Events and Marketing Intern (August 1999- January 2002)
While attending the University of South Florida, I was chosen for an internship out of a field of 600 that would spark my passion for events and logistics. I worked under a highly professional mentor who taught me a great deal about events, marketing , logistics and how to handle all of them with authority and grace. This internship was extended for 3 years and every minute was a learning experience.
This seasonal event which showcases the extent of my training is the Outback Bowl. There are no fewer than 15 events which precede the game and planning is key for a smooth week. We supervise each detail for the private events, open to players, coaches, and university Presidents, such as the President's Reception, a players outing to Busch Gardens, Players hospital visits to St. Joseph's Children's Hospital and a Team's Welcome Reception, a kick off to Bowl Week. Public events, such as Beach Day and the Pre Game Bowl Bash, gave me hands-on responsibility for set up, tear down, food and beverage, live music, sponsorship implementation, and on-site vendor promotions. Each year my responsibilities increased.
In addition, actual Bowl responsibilities included game day media logistics, ticket sales and allocation, sponsorship and media credentialing for over 500 national and international media. My hands on training for an event which draws over 68,000 fans has an estimated economic impact of $525 million for the Tampa Bay area was second to none. The Outback Bowl is well known among colleges and fans as being a top bowl to attend.
I was also priviliged enough to work on other aspects of the Outback Bowl. Ticket sales, ticket allocation, sponsorship, game day logistics, media credentialing and game day media logistics. It was another wonderful experience where I gained alot of knowledge through hands on training.