Hi, my name is Lucas Garofoli, and I am currently a junior double majoring in accounting and finance here at Pitt. I enjoy problem solving and am very detail-oriented which is a big reason why I got into this field. originally from Mount Lebanon, PA, which is about 25 minutes away. In my free time,…
Tag: Plus 3 Germany
Next Stop: Germany
Hi everyone! My name is Lauren Soto. I am a student at the University of Pittsburgh School of Business pursuing a double major in Business Analytics and Business Information Systems. During my time at Pitt, I have also focused on the Spanish language and culture, which I plan to continue after graduation. I have always…
Introduction: Taylor Onsted
Hi everyone! My name is Taylor Onsted, and I am currently a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh. I am majoring in Supply Chain Management and Business Information Systems with a Business AI certificate. I live in Dexter, Michigan, which is less than 15 minutes from the University of Michigan. Outside of academics, I work…
Day 12: Slowing Down and Saying Goodbye
After a packed two weeks, today was all about slowing down. A lot of people took the chance to travel to Austria, and while I almost went too, I decided to just stay in Augsburg and chill — especially since I’ll still be in Europe for another week and a half. I slept in, grabbed…
Day 11: Wrapping It Up Right
Today was the finish line — no early wakeup call, no factory visit — just a chance to put everything we’ve learned into a final presentation. I headed down to the hotel lobby early for breakfast and used the time to polish up my slides before we walked over to the university. Once we met…
Day 10: Grob Doesn’t Miss
Going into today, I didn’t have many expectations — but Grob ended up being one of the most fascinating company visits of the trip. From the start, it was clear they’re operating on a different level. As a private company, they’re not tied down by shareholder pressure, and it shows. They have the freedom to…
Day 9: A View I’ll Never Forget
With just a few days left on the trip, today was one of those bittersweet moments where you realize how fast everything is going. We started the day with a visit to Hoerbiger, and it definitely stood out compared to the other companies we’ve seen so far. The presentations were on the longer side, but…
Day 8: Dachau
Today was unlike any other day on this trip. We visited Dachau, one of the first concentration camps established by the Nazis, and from the start, I knew it was going to be a heavy experience. I was nervous going in. I had a general idea of what we’d be seeing, but I didn’t know…
Day 7: A Taste of the Big City
Today felt different right from the start. We headed to Munich, and the moment we got there, it was clear that this was a whole new vibe from the smaller towns we’d seen so far. It was a perfect Saturday — sunny, warm, and absolutely packed. For the first time on the trip, I felt…
From Fatigue to Fascination | Day 2 in Germany
Today felt like the first real day here – structured, social, and filled with those moments that remind you why traveling for a program like this is so special. We were up and out by 8:30 AM, which felt early but manageable. The day began at the University of Augsburg, where we finally got to…
D8: Progress Through Technology
Today was the Audi site visit. We started with a tour of the Audi manufacturing plant, and it was mind-blowing to see the precision and technology that goes into making each car. The plant we visited focused specifically on creating the A3, Q2, A4, A5, and Q6 models. They produce around 2,000 cars daily, using…
D7: Dachau
We visited Dachau, the first concentration camp established by the Nazis in 1933. Rather than being an extermination camp, where the main goal was to kill as many people as possible, it was more so designed to house political prisoners. These prisoners ranged from Catholic priests (because they started to realize what the Nazis were…
D6: Munich
Big city day! We took the 40-minute train to Munich bright and early. It was cool to me how we could put up to five people on one single train ticket. I think in Germany, it’s really the small things that says a lot about what they think of unnecessary waste, which really adds to…
Day 8: Dachau
Today we went to the first concentration camp built in Germany. Contrary to what most people believe it was no an extermination camp, they are two different things. People were sent here as prisoners to work and most passed away due to the poor living conditions, disease, and starvation. At the start, this camp housed…
Day 13: Free day in Salzburg, Austria
Today, Friday, May 17th our group headed off independently to Salzburg, Austria. We caught a 9am 3-hour train ride to Austria. We arrived around noon and to our dismay, it was drizzling rain. Despite the ominous-looking clouds, nothing could dull our excitement to explore a new town in a new country! Lucky enough, the weather…
D5: Landsberg am Lech
Today was a relatively chill day at Landsberg am Lech. Landsberg is one of the oldest German towns, and is situated on the Romantic Road. Hitler was in jail there in 1924, and it is noted as the place where he wrote the nazi Bible, “Mein Kapft.” After arriving, the group split off, and I…
Day 12: Regensburg, Germany
The day began with a two-hour (quite lengthy, but of course lovely) tour of the entire city of Regensburg! Our tour guide was thorough and didn’t miss a fact. We learned that Regensburg was one of the only cities in Bavaria that didn’t get bombed during WWII. It is rare as many of its buildings…
D4: Swan King
Today, we visited Neuschwanstein Castle. It was a long hike up to the castle, but the view made it worthwhile. Since it was the German holiday of Christi Himmelfahrt (Ascension Day, 40 days after Easter), the number of visitors was significantly higher than usual. Upon arrival, we joined a guided tour. Our guide was very…
D3: Eco-innovation
Today was an eventful day as we visited two companies: Grob and Forvia. Our first stop was at Grob, the largest battery cell producer in Europe. Second stop was at Forvia, previously known as Faurecia. Grob Grob is a multinational company based in Germany and particularly focuses on manufacturing and automation systems. They also create…
Day 11: Final Presentations & Farewell Dinner
I woke up feeling nervous to present my long-awaited final for the Plus 3 course. This 30-minute presentation had been looming over my head the entire trip and I was excited to get it out of the way and to show off all that I had learned about the company – GROB. There were 4…