October 22, 2020
In turn with George Shannon
In turn is a series dedicated to highlighting the interns and internship opportunities that can be found within the College of Business (COB).
George Shannon of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, is an example of why one needs to get involved and take advantage of what the School of Hospitality Leadership and the COB can offer. This past summer, the junior interned at the Cherokee Town & Country Club in Atlanta, Georgia, a prestigious place to gain experience, according to Dr. Bob O’Halloran, SHL director.
How did Shannon land this internship? Let’s let him tell us, but first, a little more about Shannon.
“I was born in Alabama but moved to Rocky Mount in the sixth grade. The summer after my freshman year, I interned at Trump National Westchester. At the beginning of that summer, I was part of the events team, but after a couple of weeks, I became the back kitchen’s expeditor and made sure all our food came accurately and on time. This past summer, I interned at Cherokee Town & Country Club in Atlanta, Georgia. I worked solely as a front-line employee in the tennis shop and made sure customer needs were met when coming to play tennis at the Town Club.”
How did you learn about this internship opportunity?
I was the membership director for the ECU Chapter of the Club Management Association of America (CMAA). During that time, I met five managers and department heads from Cherokee at the CMAA World Conference I attended in February in Dallas, Texas. My interview with them went very well. They contacted me an hour after my interview and offered me a job with housing for the summer in Atlanta, Georgia.
How did the SHL prepare you to be the chosen candidate?
SHL provided numerous events, including different club fairs, over the past couple of years. During this time, I met many people, and hearing their motivation toward my field (special events & conventions) was ecstatic.
SHL really wants me and my fellow peers to succeed, and it shows by the scheduled events. They always send job and internship opportunities to anyone that will follow up. That’s the key.
Describe your experience at the SHL-COB.
My SHL experience has been fantastic. I have very supportive professors that really care about their students. I would not have gotten this opportunity if not for Professor Hamilton, who introduced me to the CMAA when I came for freshman orientation. The connections I have made through the club will suit me well after I graduate.
Why would you recommend a business student take advantage of an internship opportunity?
I would recommend taking advantage of an internship opportunity mainly because it means everything to have hands-on experience. To be able to use what I learned in school helped further my skill set in the hospitality industry and be a better employee at my job.