Gatesman, one of the fastest-growing, privately owned marketing communications agencies in the U.S., is pleased to introduce the 2018 Brandtern Experience class: Arianna Choing, Sonia Del Rivo, Haylie Hawkins, Elissa Hill, Christian Horta Kovacs, Grace Leibow, Katie Schuchman and Lauren Ver Steeg. The latest Brandterns will conclude their 10-week long internship on Aug. 9 by pitching their final project to the agency.
“We’re ten years into our Brandtern Experience program and our goal has remained unchanged since its inception,” said Shannon Baker, president, Gatesman. “We’re here to prepare top-notch students to enter the marketing communications field with the skills and experience needed to succeed. We make it a point to challenge these students and they consistently exceed our expectations each year.”
The Brandtern Experience, which launched in 2009, is a summer internship providing students with agency experience, professional mentorship and hands-on, professional training. In addition to assisting the agency with client work, Brandterns function as their own in-house agency to plan and execute a campaign focused on enhancing the Brandtern Experience for future classes.
The 2018 Brandtern interview process started with a “Limelight” interview, which is modeled as a shark-tank pitch, giving applicants the opportunity to creatively express their personalities and qualifications in front of Gatesman’s leadership. Those with the most captivating pitches and impressive backgrounds move on to the final round of individual interviews with their prospective departments.
Meet the 2018 Brandtern Class:
Choing is entering her junior year at the University of Pittsburgh where she studies marketing and psychology. She joined the project management team this summer after gaining professional experience in previous internships with Red Door Real Estate, the National Kidney Foundation and Nakturnal.
Del Rivo is a senior at Carnegie Mellon University majoring in decision science and social/political history. Experience in research on CMU’s Doula Decisions and POWER projects, as well as her role as a strategy resident at Evolution Bureau, prepared Del Rivo to support the business intelligence team at Gatesman this summer.
Hawkins is entering her junior year at the University of Alabama studying public relations with a minor in computer science. She joined the account management team this summer with prior experience in writing and design for her Panhellenic Association’s public relations committee.
Hill joined the public relations and social media team from Penn State University, where she is pursuing a degree in public relations with minors in business and digital media trends/analytics. Prior to Gatesman, she interned with VisitPITTSBURGH and Schreyer Honors College. She is the editor of Penn State’s student news blog, Onward State.
Horta Kovacs, a senior at Point Park University majoring in public relations and advertising, joined the account management team this summer. He previously interned with Schneider Downs, Apple Box Studios and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Leibow is entering her junior year at Penn State University studying marketing with a minor in digital media trends/analytics. She is a member of the public relations and marketing division staff for VALLEY, Penn State’s student lifestyle magazine.
Schuchman joined the public relations and social media team from the University of Pittsburgh, where she is pursuing a degree in marketing. Prior to Gatesman, she interned with Berks County Living, Digital Dialog and UPMC. She is heavily involved in Pitt Pathfinders and Women in Business.
Ver Steeg, a senior at the University of Delaware studying marketing, joined with Gatesman’s media team this summer. She previously interned with The Bonadio Group in Rochester, New York and Trunkaroo in London.
To catch up with the 2018 Brandtern class, like their page on Facebook and follow them on Twitter and Instagram.
About Gatesman:
Gatesman is one of the fastest-growing, mid-size, privately owned agencies in the U.S. With offices in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Springfield, Mo., Gatesman offers expertise in strategy/branding, advertising, public relations, social media, digital and analytics. Gatesman is a partner in AMIN Worldwide, an alliance of over 50 independent marketing agencies, and IPREX, a global communications network. Gatesman acquired Quest Fore in 2014 and Noble Communications in 2017.
.jpg)