Hayly Smith

Responsibilities

During my internship, I collaborated with the conference services and food & beverage teams to help execute Iowa State Center events. Some of my responsibilities included planning and coordinating meetings and events, inputting event details into EMS software, and assisting with food and beverage set-up for banquet and catering events.

Accomplishments

One of my greatest accomplishments from my internship was being given responsibilities similar to those of a food and beverage manager. I was involved in decision-making and providing other staff members with direction. Throughout my experience, I worked closely with the current managers and assisted them with their daily tasks. I really learned a lot, and now feel prepared to be put into a management position.

Learning experience

The greatest lesson I have learned is how important the planning process is for effectively executing events. At the Iowa State Center, a lot of communication and team meetings go into creating a successful event. The EMS system allows information to accurately reach different departments and ensure everyone is one the same page. Without this process, their events would not have run so efficiently.

What advice would you give?

Look for an internship where you can acquire new skills and gain more experiences. You never know what you are going to end up liking, or what connections you will make. Also, always be open to learning, and take all the opportunities that you can.