Event & Marketing Intern Assistant

Job Description

Job Description: Event & Marketing Intern, Fresh Air Retreat Charlotte Overview

Fresh Air Retreat is an invitation-only professional retreat that brings together 8-10 of the nation's top food bloggers and influencers with a small group of brand sponsors for learning, networking, and hands-on brand activations. The Charlotte retreat will be held April 26-29, 2027, in a private residence, hosted by Liz of The Lemon Bowl and Lauren of The Curious Plate. This internship gives a student the chance to work on a real event from early planning through execution, applying classroom concepts in marketing, communications, hospitality, and event management to a live, professional project.

Internship dates: November 1, 2026 - June 1, 2027 Location: Remote, with in-person support at the retreat in Charlotte, NC, beginning with setup on Sunday, April 25, 2027 (when available) Commitment: Approximately 8 hours per week, on a flexible schedule that the intern manages and tracks Compensation: Paid

Learning Objectives and Goals

By the end of the internship, the student will be able to:

• Apply event planning principles in practice. Coordinate logistics such as travel schedules, household supply lists, menus, and vendor needs for a multi-day event, and understand how timelines and checklists keep an event on track.
• Develop project management skills. Maintain a master task list and weekly reminders, prioritize competing deadlines, and track progress toward a fixed event date.
• Build professional communication skills. Write clear, polished vendor emails, request and compare price quotes, and communicate effectively with supervisors in regular check-ins.
• Gain hands-on marketing and design experience. Create sponsor promotion graphics in Canva and design an attendee welcome packet that reflects brand identity and serves sponsors' promotional goals.
• Understand influencer and brand partnership marketing. Observe how sponsors, creators, and hosts collaborate, and learn current influencer marketing techniques and how brand activations are structured.
• Practice research and vendor sourcing. Identify, evaluate, and contact local vendors (floral, linens, videography, and more), weighing cost, quality, and fit.
• Strengthen budgeting and resource awareness. Compare quotes and build a grocery list from menus, gaining exposure to cost considerations in event planning.
• Develop professional self-management. Track personal work hours, meet deadlines independently in a remote setting, and respond to direction and feedback.
• Build a professional network and portfolio. Meet industry professionals and leave with tangible work samples, including graphics, a welcome packet, and organized planning documents.

Responsibilities

• Manage the weekly task list and master to-do spreadsheet, and send weekly reminders of upcoming tasks
• Assist with weekly retreat planning, including organizing Google Sheets with flight times, creating sponsor promotion graphics in Canva, and compiling a list of items needed for the house
• Attend bi-weekly check-in meetings with the hosts
• Research local Charlotte vendors and email them to request price quotes
• Design the welcome packet, including the schedule of events, social media handles, attendee information, and sponsor bios
• Create a master grocery list for the executive chef based on the menus
• Assist with miscellaneous marketing and planning tasks as needed
• Support the team in person during the retreat when available, beginning with setup on April 25

Qualifications and Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Organized and detail-oriented
• Energetic and creative
• Ability to take direction and multi-task
• Experience with Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Canva

Intern must-haves: a laptop or computer, a cell phone, and a basic Canva membership.

Ideal candidates are students pursuing coursework in marketing, communications, public relations, hospitality, event management, or a related field.

Supervision

The intern will report directly to the retreat hosts, Liz and Lauren, who are experienced industry professionals. Supervision includes:

• Bi-weekly check-in meetings to review progress, discuss upcoming priorities, answer questions, and provide feedback
• A weekly task list that sets clear expectations for what needs to be accomplished
• Ongoing direction and guidance as assignments arise, with the hosts available to support the intern throughout the planning process
• Direct oversight during the retreat for interns who join in person

Resources and Support

To support the learning objectives, the intern will receive:

• Shadowing, mentoring, and training from experienced, knowledgeable industry professionals
• Access to the team's planning tools, including the master to-do spreadsheet and shared Google Sheets and Docs
• Exposure to current marketing and influencer techniques through day-to-day work
• Hands-on event planning experience from early planning through on-site execution
• Opportunities to participate in networking events and meetings
• Recap videos from past retreats in Scottsdale and Breckenridge, which offer an overview of the event format, sponsor activations, and attendee experience
• A flexible schedule designed to accommodate a student's academic commitments

Outcomes

Interns will complete the experience with practical event and marketing skills, a portfolio of professional work samples, and direct exposure to the food media and influencer industry.