It’s been eight days since I’ve been in the “real world,” aka MOVE Communications. I’m working here as a summer intern until August. After finishing my junior year at Saint Mary’s College (SMC), I made the trek north toward Ann Arbor. This is my first extended stay in the area; I usually just come by to watch the Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish beat the Wolverines. Go Irish! 

Before I get all business on you, let me share some fun facts about myself, Katelynd Park:

• I am a Mass Communications major with a minor in Spanish, Advertising and PR.
• I have lived in five US states, three countries and speak two languages.
•  I am a Student Ambassador at SMC and I am the President of Friends with Sisters (a school club where students are friends with a sister from the convent that is located on campus).
• I play field hockey on the Notre Dame Club team.
• It has been rumored that Linda, MOVE’s Executive Assistant, and I may be related.

Experiencing Marketing Communications
First I need to thank my last semester Marketing teacher, Robert Williams, who introduced me to SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis because during my first day at MOVE, I worked on a PowerPoint where this was the main focus.

To be honest, I always thought that PowerPoints would end with college, kind of like cursive ended with elementary school. Working at MOVE I’m seeing just how important they are for businesses, especially once MOVE adds in their strategic planning and creative concepts—from cool designs to catchy headlines. No, they didn’t pay me to say this!

It’s still early, but I’ve already had the opportunity to watch an experienced professional like Don Hart, MOVE’s President, interact with clients and develop a business plan that works for them. I’m starting to get familiar with e-mail marketing campaigns and how to apply business to social media—a big topic in my communication classes. And being a college student who is more or less addicted to social media, what could get better than that? #watchout