing the shooting helped you with the editing side?
SPEAKER_01Um, you get to put stuff together in your head before you actually start editing, and then it helps you know like this was shot, like how this was shot, I can use this here, like you'll know ahead of time instead of just having to look while editing, like, oh, what should I put here? I'm not sure. Like, do we have this filmed? That way you actually know, oh, we have this, I can find this here. Add stuff that might not be added originally if you didn't know ahead of time.
SPEAKER_00What's been the one of like uh something surprising about working here?
SPEAKER_01Surprising?
SPEAKER_00Did you come expecting to stay or wanting to stay?
SPEAKER_01I did not come expecting wanting to stay. I came expecting to do the internship and then go back to PA. Bounce. I was like, all right, I'll come in, do the internship, and then I'm going back home. But now I want to stay.
SPEAKER_00You want to stay in Ohio and at Fierce.
SPEAKER_01If if able, yes.
SPEAKER_00But it's not just Fierce. You said you wanted to stay here no matter what, right? That's true.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I'll stay in Ohio no matter what.
SPEAKER_00What has been surprising about Ohio, I guess. I mean, Ohio and Pennsylvania, most people think it's the same thing, but what's the difference or what would keep you here?
SPEAKER_01I just like a change of scenery, even though the scenery is pretty much the same. Like you go to PA, it's you know, flat and hilly and fields everywhere, pretty much the same as here.
SPEAKER_00We've got a little bit of hills though. It's a little more rolling here.
SPEAKER_01But it's pretty much the same there, but I think just a new area, new people, being able to experience new things. Fresh start. Yeah, fresh start.
SPEAKER_00Although you haven't eaten at all the best restaurants yet, so we gotta get you on the list. Yeah. I just asked you if you had had koshy house pizza and you said no.
SPEAKER_01So haven't been to enough places yet, but nowhere's good.
SPEAKER_00You did get to turn 21 here though. So we got to experience that. Not me, I wasn't able to be there, but I heard stories about you had family come in and yeah.
SPEAKER_01The drive through uh beer stores are very you know where they're all at in Mr.
SPEAKER_00Now.
SPEAKER_01They're unique.
SPEAKER_00Got it. Um, okay, so if you were talking to an employer, so we were talking a little bit about like um in preparation for sitting down and going through this interview today, we were talking about uh, you know, what's the purpose of even talking and putting this out there for the world to hear? So if an employer was listening to this and they were thinking about putting an internship program together, is there any advice you'd have for an employer about how they could set up an internship or like what should they tell a future intern to help them be prepared for the role they would be going into? Maybe what should I have told you that we didn't tell you?
SPEAKER_01Ask them questions as well, like on what they want to learn. Um and make sure that you put them in the like correct space or position that they're wanting to learn in, so that in the future they can help you and grow if you want to fully hire them or you know, anything like that.
SPEAKER_00I think that's good advice because sometimes employers will be tempted to be like, oh, I need an assistant or I need a secretary or I need a book, whatever it is. They're looking for what they need and they'll just throw any kind of intern into that. But if you're looking to use internships as a potential for hiring somebody full-time, keeping them on, you need to really give them a chance to see like what they would like to do. Like with you, we've been able to give you a chance to shoot video. You could try your hand at social media or photography if you wanted. You you could have the opportunity to try different things. We've definitely given you the majority of video editing because it's what our needs aligned. So, like your interest and our need really lined up in this situation.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's really good for experience and just training to get them to be able to do, you know, different things, but also what they came there to do because it is a learning experience at the end of the day.
SPEAKER_00If you if somebody was listening to this that was thinking about doing an internship in the future, so like a social we've had a number of different types of interns over the years. What would you tell them about working out fierce?
SPEAKER_01It's an experience, it's a fun experience. A lot of unique people are here.
SPEAKER_00Um we have a lot of personality.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, a lot of different personalities, I would say. I wouldn't say it's too difficult, not stressful. Um, I think you guys have eased me in the everything I've done pretty well. Um, made sure that I'm comfortable doing it. Ask me if I have any questions.
SPEAKER_00Just get me prepared for what I'm doing without they should be prepared to be in social media themselves. You have done the TikToks and rocked them.
SPEAKER_01I would say don't come in without experience in the field. Like at least know a little bit of what you're doing and how to do it, and not just be, oh, I think I want to do this. Let me give it a try.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that's that's good advice too. I was curious to see what you would say. It's always interesting for me to hear like what the experience is like because fears can be a lot. I mean, we talk about that a lot because marketing is like pretty crazy and there's a lot changing, but then we're pretty crazy. And you put all of that together, and it can make sometimes I think what feels like a chaotic environment, but I don't know that it feels the same to everybody across all of the departments.
SPEAKER_01So from my experience, it's been good. I've enjoyed being here.
SPEAKER_00So clearly, if you want to stay, yeah. We have um locked you in locally and potentially with a company. So we have some um future projects coming up that we're excited for you to get to be a part of. You'll get to go to the branches summit week and see um some, you know, like that's probably one of our biggest media weeks of the year. It's kind of like media Christmas, whatever you want to call it. I don't know, but it is like the um biggest event of the year for us. So I'm excited for you to get to see that come full circle because you've been able to help with editing some branches things, but you haven't seen the actual event yet.
SPEAKER_01I'm excited to actually get into the action. Yeah. Follow Garrett around.
SPEAKER_00Yes. And Garrett will get to be your boss, and we'll just have to make sure he doesn't use that to his advantage too much.
SPEAKER_01Make me do everything for him.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01No.
SPEAKER_00We're not going to call you Garrett's assistant yet. Or ever, actually. Not yet, ever. We'll never call you that. Okay. Well, that's really it. I just wanted to sit down and have a chat with you, see, get you on camera saying that you liked working here and that you had a good experience. It is now timestamped and permanent. You can't go back on your words.
SPEAKER_01So it wasn't forced.
SPEAKER_00Thank you for sharing a little bit about your experience. I appreciate it.
SPEAKER_01You're welcome.
SPEAKER_00Thanks for tuning in to Torch Talk. If today's story sparked something for you, share it with a colleague, community leader, or future change maker. Until next time, stay inspired, stay intentional, and keep your fire burning.