Detroit agency tours — GVSU PRSSA – Grand Valley State University Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America

Agency tours are one of the most beneficial activities that our PRSSA chapter offers. Getting an inside look at organizations gives members a taste of the company’s culture and the edge they need if they decide to apply.

Alicia Saragosa and Kristina Graefen at the mysterious 9 ½ floor in the First National Building.

This past Friday, we toured Quicken Loans, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and Team Detroit. Quicken Loans has offices in the Compuware Building, the First National Building, the Qube, and Chrysler House, so our tour ended up being more of a walking tour of Detroit. We walked over three miles, some of us in heels! As a former Detroit intern, I really appreciated learning more about the history of the city, the significance of monuments, and their ultimate plan (which is already in motion) to aid in Detroit’s comeback.

Takeaway: Quicken Loans offers PAID internships across all departments. You should consider applying to their program if you are interested in…
- going the “corporate” route
- giving back to the community
- mingling (and making friends) with other interns

BCBSM is another Detroit powerhouse, with over 6,400 employees in five downtown buildings. They too are contributing to Detroit’s comeback. In 2012, they relocated 3,400 workers from Southfield to downtown Detroit.

Takeaway: BCBSM offers a variety of PAID internships (departments post internships on a need basis). You should consider applying to their program if you are interested in…
- going the “non-profit” route
- giving back to the community
- health care

Team Detroit, a merger of five WPP agencies: JWT, Y&R, Ogilvy, Wunderman, and Mindshare, is located right across the street from Ford’s national headquarters in Dearborn (slightly west of Detroit). They are the people behind all of Ford’s national advertising efforts.

Takeaway: Team Detroit offers PAID internships in fall, winter and summer semesters. You must have at least completed your junior year to apply. You should consider applying to their program in you are interested in…
- going the “agency” route
- the automotive industry
- the advertising industry

Alicia Saragosa is a senior at Grand Valley majoring in advertising and public relations and minoring in writing. Alicia is currently one of GrandPR’s Account Associates. She also serves as the Vice President of Public Relations for Grand Valley’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) chapter and as the President of Il Geranio (GVSU’s Italian Club). When she isn't in the kitchen whipping up one of her favorite recipes, she is spending time with her family or writing about the connection between the two.