CC&ES Alumni in "The Real World"

"Working at Campus Center and Event Services prepared me in a multitude of ways for my career in the events industry post-graduation. As an assistant to the CEO of BizBash Media, a few of my responsibilities include scheduling, office management, working in cross-functional teams, and event coordination. More than anything, my job revolves around organization and problem solving, which I developed working at CC&ES. As an event manager, set-up manager, office manager, etc., it was my responsibility to meet client demands and find ways to make things work. It works the same way at BizBash. I was able to use examples of my problem solving skills working at CC&ES in my interview with BizBash, demonstrating my skills and how I handle pressure.  Having solid organizational skills makes work more efficient, less stressful, and are essential for any role in this industry."

-Josh Rivera '11 (www.linkedin.com/joshrivera) Follow Josh: @joshriveranyc

"I interned in the CC&ES Department during my senior year, and I can proudly say that it was one of the best decisions I made while at Ithaca College.  The knowledge that I learned while interning there is invaluable, and the people I learned from are great teachers and advisors.  I was introduced to the department on campus because I was actively involved in numerous organizations that utilized the services provided by CC&ES.  From the first meeting I had with an event planner in the office, I knew that I wanted to be a part of the department. 

During the internship, I was able to gain insight into each area of the event planning field: A/V, set-up, scheduling of conference rooms and venues on campus, food and beverage, logistics, and staffing for the events. My main role in the internship was to coordinate all logistics and write event summaries for a selection of both small and large events that happened on campus. I learned from and shadowed an amazing team of Event Planners in the department that individually all hold a wealth of knowledge and diverse set of skills. The internship taught me how to use my time efficiently, and how to hold effective meetings with clients. Most importantly, I also improved my ability to multi-task and stay organized, and learned the benefits of communicating within a team-oriented environment.

It is thanks to the internship in the CC&ES department, organizations that I was a part of at Ithaca, and my degree in Communication Management & Design, that confirmed my interest in the event planning industry. I can happily and proudly say that my experience in the CC&ES department gave me a considerable advantage post-graduation, and significantly helped prepare me for the position I currently hold now, Special Events Coordinator at Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking in New York City."

-Abby Brewer '10 (www.linkedin.com/abbybrewer)

"I couldn't have been happier with my time spent working at CC&ES - I really enjoyed learning more about the inner workings of events at Ithaca College and how important good organization and coordination is to completing a successful project. My favorite part was seeing how the student workers and full-time staff could come together to make a great team. It was easy to work in such a positive and supportive atmosphere. I also loved getting to know many of the student organizations and other departments on campus, through meeting with them to discuss various event details. As I gained trust from my co-workers and received more responsibility, I was always discovering new ways to communicate and plan events more effectively. My experience with CC&ES was incredibly rewarding and absolutely translates to my career post graduation. At CC&ES, I gained experience in effective communication, teamwork, and multi-tasking - I absolutely use these skills everyday! As a Communications Support Specialist at Business Concepts, a small consulting and coaching business, I am constantly learning and implementing new processes as well as working with my co-workers to share responsibilities. I am expected to balance several projects at once while maintaining focus and giving lots of attention to detail."

-Kelsey Walzer '11 (www.linkedin.com/in/kelseywalzer)