By: Avah Hogg
As my summer internship at the Chamber of Commerce draws to a close, I’ve been looking back on my summer spent at the Chamber. This experience has been such a great learning experience, offering me a firsthand look at the behind-the-scenes of our community’s most impactful organization. From engaging with tourists and locals to working alongside our event directors to host some amazing events, I’ve had a lot of fun and learned so much. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to contribute and learn from such a dynamic team. Here’s a glimpse into some of the highlights and valuable lessons from my time at the Chamber.

During my internship at the Chamber of Commerce, I became something of a “human Google” for Clear Lake tourists and community members. Every day, even I learned something new about my community from the wide variety of questions I was asked.

Some of my favorite questions were:

  1. “How much is a long-distance call?”
  2. “When does the carnival get here?” (They were already set up… right outside the door.)
  3. “Why do you guys hate dogs around here?” (They were upset their 90-pound dog couldn’t sit on the owner’s lap while they ate at an indoor restaurant.)
  4. “You look pretty young, so I don’t know if you can help me.” (You look pretty old, so I’ll try my best.)
  5. UPS Man: “I need an adult to sign for this package.” Me: “Okay, I can!” UPS Man: “Ah no, someone else.”

One of my biggest accomplishments and favorite experiences I had during my internship at the Chamber was working closely with the Chamber’s Marketing Specialist to introduce a new social media platform, TikTok, to our strategy. We focused on creating engaging content to attract and improve brand awareness to younger audiences, particularly Gen Z. Within just a few months, our efforts resulted in gaining 1,000+ followers. This experience helped me realize how social media can be a powerful tool for reaching and engaging with specific demographics. By building a presence on TikTok, we were able to connect with a younger audience and increase the Chamber’s overall visibility.

Before starting my internship, I had a limited view of the Chamber’s operations. As an outsider, it was easy to see the final results of the events in our town but hard to grasp the efforts required behind the scenes. Throughout my internship, I gained a new perspective on this. I spent time working with the laminator, handled interactions with vendors, and dedicated hours to folding hundreds of t-shirts for the triathlon during my first week. I also learned the importance of collaborating with the city, police department, local businesses, and other organizations in order to ensure an event runs smoothly. This experience made me realize the significant amount of work and coordination involved in making these events and initiatives successful.

I would recommend this experience to any college student looking for a memorable summer internship! (Not next year though, I might want to come back.)