Forum - April 2011

WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?

Future Talent in Action

BY JOHN C. CHIKOW

It is interesting to look back 36 years and realize the impact internships had on shaping my career development as an association manager. While pursuing a degree in nonprofit management from Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo., I was fortunate to have contacts with the Chicago Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America and other nonprofit organizations. Every break between semesters offered me opportunities to learn about event management, program management, fundraising campaigns, youth member recruiting, volunteer management and much more. Those experiences have motivated me to provide career developing internships for students today at the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association.

that today’s college students can handle with ease.

Expanding the Intern Pool

GNMAA serves a diverse membership of property owners, hoteliers, retailers, restaurateurs, attractions and service providers in the central business district of Chicago. In addition to traditional membership recruitment and support functions, GNMAA manages The Magnificent Mile® consumer marketing brand as well as coordinates property management and development. In other words, it is a very eclectic association.

While based on a strong volunteer and staff management model, GNMAA derives great benefit from three cycles of interns each spring, summer and fall from a variety of disciplines: urban planning, marketing, event planning and business. For more than 10 years, GNMAA has relied on the Chicago Semester, which is a consortium of private liberal arts colleges throughout the Midwest. Students generally are seeking opportunities in marketing, event management, business management and many other career areas. GNMAA recently expanded its search to students enrolled in the University of Illinois–Chicago’s urban planning program. Other local colleges also are now connected to GNMAA.

Members of the Team

Each year, all prospective interns are interviewed by the leadership of GNMAA’s various divisions, including marketing, planning and advocacy, and member programs and membership, and an intern position description is presented. At the first staff meeting attended by an intern, they are asked to introduce themselves and tell the staff what they expect from their experience.

Each intern is given assignments similar to what any staff person may receive. Marketing projects have included managing volunteer orientations, event volunteer recruitment, and member participation in seasonal marketing campaigns. Urban planning projects have been presented to Chicago Ald. Brendan Reilly for planning use. Division meetings and one-on-one feedback give each intern a strong sense of progress with their projects. While extra time may be given in explaining the task and outcome, it is expected the interns will conduct themselves like any other staff person. Office attire standards for staff also apply to interns.

GNMAA recently added workstations so that up to seven students may intern at the same time. One of the challenges of recruiting smart interns is the need to have the right technical support, both hardware and software. We have had to add server capacity, upgrade computer workstations and add software programs

An Empowering Experience

At the end of each cycle, I take the interns to lunch at Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse, which helps underwrite the meal expense. During lunch, each intern is asked to share what they learned, what surprised them, and how this internship was different from what their peers were experiencing. Across the board, no intern has expected the level of responsibility that they were given. They consistently comment on how empowered they felt and how they enjoyed being an active member of the team. Too often stories of filing, copying and other menial tasks that their friends are required to do are compared to the active roles played by GNMAA interns. I also ask for feedback about how the program can improve for future interns.

Over the years, interns have benefitted from the vast array of members who value seeing job candidates in action. A number of interns have been hired not only by GNMAA (two current marketing staff members began as interns) but also by members. This has an additional benefit to GNMAA because we now have a greater network of friends.