Oak View Group is the global leader in venue development, management, and premium hospitality services for the live event industry. Offering an unmatched, 360-degree solution set for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster that includes the most influential, highest attended arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions on the planet.

About the Ascend HBCU Internship Program

The Ascend HBCU Internship Program is a cornerstone of OVG’s commitment to fostering diverse talent and creating pathways into the sports and live entertainment industry. Designed specifically for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, this immersive program offers hands-on experience, professional development, and mentorship to prepare students for impactful careers.

Program Highlights

• Career Readiness Workshops: Students will participate in sessions designed to equip them with essential tools and strategies for entering the workforce with confidence.
• Mentorship: Each intern will be paired with an OVG leader who will provide guidance, support, and insights into their career journey.
• Capstone Project: Interns will collaborate on a project addressing real-world challenges in sports and entertainment, honing their problem-solving, teamwork, and strategic thinking skills.
• Lunch & Learn Series: Students will engage with industry experts during company-wide sessions to gain a deeper understanding of the business.
• Capstone Showcase: The program culminates with interns presenting their capstone projects, celebrating their achievements and demonstrating the knowledge and skills they’ve acquired.

The GRCC Sales and Marketing Ascend Intern will gain valuable hands-on experience in the dynamic world of convention center operations and destination marketing. This internship provides an opportunity to work alongside seasoned professionals in sales, marketing, and community engagement while contributing to impactful projects. 

Additional Internship Goals

• Learn About Destination and Venue Marketing:

• Understand the role of the Greater Richmond Convention Center in promoting Richmond as a destination for meetings, conventions, and events.
• Explore the partnership between the Convention Center and the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) to enhance sales and marketing efforts.

• Gain a knowledge of how venues operate and how each department contributes to the success of the events we host.

This role pays an hourly rate of $15 to $18.

This position will remain open until April 18, 2025.

The Greater Richmond Convention Center is the largest meeting and exhibition venue in the Commonwealth of Virginia. With 178,158 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, a 30,550 square-foot Grand Ballroom and 50,000 square feet of additional meeting/banquet space, the GRCC is well-positioned to host a variety of events from small meetings to large trade shows and conventions. Situated along the I-95 corridor, the GRCC lies within a 500 mile radius of one half of the U.S. population. The Richmond Region is an affordable market in Central Virginia with the Blue Ridge Mountains to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the south, Washington D.C. to the east and North Carolina to the west.

 Job Duties:

• Support the Sales Process:

• Gain insight into client prospecting, proposal development, and contract processes.
• Observe client site visits and assist with lead tracking and follow-ups.

• Assist with Strategic Projects:

• Social Media Strategy: Collaborate with the marketing team to develop and implement a robust social media strategy to increase brand visibility and engagement.
• Annual Report Design: Work on designing and crafting content for the annual report, showcasing the Center’s achievements and impact.
• Community Engagement: Support the Community Engagement Committee by creating strategies and implementing activities to strengthen local partnerships and initiatives.
• Employee Recognition Program: Contribute to the development and execution of a program that celebrates employees’ accomplishments and promotes a culture of excellence.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with design tools like Canva or Adobe Creative Suite is a plus.
• Familiarity with social media platforms and digital marketing concepts.
• Must be enrolled full-time at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) at the time of the program start

At OVG, we understand that to continue positively disrupting the sports and live entertainment industry, we need a diverse team to help us do it. We also believe that inclusivity drives innovation, strengthens our people, improves our service, and raises our excellence. Our success is rooted in creating environments that reflect and celebrate the diverse communities in which we operate and serve, and this is the reason we are committed to amplifying voices from all different backgrounds.

Oak View Group is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”) including, but not limited to veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.