First On Sight Event

Since I had made so many trips loading waters in the heat and prepared so many different documents for our Krisam Group, I got invited to check out their final dinner event at La Puesta del Sol on Friday.

It's located off the 101 and Shea Blvd but way past Fountain near Fort McDowell Casino. Although it was across the "world" for me the drive was amazing at sunset. I was really excited to finally be on-site with the group I had been working on for the past two weeks. The entire place was transformed. It was carpeted and walls were put in place to create one large room. A very large lavish wooden bar was built in the center where a golden horse statue rose out of. There was a stage for the band and dance floor. The round tables were draped with linens and beautiful center pieces with menus at every place setting.

Out side there were high tops for a happy hour before dinner with tequila bars and appetizers. There were cowboy games, crafts and a photo stand. There was also another live performance outside. On the opposite side there were telescopes set up for star gazing when the sun went down. It was amazing and I was proud to be apart of the team that produces this event. The picture of myself at the top of my blog is from that day!

Be Aggressive! B-E Agressive!!

Last week was very exciting and busy. We had two programs. The first was the Wells Fargo Program from the 8th to the 10th. For this program I learned how to hire staff and what the policies were when we did not have enough. I saw a fellow classmate had the same event on her blog:) That was cool to read her take on the event. I saw it from the behind the scenes. I saw how proposals and contracts were sent back and forth; how staff was hired and prepared the paper work they needed. When our client asked for additional staff the week of the program we contacted Wing Team and asked for their help with the staffing. This is how my classmate came to staff our program. I thought that was cool and how small the industry can be.

The "Grunt' Work

In the midst of this three-day program we were preparing for one of our most important clients Krisam Summit. They are the sister company to our partners Global Events Partners (GEP). This program had a good mixture of activities to help me learn how things were done. I learned how a schedule of services works and prepared one, as well as put together a hotel resume. For this group I truely played the part of the intern. I drove to Tempe to get ice chests for the busses and back. I went shopping for the water and alcohol which took two baskets along with a stock boy to help me with. Then I picked up ice and packed the coolers with water and beer. Loaded them up in my car and took them to our transportation company. Everyone kept saying thank you for going to get that, thank you for doing that. I thought it wasn't necessary, after all I'm the intern and it's my job. I as more than willing to go and happy to help. Everyone was very appreciative and I got to learn that my boss once had a cooler company and thats all he did all day.

And So It Begins

Day one for me was an introduction to the company and staff. Joanne quickly tucked me under her wing and gave me the grand tour and an overview of things I would be working on. She introduced me to Francine the Director of Operations and Gary McIntyre the new Vice President of Sales. It was his first week too. Already felt we shared in the "new kid" at school feeling.

I was handed binders of the company's operating manual, the 2010 tariff and a previous intern binder that explained and listed the duties that were expected of me. I read through them and found I was going to have a lot to learn before I got the hang of everything listed in the intern duties list. I began to browse the computer and found it was in complete chaos. So many interns had tried to organize this computer with folders and shortcuts for certain documents we use. Now there are double and triple folders with the same headings on them, but different forms inside. Yikes! I immediately asked if I could organize the documents to my preference and try to make it easier on the next intern. I have found this will be an ongoing project.

There was a lot going on in the office that first day, but not much for the new intern with no experience to help with. They needed things done quickly and I still had to learn everything they were talking about so it was an early day for me.

The Peices Slowly Fall Together

Meeting Andy who is the President and CEO of the company didn't feel as intimidating as I had expected it to be, especially in this warm house setting and having already met Joanne first. I found Andy to be much like one of my favorite tios (uncles) who is very laid back in a sense with day to day situations whether at home or in the office, but a very intellegent man who knows his industry like the back of his hand. A man who owns his own company, is well respected by the local community of people he works with and deservingly so. He has tremendous amount of experience and knowledge that you pick up on immediately after being around him for even five minutes.

He explained what his company was about and how it operated, then explained the role the intern would play in it. I wanted to jump out of my chiar to tell him he had found the intern he was looking for. I wanted Andy to be my mentor of this side of the industry which I truthfully didn't know too much about, but knew I could learn here with plenty of hands on experience working directly with him and his staff.

I can't explain how excited I was to recieve the email the following week asking me if I wanted the intern position. I had been upset all summer since I hadn't recieved a call back from my other interviews. My family kept telling me not to worry because something better would come along. I honestly didn't believe that was possible so late in the summer, but I know now this is exactly where I should be!