Q&A: How a recent graduate landed a marketing role at a local tourism board
After graduating a semester early, Media & Communication major Maria Corradini ’24 began her role with Discover Lehigh Valley, which promotes the dynamic region that includes Allentown.
Posted by: Megan Kita
Monday, March 11, 2024 3:08 p.m.
Downtown Allentown. Photo courtesy of City Center, courtesy of DiscoverLehighValley.com
The courses Maria Corradini ’24 took as a media and communications major, including Communication and PR, Media and Society, and Introduction to Interactive Web Design, required her to build problem-solving skills that made her want to get into I learned about the industry.
She applied what she learned in class through a series of internships she took as a student. She has worked overseas for the Film Directors Guild of Ireland, Fastmail in Philadelphia, and most recently for her local news channel, WFMZ 69-News. There she made connections that led to her current role as her Marketing Coordinator. Discover the Lehigh Valley.
Why did you want to stay in the Lehigh Valley after graduation?
“I am originally from the Hazleton/Scranton area, but my family moved to Coopersburg. [about 20 minutes south of Muhlenberg] I loved it right away because there was so much to do at such a young age. Once he was able to drive, it got even better as he could get to Quakertown, Allentown, Hellertown, Bethlehem, and Easton within 10 to 30 minutes. I am very happy and proud to live in the Lehigh Valley and will tell everyone who will listen. I think some of my peers who were born in this area don't realize what a great place this is, and college students who come to this area know how many great activities, restaurants, and events lie ahead. There may or may not be any understanding. ”
“I am so happy and proud to live in the Lehigh Valley, and I want to share that with anyone who will listen.”
How did you land this position at Discover Lehigh Valley?
“I actually interned at WFMZ 69-News last semester, where I met a reporter, Hannah O’Reilly, who was leaving to go work for Discover Lehigh Valley. During our brief overlap there, we became friends and she reached out to me with a part-time opportunity to participate in social media shoots to help promote events and businesses in the Valley. realized that he liked this type of work better than hard news, so he reached out to the president of Discover to ask if there were any open positions.I had previously worked in copywriting and social media in my previous internships. I had experience in media marketing. He filled a gap in their office and offered me the position of marketing coordinator a month later.”
What do you want Muhlenberg students to understand more about the Lehigh Valley?
“The campus has great events and basically everything anyone could need, but the Lehigh Valley is more than just a Muehlen bubble. You can go shopping, go to a show or go bowling, go out to eat with friends. Going out to hang out or just drive around makes Muhlenberg feel even more like home when you return to your dorm. Nobody gets bored at Muhlenberg. Things to do on campus Even if you don't have one, there's always something to do or somewhere to go just minutes away.”
