Experience Matters - Grand Valley State University

ETS Performance Summer Internship

Matthew
Major: Communications As a coach and an intern, it was my responsibility to train the athletes on proper strength and speed mechanics, in order to enhance their athleticism. Additionally, it was vital for me to utilize my communication skills in order to build relationships with all of the athletes, in order for them to trust my coaching and feel comfortable around me. It was important for me to motivate the athletes day in and day out to push themselves to their limits, especially with the correct, mindful training. It was also essential that I contributed to the high energy, motivating and inspiring environment that ETS is supposed to provide in order for the athletes to reach their highest potential.

TPUSA Events Internship

Marissa
Major: Communications I reported to work three days a week and worked a total of twenty-four hours every week. I was lucky enough to have such a hands-on learning experience of diving right in and helping in any way that I could to benefit the company and my team members. I worked on a team that was made up of ten individuals. The events team was small compared to the other departments, but the company was quite large and made up of determined people that were always ready to work. The organization had two large events that my team created, organized, and managed. The first conference was in Dallas, Texas in June and the second conference was in Tampa, Florida in July. My role before the conferences began was to manage attendees by approving ones that already applied to attend the conferences, emailing them back, and answering any questions that they asked. I also had to call and order supplies for the events, put attendees and employees in hotel rooms for the events, and execute any task that I was asked to do, such as managing the events team's Instagram by promoting information that encouraged people to attend the conferences. The main tasks that I primarily focused on while physically working in the office were accepting applications for the conference, sending the attendees a confirmation that they were approved to attend the conference, and replying to emails that any of the attendees sent in. I would respond to each email and clarify any concerns that the attendees had. It felt incredible knowing that I was impacting someoneýs life in a positive way by making their day better just by clarifying information for them.

Event Intern

Charles
Major: Communications I was put in charge of establishing social media posts, communicating with clients and guests at events, and planning and hosting my own community gingerbread decorating event. I also was in charge of creating guidelines for all future event assistants.

Marketing Intern

Gracyn
Major: Communications I supported the Marketing and Advertising Specialist by carrying out communication task that was integrated with the goals of the client. I assisted in content creation, market research, event planning, and execution during my internship.

Enterprise Sales & Distribution

Annabelle
Major: Communications As an intern, I participated in various tasks and projects within the department I was with and with other interns in the company. I was able to help understand and come up with solutions and recommendations regarding an enterprise-wide SharePoint site, so conducting interviews and an electronic survey was how I gained feedback and insight into the usage of the site. I also was able to help design learning modules and participate in the discussions. I also helped locate and identify numerous black-owned insurance agencies to expand on its diversity efforts. With other interns, we collaborated and created a grant proposal for a generous donation to a non-profit organization focused on providing housing and shelters for homeless, low-income, and battered women in the community.

Production Assistant Internship

Maggie
Major: Communications Throughout the semester I helped produce the show the Grand Valley State Sports Report. I wrote the script every Sunday and worked in studio on Monday mornings, usually working behind the camera and occasionally monitoring audio. In studio, Jake Levy hosted the show and interviewed coaches of GV sports. I was also able to help film some of the sports that premiered on the show.

Feel Like You Belong Internship Experience

Laura
Major: Communications I created newsletters and helped tag YouTube videos. During the shoot, I greeted guests and had them sign release forms and ran the teleprompter while filming. I also assist in putting together the set.

Communications and Golf

Jack
Major: Communications I assisted with open play, anything golf outing related, maintenance work, pro-shop work, social media and advertising for the course, and concession work.

Learning Experience

Elgin
Major: Communications We must provide walk in tours for customers We set up onsite outside to advertise to potential buyers Make high priority calls Provide incentives to convince consumers to buy.

Green Team

Mara
Major: Communications While working for the Green team, I worked for Campus Dining Marketing, creating sustainability guides, plans, social media posts, infographics and revamping their website. During the Fall semester, I conducted four audits for the Green Team at four dining locations (numbering sixteen audits in total). I completed and published a final Green Team report based on those audits from the 2016-2017 academic year, outlining the data that has been collected throughout the year. This report includes maps, audit analyses, recorded data and recommendations for each dining location. I worked to recruit Green Team volunteers, ultimately doubling the members from last year, and promoted the Green Team through the GVSU food social media platforms. In addition to this, I trained volunteers in bin monitoring, audit procedures, and waste sorting, created bin monitoring schedules for volunteers, and led two Zero-Waste football games.

AACC Intern

Montana
Major: Communications Assisted with planning and executing AACC events, enter information and ran reports in member management database- ChamberMaster, provided support to social media and website content, wrote and edited press releases, responded to email and website inquiries.

Jena Weir Sales Internship

Aubrey
Major: Communications As an intern, I made cold calls daily trying to market for Jena Weir Sales and increase sales to several different stores. I also created "Where to buy Lists" to target stores who could potentially want to sell Jena's products in their own stores.

Women's Center Internship

Justice
Major: Communications I was brought onto their team as the 15th Year Anniversary Lead Intern. I was in charge of planning their fall celebration event during Grand Valley's Homecoming week. I was in charge of contacting multiple venues and choosing the one that best fit the vision of the center for the homecoming event. I was in charge of marketing the event, booking all the food and beverages for the event.

Social Media Intern

Morgan
Major: Communications I managed the social media accounts and website for Access Health.

Danielle Ott: Internship Experience

Danielle
Major: Communications I am an Operational Risk Management and Business Continuity Management associate at Jackson National Life Insurance Company, working for the North American Risk Team function, and reporting to the Director of BCM and Operational Risk. Business Continuity Management (BCM) is a management process that identifies risk, threats and vulnerabilities that could impact an entity's continued operations and provides a framework for building organizational resilience and the capability for an effective response. Operations Risk provides leadership and coordination to ensure and maintain a strong control environment within all operating functions of the Company. This is accomplished by assuming direct responsibility for certain key risk management and control activities, including those that require coordination within and between Operations, IT, and the other Business Units. In addition, special projects are initiated to ensure certain internal risk controls are adequately addressed, designed, and implemented. At Jackson, I coordinate projects, complete intense work on important tasks for BCM, assist in meetings, prepare communications, write press releases, monitor significant manmade and natural events, coordinate safety and security with Jackson for the company and for activities, help with new innovations for the company, assist in important decision making for the company, organize events, and collaborate with internal and external professionals in the field. I have had the chance to assist the Chief Risk Officer in meetings, assist the head of each Risk team on important projects, and learned many different roles and project management skills associated with risk management.

Fastco Industries Internship Experience

Kathleen
Major: Communications At Fastco Industries, a customer service representative is responsible for updating and maintaining customer orders on a daily basis, as well as communicating any potential issues with orders/shipments to production and customers when necessary. Customer service also aids in supporting customer questions, needs and inquires.

PR Gal in an Investor World

Lindsey
Major: Communications One of the biggest tasks to complete was to create a social media presence for Blackford. Private equity is a tough crowd on social media but with the right content and precise timing, we were able to increase our following and provide a steady flow of content to our audience. I was also a big help in creating the regional advisory boards throughout the state of Michigan. They serve as a communicate tool to provide internal insight on businesses in Michigan that are selling or need managing assistant. I helped promote, create, and distribute three events in Michigan.