Olivet Nazarene University has a wide variety of community involvement opportunities and senior Corporate Communications major, Wyatt Gantz has taken advantage of this. Through Inspired Strategies Agency (ISA), Gantz has worked diligently as the Account Executive for the city of Momence this past year.
ISA is an opportunity for students to enhance skills while working directly on client-specific tasks and learning team dynamics. The goal is to partner students with clients that specifically interest them.
Faculty Advisor of ISA and Olivet Professor Susan Wolff says, “ISA is quite open to any particular industry, or level of organization. Missionally, it is wonderful if we can also assist a client within our denomination whether that is locally or internationally.”
Wolff continued, “We also like to have varied types of clients each year, so students get a varied experience each semester they are participating.”
ISA has partnered with a wide variety of companies in the community such as Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce, Community Arts Council, One Kankakee, Exploration Station, CSL Behring, City of Kankakee, Center of Hope, Bourbonnais Public Library, Highline Leadership Development, World Mission Broadcast, and the Village of Bourbonnais.
Though ISA has partnered with several business, it’s particularly impressive yet challenging to assign students to assist in the development of the future internal webpage for not just a business but an entire city. The exposure is much greater than some of the other clientele ISA has partnered with, but Gantz took on the challenge with grit and the community was impacted greatly.
Gantz had three main objectives for this client.
First, to create and implement a style guide for the city of events as a reference for a citywide branding, digital media, print media, and campaign purposes.
Second, to conduct an assessment of the city of Momence’s website and provide constructive feedback that improves its efficiency and revenue relevancy for residents and prospective visitors.
Third, to develop fundamental content for the ongoing vision 2030 campaign for future implementation with understanding that cultural and social environments change overtime.
“The clients really appreciate the work the students do to enhance their organization or business—and all for free. When the clients attend the presentations, they all express their thanks and gratefulness,” Wolff said.
Gantz believes that the city of Momence made his team stronger in their skillsets and created a chance for them to showcase their abilities. In general, he believes ISA creates a wonderful opportunity for students to gain exposure, credibility, and internship opportunities.
Because of Gantz’s dedication to the city of Momence while in ISA, he was offered an opportunity to intern with one of his most favorable businesses.
Moving forward, they would love to have another opportunity to work for a local movie theater such as Paramount of Cinemark 10, other helpful organizations in the community such as the Pregnancy Resource Center or locally-owned restaurants that need publicizing in the Bradley/Bourbonnais area such as Jimmy Joes BBQ, Hoppy Pig, Blue’s Café, or Cozy Mel’s.
