From Intern to Textile Marketer: Lauren Jensen ’13
What did you do with your summer vacation? Lauren Jensen, a 2013 Converse graduate, parlayed her summer internship into a career position with a local company. “I began my internship with Mermet the summer of 2011. I had just completed my sophomore year of college and I knew it was time to start pursuing a job within my desired field.” A month into the internship, Mermet’s Marketing Coordinator unexpectedly quit, and Jensen was asked to take over those responsibilities. She did such a good job that she was offered a part-time position as a marketing assistant for two years while she completed her education, and, upon graduation, became the full-time Marketing Coordinator.
Jensen, who has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, is now employed full-time with Mermet Corp. in Cowpens, SC. Jensen’s responsibilities include the development and coordination of marketing communications materials for Mermet, its associated brands, and main business customers. Mermet specializes in the production of solar screen fabrics made from high quality coated fiberglass yarn, used primarily for internal external solar screen shades.
“I know for a fact that if I was not asked to write as much as I had in college, I would not be as well suited for my current job.”
Jensen found her business and economics coursework invaluable in preparing her for the workplace. “One of the first questions my boss asked me was what the marketing mix consisted of! He asked me this as we discussed the launch of a new fabric of ours. Most of my day is spent writing content, whether e-mails, website content, press release, PowerPoint presentation, editorial submission, etc., Converse has taught me how to be professional and concise in business writing. I know for a fact that if I was not asked to write as much as I had in college, I would not be as well suited for my current job.”
Indeed, Jensen’s writing has won awards for her employer. “A project that stands out in particular to me was the editorial contest submission I wrote for a new product of ours in 2012, E Screen with KOOLBLACK™ Technology. I wrote about the fabric for the Annual Product Innovation Awards in the industry magazine Architectural Products. The fabric won the award in the solar control and shading category, and was featured in the November issue of Architectural Products.”