Virtus

This summer, we welcomed 4 interns from the Kansas City area for an 8-week internship experience. Over the last few months, they showed up each day with the willingness to learn, be collaborative, and even taught our team a thing or two along the way! We are incredibly grateful for all of their hard work and are so glad they chose us for their internship this summer. We wish them well as they return back to school and are excited to see where they go from here! 💙

Intern Takeover 🎓💫 Hello, I’m David Cardaronella, a 2026 summer intern at Virtus working for our clients in Private Equity. I graduated with my BS in Economics from the University of Kansas this spring, and I will graduate with an MA in Economics from the University of Kansas in Spring, 2027.    My experience in this internship program has been uniquely colored by the team I have had the pleasure of contributing to. Virtus’ Private Equity team (PCIP) incorporates M&A diligence into the diligence program familiar to the other teams, as different kinds of buyout deals bring their own risks to layer on top of risks from property, accidents, malpractice, and more. When I did research into a company’s policies and risk-relevant characteristics, or furnished findings for client-facing materials, I communicated with my team in terms not only of insurance but also of private equity.    One of my favorite projects to have worked on this summer was a newsletter I designed for my team, focused on middle-market private equity firms, to be physically mailed as well as emailed. The newsletter relies on an agentic AI workflow to research and write the content in email-ready form, which is then reviewed and edited by our team. The content goes into a Claude-based design, ready to be printed off and mailed out. In re-researching and editing the drafts, I became more familiar with the exit dynamics, fundraising constraints, and notable deals of the current private equity markets.    One thing impossible not to notice while at Virtus is the work environment. Everyone is both kind and professional, willing to help and teach you, and wanting to see you succeed. I was glad to be entrusted with projects that were meaningful to my team, and being part of a positive work culture made it easy to do my best. The depth of experience and knowledge among the people working here ensured that I was never deprived of someone to learn from.    I am grateful to everyone who made my experiences here fun and rewarding, and I look forward to carrying what I learned into the final year of my MA, and beyond into the workforce! 

Yesterday, we enjoyed a beautiful day at the K with our wonderful summer interns! 💙⚾️ We’ve loved getting to know Mitch, Gracie, Aidan, and David over the last two months, and we’re soaking up every minute before they wrap up their internship next week!

Intern Takeover 🎓💫 Hi, I'm Gracie Knight, a 2026 summer intern at Virtus. I'm currently a rising senior at the University of Central Missouri studying Business Management.   My experience at Virtus this summer has been incredibly rewarding, giving me the opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects while learning how our benefits team supports clients. I've worked on projects including renewing insurance policies, creating client presentations, drafting client communications, and analyzing provider networks to help evaluate potential carrier changes. I've also attended carrier meetings, learned the language of employee benefits, and developed a stronger understanding of medical funding plans.   One of the projects I've enjoyed most has been designing a series of employee benefits flyers for a client, covering their telemedicine, dental, and HSA options. I created each flyer with a clean, easy-to-follow layout, incorporated carrier logos and QR codes, and carefully verified every detail against the source materials to ensure employees received accurate, reliable information.   What has made the biggest impact on me, though, has been the people at Virtus. From day one, my mentors have welcomed my questions, encouraged me to take on meaningful responsibilities, and trusted me to contribute to real client work. The collaborative, supportive culture has made this an incredible learning experience and has challenged me to grow both professionally and personally. I'm grateful for everything I've learned this summer and excited to carry these experiences forward as I continue my education and begin my professional career. 

Intern Takeover 🎓💫 Hi, I'm Aidan Boehmer, a 2026 summer intern at Virtus. I'm currently a rising junior at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), studying Finance and Data Analytics. My experience at Virtus this summer has been incredibly valuable so far, giving me a strong foundation of applicable skills that I know will carry into my future career. Working specifically within the hospitality vertical, I've had the opportunity to contribute to a wide range of projects, including preparing renewal proposals, comparing policies and quotes across carriers using our AI-driven database, and helping evaluate coverage options to help support the most effective outcomes for the unique risk profile of our clients. I am currently working on a project where I am creating a Hospitality Coverage Gap Playbook, designed to introduce our firms’ specific focuses, build trust with clients, and highlight common coverage gaps in the hospitality industry while showcasing the value of our risk management approach. What's stood out to me most at Virtus is the culture and mentality. There is an aggressive growth mindset that makes it engaging and inspiring to come to work every day. That energy (along with the putting green at the office) has been my favorite part of the experience, and it's made a lasting impression on me by showing how motivation and focus drive real impact on a day-to-day basis. I'm extremely grateful to everyone who has been so welcoming and has provided the amazing opportunity to grow and learn as much as possible this summer!

Intern Takeover 🎓💫 Hello, I am Mitch Hughes, a rising Senior at The University of Kansas pursuing a bachelor's degree in finance. I am currently interning with Virtus in the Client Development department for the summer of 2026.  My time so far has been incredibly immersive. Throughout June, I have received the privilege of sitting in on meetings and learning the language of Virtus’ business. I have been learning many sales tactics as well as what kind of coverage we offer and what verticals we operate within. Through this experience, I have gained valuable real-world skills and insights. I am eager to continue expanding my knowledge and applying what I have learned to future opportunities. One of the many projects I have undertaken this summer is the development of a Competitive Intelligence Matrix for Virtus and their competing brokerages. Through this work, I have analyzed competitors' strengths and weaknesses and identified opportunities for Virtus to differentiate itself and strengthen its position as a leading broker in the market.    What I have valued most during my time at Virtus has been the company’s culture. Everyone in the office is approachable and willing to lend a helping hand when needed. While there is a strong commitment to hard work and excellence, the environment remains positive. This combination of professionalism and a strong sense of community has made my experience especially rewarding and will leave a lasting impression on me. 

Please give a warm welcome to the newest members of the Virtus team - Robert Jones II, Tyler Sardelli, Bryce Unruh, and Blake Sowden. 🌟 We are so glad you're here and can't wait to see what you accomplish at Virtus! 🎉

Last week, we gathered at the park for our annual Virtus Family Fun Day. ☀️ It was a great chance to relax, connect, and spend time with our teammates and their families. Grateful for a team that knows how to work hard and have fun together.

The Virtus team wrapped up a fantastic two-day visit to Cincinnati this week, connecting directly with our partners at The Cincinnati Insurance Companies It was an incredible opportunity for our team to dive deep into strategy with their leadership team and vertical specialists. Aligning our expertise allows us to stay ahead of market trends and better serve our clients. Because when our teams sync up like this, our clients win. Huge thanks to the Cincinnati team for the incredible hospitality, a highly productive couple of days, and the great view at the ballpark! Looking forward to what we will accomplish together next.  

A huge Virtus welcome to our 2026 Summer Interns! 🌟 A talented group of students joined our team this week, bringing fresh perspectives, big ideas, and incredible energy. We're excited to have Aidan Boehmer, David Cardaronella, Gracie Knight, and Mitch Hughes on the team. We're so glad you're here! 🎉 #Virtus #Interns #WelcomeWeek #SummerInternship #FutureLeaders