This June, Eastern Quality Foods’s Ponte Vedra office opened its doors to three interns for a transformative nine-week experience. Julie Pessolano, Teresa Gutteridge, and Zach Ervanian are all rising seniors eager to make their mark in the business world.
Hailing from Pompano Beach, Florida, Julie Pessolano is a Business Administration major at the University of Florida in Gainesville, focusing on marketing and management complemented by a minor in mass communications. Teresa Gutteridge, a Jacksonville native, is majoring in Public Health at Florida State University in Tallahassee, with a minor in Business Administration. Zach Ervanian, also born and raised in Jacksonville, attends Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, where he majors in Business Marketing, minors in management and visual arts, and plays on the men’s soccer team.
At Eastern, the interns were immersed in department rotations, gaining hands-on experience in Credit, Logistics, Finance, and Marketing. Every three weeks, they shadowed department heads and assisted with various tasks, including performing credit approval requests, tracking freight trucks, scheduling social media posts, and researching competitive advantages. In addition to department rotations, the interns completed a research project, contributing to Eastern’s strategic initiatives.
The interns had the privilege of meeting key figures and partners at Eastern Quality Foods, including Scott Coble and Dave Belski. These interactions provided invaluable insights and advice, fostering the interns’ growth in a professional setting.
Weekly Lunch and Learns offered a platform for the interns to engage with different team members, enhancing their understanding of the company and the industry.
Field trips, such as visits to retail customers, where Eastern Quality Foods’ Nature’s Best Seafood, Paradise Kitchens, and Tiantang Asian Cuisine products are featured, and a tour of our distribution center, provided a deeper understanding of logistics and distribution.
Julie, Teresa, and Zach showed great dedication and enthusiasm over the last 9 weeks, bringing a fresh perspective and valuable insights. We were thrilled to have had them on board and look forward to seeing their continued growth and success.