At RLF, a large part of our culture revolves around our open door policy. Not only does it foster teamwork and collaboration, but it gives our interns a great opportunity to learn from our senior team.
If interns are curious about the process for developing a billboard ad, they can head over to our creative director’s office. Or if they want to hear all about B2B communications, they can pick the brain of our director of financial & professional services brands. We always strive to be welcoming and open to any questions our interns may have.
Today, our spring intern spotlight is on Marina.
Marina Panagopulos
I’m a senior at Elon University majoring in strategic communications with a minor in professional sales. I grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, which is right outside of New York City. I love to travel and hope to soon venture back to Florence where I studied abroad last year. After graduating this May, I hope to pursue a career in marketing, advertising or PR.
What is something new you have recently tried or experienced?
Last month I tried artichoke pizza from Artichoke Basille’s Pizza in New York City. It’s essentially spinach artichoke dip baked inside a pizza. The line of customers wrapping around the city block is proof of its deliciousness.
Do you have any hidden talents?
This isn’t much of a hidden talent, but I’m a pretty strategic bargain shopper. I somehow always find amazing stuff at TJ Maxx and Marshalls, either for my closet or home.
What food could you eat everyday and never get sick of?
Brie cheese. It’s been my favorite food for as long as I can remember. This includes, but is not limited to, baked brie, brie grilled cheese, brie and baguette, etc. I think brie could go with any kind of food and still taste amazing. My mom is from the south of France and got me hooked when we bought some from a small farmer’s market in my grandparents’ village. Since then, my love for brie has become so well-known that my college friends stuck a candle in a block of it and served it as my 21st birthday cake this past year.
Tell us two things most people don’t know about you.
I’m terrified of the ocean. Large bodies of water where I can’t see the bottom scare me more than finding a tarantula in my bed would. When I go to the beach, I’ll dip my toes in, and if I’m really feeling adventurous, I’ll go in up to my waist (and that’s on a good day).
I’m also half-French, half-Greek – making me a “Freak.”
What is your favorite thing about living in North Carolina?
Southern hospitality and the North Carolina State Fair. I’m from the North and it happens to lack both of these things. I love that people are friendly and wave at you even if you’ve never seen them before in your life. There’s a very positive vibe down here that I find to be contagious. In regards to the State Fair, my friends and I made the last-minute decision to check it out one Sunday afternoon in the fall and we had a blast. In fact, my one regret is not having heard about it sooner. Never in my life had I seen such a variety of fried foods – and I’m not ashamed to say that I loved every minute of my fried pickles and funnel cake.