November 11, 2020
In turn with Camryn Gutierrez
In turn is a series that highlights the interns and internship opportunities found within the College of Business (COB)
Camryn Gutierrez plans to graduate in May 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. She tells us she can’t wait to enter the world and “spread my Pirate pride with others around me.”
Gutierrez, a Raleigh native, recently completed an internship with Greenville’s city manager’s office.
Let’s find out together about her internship, experiences and days in the School of Hospitality Leadership and the College of Business. And, if you read all the way through, you’ll find out why Gutierrez is an awesome Pirate and future leader.
“During my junior year, I had the wonderful opportunity to serve on the executive board for my service sorority, Epsilon Sigma Alpha. My role as philanthropist meant that I oversaw the coordination for each of our events that benefited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For the past 13 years, we have hosted an annual 5k run in memory of a sister who died from cancer. As one can imagine, a lot goes into planning a large run/walk event. During preparation for this event, I met and worked alongside the special events team at the City Manager’s Office in Greenville, North Carolina. This helped me make connections and opened the door to this internship of a lifetime.
What were your responsibilities as an intern?
As the special events intern, I had many assignments that helped grow my overall experience. I was able to support people who hosted external events within the City of Greenville. My main duties were to ensure that they obtained all the proper permits and documentation needed to run events smoothly. I also helped plan internal events, including The Field of Honor, Carpool Cinema, Bites on The Bridge, Caravan to Candyland and much more.
How did the COB prepare you to be the chosen candidate?
Since freshman year, I have been taking courses regarding resume building, leadership and interviews. Because of the knowledge gained from these courses, I believe that my skills were strengthened.
While preparing for the selection process of this internship, I took advantage of the COB career center. They reviewed all my materials required for the application and made sure that I was confident going into the interview process.
Describe your experience at the COB.
My experience at the COB has been more than exceptional. Thanks to magnificent staff members, I have been molded into the young businesswoman I am today. Every instructor I have ever had has always shown genuine care for each of their students. The advising staff is also remarkable.
Going into the spring semester of my freshman year, I was unsure of the exact concentration I wanted to study. After talking to my advisor, she helped guide me to the School of Hospitality Leadership. I could never thank her enough. Joining this department was the best decision of my college career.
Why would you recommend a business student take advantage of an internship opportunity?
Obtaining an internship as a young business student is such an important learning factor. It teaches you many different lessons that are more difficult to understand while sitting in a classroom. For instance, my understanding of communication and teamwork is much stronger than it was before my internship. I have loved every second of my opportunity with the City of Greenville, which has made my enthusiasm to launch my career even greater than it was in the past.
What was the moment during your internship search process where you knew that your ECU COB education has paid off?
I will never forget the moment I received my first email regarding the interview process for my internship. It felt amazing to be recognized and considered for this position. This moment made me realize that my SHL and COB education has truly taught me many values. The biggest takeaway I received from this moment was the fact that I was provided tools to properly promote myself to reach the next step of the hiring process.
What would readers be surprised to learn about you?
I have a passion for helping St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I was invited to attend the three-day St. Jude Collegiate Leadership Seminar during the summer before my junior year. This opportunity taught me various ways to plan events and incorporate others into fundraising. I was even able to tour the hospital. While being Philanthropist Coordinator for Epsilon Sigma Alpha, my organization raised over $24,000 for the children of St. Jude.