February 12, 2021
In turn with Emily Cross
In turn is a series that highlights the student interns and internship opportunities found within the College of Business (COB). For more information, contact Melissa Parks at parksr19@ecu.edu.
Emily Cross
Marketing Junior Emily Cross is tied to Greenville. Even after moving away at the age of five, Cross and her family always found time to visit Greenville friends and attend ECU football games. “Greenville has always been a second home to me, and it was no question ECU is where I am supposed to be.”
Indeed.
Not only is Cross pursuing her BSBA degree, but she also is a member of the Honors College and has two internships to add to her resume.
How did you learn about this internship opportunity? What were your responsibilities?
I learned about one internship through the ECU athletics Instagram page. As a member of the ECU Athletics Pirate Marketing Crew, we were tasked to help with various in-game and halftime promotions to increase fan engagement. We worked all major sporting events such as football, men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball and soccer. We had weekly meetings to discuss what worked and what didn’t regarding fan engagement. It was enlightening to see how our target audiences responded.
My partner and I currently are paired with The Hackney Distillery in Washington, North Carolina. I learned about this RISE29 internship through the AMA club president, Steven Hollingsworth. This internship immediately sparked my interest because the program’s main cause is to help economic improvement in rural eastern North Carolina towns. Being from a rural town, this really hit close to home, and I wanted to help in any way.
Our main task at Hackney is to research the legality of distributing the company’s alcohol to Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. I’m in the middle of this research process currently, and it has been so enlightening to work with the owners and figure out what permits, suppliers, and costs go into importing spirits out of state.
We’ve also stepped into the e-commerce side of alcohol distribution and are currently researching companies that can provide the best avenue for the company
Cross and her RISE29 partner, Dana Shefet.
Why did you choose to do an internship?
I chose to do these internships because I wanted to try different marketing areas to see which niche caught my interest. An internship is a way to apply classroom knowledge in a “real world” environment. Both internships have provided a great experience on the upfront/advertising side of marketing and the entrepreneurial logistics that go into selling.
How did the COB prepare you to be the chosen candidate?
The COB helped prepare me for these internships in a couple of different ways. I met with Melissa Parks way back during my freshman year to discuss some basics of when to pursue internships and what kind of internships are available. I sent my resume to the COB Career Center to be proofed and to help me display my skills and experience so that potential employers would gravitate toward my resume. Also, the practice interview skills in my BUSI classes and my MGMT class helped me learn how to conduct myself in a professional environment.
What do the internships mean to you?
The internships really helped me gain confidence that marketing is what I want to do for my career. Learning and understanding just how complex it can get selling a product or getting people engaged have been eye-opening for me.
It’s been great to work with real companies who rely on you to help them become profitable and successful. They both have solidified that marketing is where my passion lies.
How are you better prepared for your career with this internship under your belt?
These internships prepared me in different ways. I know how to conduct myself professionally when meeting with clients and supervisors. I also know how to conduct industry research for different sectors of business. Overall, these experiences have been monumental in my confidence to pursue a marketing position in the future. Whether it be a position for a small-town marketing company or a university athletic department, I have the knowledge to communicate and the resources to help me.
Why would you recommend a business student take advantage of an internship opportunity?
I cannot recommend enough to take advantage of the internship avenues the COB provides. The COB has numerous outlets to discover internships such as Handshake and postings on their social media. I really recommend meeting with Mrs. Parks or a faculty member, even if it’s to ask some basic questions; someone is always there to help.