The Internship

Activities

Hello! My name is Ben and I am one of the new Marketing and Media Interns here at the Grand Haven Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau!

I recently relocated to Michigan from the suburbs of Chicago to attend Grand Valley State University with an advertising and public relations major. I had finished my Associate’s degree a few years prior and received an Illinois state license to be an EMT. I am ecstatic about this internship as this was my former vacation spot. Now, I get to live and work here and enjoy all the beauty of the Grand Haven area :).

I will be helping manage the social media pages, website, and creating videos for the YouTube channel. I hope to help visitors to Grand Haven discover how wonderful the area is, just as I did when I used to vacation here.

EMT

Photo credit stcc.edu

Working as an EMT in the Chicago-land area was a unique and memorable life experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my years as an EMT and wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. I learned several lifelong skills along the way that I hope to incorporate into my new career path.

Michigan

The question is why West Michigan and why choose to dive back into school as a full time student and change everything? …This wasn’t an easy decision, but why not live where I once vacationed? Every year I would look forward to a relaxing week at the beach and enjoy the abundance of extraordinary sights West Michigan has to offer.

Choosing public relations was not an overnight revelation but a well-articulated thought out plan based on my personal interests and recommendations from friends, family and colleagues. Having been on the emergency medical team at several events, from marathons to charities, I realized this was a passion of mine, connecting a company or organization with communities. What better way to experience this and learn how to connect people further than to intern at my former vacation spot!

A Little More About Myself

Weightlifting and fitness

I am an avid gym goer and enjoy weightlifting. Michigan offers incredible options for those into an active lifestyle. My favorite are the hiking and biking trails. Whether you’re a runner, lifter, cyclist , or all the above – Grand Haven has you covered.

This photo was me at the Arnold Expo meeting Jay Cutler.

Lincoln

I enjoy hanging out with my dog Lincoln and playing Frisbee together. Lincoln was adopted and we are unsure of his breed. Grand Haven area offers many pet friendly parks including a dog beach so you may spot Lincoln this summer if you are also a dog lover!

Convertible Weather 

Enjoying some top down weather and autocross in my car is one of my favorite things to do in the warmer months. I race, legally, on the occasional weekend in the summer. Grand Haven and all of Michigan has a substantial car scene and is full of enthusiasts of all sorts.

Traveling

I recently traveled to Europe and did a road trip vacation from Germany to Austria to Italy to France to Monaco to Switzerland. This photo is me at the hotel in Monaco.

Thanks for reading! I look forward to this opportunity and please continue following our blog for new updates on the wonderful Grand Haven area. Stay tuned for future posts and some GoPro videos from the Grand Haven area!