This summer, I had the opportunity to serve as a Marketing Intern with the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership (Regional Partnership). It turned out to be so much more than I anticipated. Going in, I expected to learn about marketing through content creation, branding, and communications. And, while I did gain experience in all those areas, I quickly realized that marketing at an organization like this one is more than that. It’s also about creating comprehensive campaigns, planning community events, and working on meticulous research projects, all to make the region better as a whole.

Behind the Scenes of a Growing Region

Before this experience, I never really thought about what happens behind the scenes to make a community successful. As someone who has always called this area home, South Bend was nothing new to me. I grew up with the same people, places, and routines, but I never considered the intentionality that goes into shaping the region’s future. During my internship, I learned the amount of time and dedication that goes into every detail.

Because I was in the marketing department, I was able to serve all of our departments on different types of projects. I had the chance to learn from people working in traditional economic development, talent attraction, entrepreneurship, and regional initiatives.

Every department brings a different perspective, but they are all connected. Working together toward the same goal of making this region stronger.

One of the projects that challenged me the most was working on audits, which focused on discovering what different AI platforms say about the organization and our region as a whole. AI is a constantly evolving field that will continue to be relevant in the future, so learning it inside and out was very valuable to me and my career moving forward. I also spent time creating an ad campaign for industry growth and innovation to highlight the benefits of the South Bend – Elkhart region to small and medium-sized business owners in Chicago.

The highlight of my internship was helping with the Regional Impact Rally.

I have historically only been an attendee at events, so being part of the planning process completely changed my view. I saw firsthand how much preparation goes into every detail, from coordinating logistics and communicating with partners to adjusting schedules and solving unexpected problems. 

Watching the event come together after months of preparation was incredibly rewarding. Working alongside partners at EnFocus gave me an even greater appreciation for how much time, collaboration, and effort went into creating the event. Seeing the READI 1.0 impact video come to life was particularly rewarding. I now have more respect for everyone that dedicates their time thinking of ways to make these gatherings successful.

Seeing My Hometown through a New Lens

Before this summer, if someone asked me about South Bend, I probably would have described it as my hometown that wasn’t quite living up to its potential. Growing up here, it was easy to focus on what I thought was missing instead of what was being built. Working at the South Bend – Elkhart Regional Partnership shifted that perspective. I was able to see the tremendous amount of work happening behind the scenes to attract businesses, create opportunities, support local employers, and encourage people to not only move here as a starting platform, but to stay and build their lives here.

I realized that our region is already exceeding in ways that many people, including myself, don’t always notice. But the change and growth over time is undeniable.

What I’m Taking with Me

As the summer comes to an end, I’m grateful not only for the professional skills I developed, but for this new perspective. I also learned how to think more strategically, communicate with purpose, adapt when plans change, and ask questions to continue learning. Most importantly,

I learned that marketing is about people – understanding what matters to them, telling stories that inspire action, and helping communities share their strengths in ways that create lasting impact.

This experience has strengthened my passion for the field, while showing me that behind every successful organization is a group of people working tirelessly to create opportunities for others. I’m incredibly thankful to have been part of that work this summer, and I know the lessons I learned will stay with me long after this internship ends.

About Keira

Keira Battista is a South Bend native and incoming senior at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising. She has been recognized on the Dean’s List and is Google Ads Search and Display certified.

In her role as marketing intern, she contributed to an organizational AI perception audit, helped develop an industry-growth advertising campaign, wrote a storytelling series highlighting local entrepreneurs, and supported planning for our annual impact rally.

Keira will graduate in 2027 and plans to continue building her career in strategic communications and marketing. As a South Bend native, she also enjoys staying connected to the local community. Some of her favorite local spots include Ciao’s, Peggs, and celebrating First Fridays in downtown South Bend.