You are viewing a preview of this job. Log in or register to view more details about this job.
Email

The Mike Loya Center for Innovation and Commerce (MLCIC), in partnership with Texas Internship Initiative, is happy to announce entrepreneurship-focused internships. These seasonal internships are designed to develop the essential skills, assets, and training needed to expand students' entrepreneurial knowledge and better prepare them to enter the workforce. Through these practical experiences, students will learn about entrepreneurship, develop highly coveted skills employers seek in new college graduates, and gain real-world experience all while earning a livable wage of $20/hr. Your application for this position was made possible through this partnership!

Target Cohort: Final-year undergraduate seniors and final-year graduate students enrolled full-time at The University of Texas at El Paso.
Field of Study: Must be pursuing a degree directly related to the specific internship role.
Eligibility: Must possess valid U.S. work authorization (excludes F-1 Visa status).

Internship Job Description: Regional Impact & Innovation Intern

About the Organization

Progress321 is dedicated to

Our mission is simple yet bold: to strengthen growth in the Borderplex

region by connecting professionals across industries to cultivate leadership and support community resilience. We are located in downtown El Paso, we thrive on agility, collaboration, and forward-thinking strategies to drive regional growth. We are a professional membership organization that produces programming to drive the next generation of leaders.

 

Position Overview & Unique Learning Attributes

We are seeking an entrepreneurial and highly organized Intern who shares our core values and is eager to contribute directly to our mission. This is not a traditional administrative internship; it is a launchpad for regional leadership.

During this internship experience, you will uniquely learn and master:

1. Advanced Ecosystem Management: Hands-on mastery of cutting-edge CRM Membership Works to map, track, and engage regional members.

2. Cross-Sector Governance & Policy Creation: Insight into how non-profit initiatives, regional policy, and corporate/industry engagement intersect to drive economic development.

3. Agile Project Integration: The ability to audit organizational workflows and independently pitch and implement evolving technological solutions.

 

Essential Job Functions (High-Impact & High-Quality)

You will work directly alongside the Executive Director and Committee Chairs , executing functions vital to the organization’s operational and strategic health:

● Data Architecture & CRM Management: Optimize and maintain the foundational database, leading membership outreach, data cleanup, and strategic segmentation via CRM software.

● Governance & Policy Development: Research, draft, and support the implementation of updated organizational policies and formalized operational processes.

● Regional Strategy & Funding Support: Conduct deep-dive research and analysis on regional development strategies, organizing key data to back grant submissions and funding opportunities.

● Stakeholder & Expat Engagement: Coordinate monthly, quarterly, and annual events designed to attract Expats, engage industry leaders, and promote equitable regional access.

● Executive Administration: Provide high-level supplemental administrative and operational support to promote the events we put on.

 

Real-World Learning Experiences

You will not be watching from the sidelines. Your growth will be rooted in immersive, real-world scenarios:

● Co-facilitating strategy sessions with committee chairs and industry executives.

● Leading independent member-outreach campaigns and analyzing engagement metrics to pivot organizational communication.

● Stepping into a project-manager role during major monthly and quarterly networking events in the El Paso community.

 

Integration of Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Innovation is woven directly into the fabric of this role. As a hybrid office, the intern will be expected to bring an entrepreneurial, visionary mindset to our workflow.

Specifically, you will be tasked with identifying operational bottlenecks and making formal, data-backed recommendations on how emerging technologies can optimize our current processes. You are encouraged to treat your projects with an "intrapreneurial" spirit—testing

creative outreach strategies, experimenting with modern communication tools, and finding novel ways to connect the regional diaspora (Expats) back to El Paso's growing ecosystem.

 

Qualifications & Logistics

● Technical Savvy: Advanced knowledge of CRM software, Google Drive, Canva, Webflow and a comfortability adopting new digital tools quickly.

● Mindset & Core Skills: Exceptional interpersonal/communication skills across all mediums (in-person, virtual, Slack, email, text), a problem-solving orientation, and a strong work ethic.

● Independence: Proven ability to take initiative, think creatively, and drive projects forward with minimal supervision.

● Logistics:

  • The office is predominantly digital; the intern must supply their own laptop/tablet and smartphone. We will also require them to get to a downtown office.
  • Located in downtown El Paso (parking should be taken into consideration).
  • Schedule: A regular, predictable 10-hour weekly schedule will be agreed upon in advance. Occasional evening or weekend flexibility is preferred for event support, with hours adjusted accordingly.

Final Deliverable Criteria

To culminate your internship and ensure a tangible asset for your portfolio, you will be required to complete and present a Final Capstone Project.

The Deliverable: A formal "Regional Process & Innovation Audit." Criteria for Success:

1. Executive Summary: A reflection on your personal growth, the real-world skills applied, and how your daily tasks aligned with the organization's strategic vision.

2. The Innovation Proposal: A written report identifying at least one technological or process-driven upgrade you recommend the organization adopt based on your experience.

3. The Presentation: A 15-minute slide deck presentation delivered to the Executive Director and select Committee Chairs outlining your findings, your contributions to the regional database, and your recommendations for future strategic planning.