In the final semester of the Temerlin Advertising Institute’s MA in Advertising program, students work in an executive internship with a Dallas agency. Read Marin’s story below:
Marin Berardi: TM Advertising
Instead of writing a few paragraphs about what I’ve been up to at my internship this semester, I wanted to explain what a day in the life of a TM Account Management Intern is really like. Since TM is located in the same building as the WFAA News Channel 8, just in front of American Airlines Center, I am usually greeted every morning by something unexpected as I walk up the Victory Plaza stairs to 3030 Olive St. Some days it’s the Dallas Stars mascot getting fans hyped for a game and some days there are five dogs being filmed in hopes of getting adopted. Once I make my way to the fourth floor and get to my desk, I check my calendar to get ready for any meetings I have that day. If it’s a Tuesday, I will be attending weekly status conference calls between the agency and the client, such as American Airlines Credit Union or Captain D’s, so we can recap the current status of all projects and also go over the next steps for both the client and agency teams.
At any given time, each client has multiple projects in the works, which require our account management team to ensure creative briefs are executed on time and feedback is provided from the client so the creative team can craft their revisions until both teams are satisfied with the piece. Once a project has gone through multiple rounds of revisions and has been approved by each person involved internally (account manager, project manager, art director, print producer, and proof reader), we schedule a mechanical release meeting that ensures everything is double-checked and is ready to be printed.
While these day-to-day tasks consume most of my day, I have also been given the opportunity to sit in on media meetings, food photo shoots, agency training sessions, and have been introduced to the very complex world of T&R (talent and residuals). My internship at TM has not only been immensely helpful in putting what I have learned in the classroom to use, but also in teaching me aspects of the advertising industry that simply cannot be taught in a classroom. The occasional surprise breakfast tacos, Friday morning putt-putt tournaments, and the beautiful office all collectively create a culture at TM that makes coming to work everyday extremely easy. But without a doubt, it is the employees and the people I have had the opportunity to work with who make TM a remarkable place to work and who have made my time here invaluable. It is no wonder they have been on Ad Age’s Best Places to Work from 2012 to 2015.
Congratulations to Marin Berardi, MA in Advertising student!
