Introducing: Alexia

Even though you are most likely to encounter bizarre sights on the streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter, I don’t think the city was expecting a Paraguayan 21-year-old scuttling around at 9:00 am, trying to find parking among the NFL kick-off festivity preparations, making her way to her first day of work; that was me last week. Day One at Keating Magee-- and it couldn’t have been on a more excellent day.

Currently a Communications Senior at Loyola University, with a minor in Creative Writing, I transferred from the home land – Paraguay – my sophomore year and haven’t looked back since. Moving to New Orleans has included falling in love with Uptown’s canopies and street cars, and being utterly confused by the city’s bizarre fascination for beads, and even more so by the frenzy that is Mardi Gras. If I could sum up my transition from South American small town to North American Who Dat Nation, I would have to say it’s been quite the exhilarating ride.

Although I have had professional experiences in the past, working at a Marketing Agency in Paraguay, interning for the School of Mass Communication at Loyola, and completing my summer internship at the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, now I am starting at Keating Magee and I am excited to start from scratch in my new office overlooking the river. I look forward to joining this team and proving myself as a worthy asset.

Introducing: Lauren

Hey ya'll! My name is Lauren Van de Voorde, and I am a new addition to Keating Magee's internship program for the Fall 2010 semester. I am a Senior Marketing major at UNO, transferring from UL in Lafayette. Obviously by the "ya'll" I am originally from the area; Slidell to be exact. "Excited" is an understatement when describing how I feel about being back in the area. The French Quarter, Uptown, the restaurants, the (SuperBowl Champs) Saints, along with many other staples of the city, make it truly like no other. One reason for my transfer during the last year of undergrad was knowing that New Orleans had a plethora of options for a young, eager soon-to-be-grad, such as my self. Ladies like options (and, well, men too), and there is definitely no other place that offers such a variety in a city with such amazing culture.

With graduation coming up in May, I had to buckle down this summer and really take a look at companies that would be on my radar as I set out on my first "big-girl" job hunt in the spring. Focusing in on those that offered internships and were top in their industry, Keating Magee stood out. Isn’t there a saying that goes “if you want to be the best, you have to learn from the best”? I think so, or something along those lines.

The short 40 minute drive I made for my first interview with D.A. Magee himself was undoubtedly one of the finest decisions I have ever made. D.A. acknowledged my "persistence" to obtain an internship and was the first to say to me "you've got potential kid". The second interview is when I got to learn a little more about what a Media Intern does. Yes, I will file papers and tie ribbon(I did that the first day), but those tasks are what interns are for. I will also, however, get a chance to sit in on meetings with networks, oversee the process of buying slots for commercials and print ads, actually interact with clients, and even have a project to do with my fellow interns. Of course, I will be granted to opportunity to do much more along the way. Not many college interns can say the have an opportunity to learn an extraordinary amount and having amazing fun along the way!

Working at the top floor of Jax Brewery, in the heart of the French Quarter, and at such a prominent company (google Keating Magee, you will see) is not a bad way to spend three afternoons a week. Plans for the future are simple for me at Keating Magee: learn as much as possible, make the most of every opportunity I am given, and enjoy this amazing chance I am so thankful to have been given.