My Time as a CR Intern

This summer, we had the pleasure of having Mackenzie Byrd as an intern. Mackenzie is a fourth year at UCLA studying Communications and Psychology. As befits a communications company, we asked her to share her thoughts about her experience for our blog. 

What would you say about your internship experience overall? 

My time with Communication Resources Northwest has been nothing short of engaging and enriching. I’ve gained valuable work experience in a variety of communication fields within the two months I have spent with CRNW. On day one I was learning about business development and marketing, strategic planning, facilitation, and graphic design, all of which I had little prior knowledge of and experience with. While this may seem overwhelming, the CRNW team was incredibly welcoming and genuinely interested and invested in my development and learning. Each team member took time out of their busy schedules to sit down and give me an introduction to their area of expertise. I greatly appreciated these efforts as they helped me gain an understanding of how I could succeed during my time with the company.  

What was the most surprising thing you learned this summer? 

Communication Resources has a wider scope of work than I ever could have imagined. I have been able to “dip my toe” into just about every aspect of the work, gaining valuable life and career experiences. It has been especially interesting to see how each individual comes together to support each other in different aspects of a larger project.  

A significant part of my learning experience at CRNW involved shadowing Meg Winch, the President of CRNW. I’ve sat in on numerous meetings and coaching sessions to observe firsthand how she engages with clients and to gain insight about her strategic thinking and thoughtful communication style. Listening to her engage with clients and provide her expertise was impressive to witness, and I enjoyed seeing real world applications of the information I was learning.  

What was your favorite assignment? 

One of the most exciting aspects of this internship was my opportunity to travel with Meg to visit clients onsite. I’ve had the opportunity to participate in team facilitations, charter creations and adoption, and partnering between project teams. It’s fascinating to watch her “work her magic” with every client she encounters. The most memorable travel experience was when we went to Los Angeles for a partnering event with the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center project teams. Prior to the event, I helped analyze data that was presented to the project teams on the day of the partnering. It was very rewarding to see some of my work incorporated by the client. On the day of the partnering, I also helped set up the room and passed out materials to participants, along with taking notes of the important agreements and expectations that each company had created, which were then formatted, edited, and delivered back to the client. As a UCLA student, this experience was especially important to me because we were working for a client who had an impact on my immediate community, and when I’m back in Los Angeles, I’ll be able to see the effects of this project.  

What kinds of things did you work on this summer? 

I assisted the CRNW team through various research projects, ranging from higher education to aviation, for our clients’ business development and marketing initiatives. I also assisted in smaller research efforts, including sourcing popular swag items for a client to use for recruitment events at college career fairs. I have enjoyed supporting the team and their clients in various ways, and throughout the process I’ve learned a great deal about strategic planning, master planning, and various market sectors.  

In addition to these amazing learning opportunities, I have had the pleasure of getting to know the team in the office and exploring around the Seattle area! 

Overall, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with Communication Resources Northwest. I will cherish these learning experiences and connections for the rest of my life, and I am excited to apply what I’ve learned to other aspects of my life.