This summer NMCO had the pleasure of working with Alanna Herrera as our summer intern.
Alanna went to high school in Rio Rancho, NM where she developed a love for journalism and marketing. Alanna is attending New Mexico State University to pursue a double major in Journalism and Marketing with an emphasis in Advertising.
She currently serves as the Editor-in-chief for NMSU’s newspaper, The Round Up, and has written for The Albuquerque Journal, the Las Cruces Bulletin and the Rio Rancho Observer. Last summer, Alanna was a sales and marketing intern for a major company where she oversaw internal promotions and helped organize sales events. Alanna has always had a passion for uniting people and storytelling, and doing so in a creative way. She loves that her passion can be applied to so many career fields.
Q: What made you decide to intern at NMCO Media?
Alanna Herrera (AH): During my internship search in the spring, I was handed a NMCO Media flyer from an adviser at school who knew Tina. Since I had little professional experience with creative media aside from writing and side projects, I was a little intimidated at first from looking at NMCO Media’s amazing work. I decided to take the leap after another internship I was interested in fell through due to COVID, and it seems that this was the exact door I was meant to open.
Q:How do you think NMCO is different from other creative agencies?
AH: While working at NMCO, I never really heard common marketing terms like “ROI” and I didn’t feel as though it was driven by numbers. Instead, NMCO Media always put the people and community at the center of their business, and had a supportive and encouraging atmosphere that I really appreciated.
Q:What are your favorite projects that you have worked on?
AH: I almost forgot working could be so much fun. If I were to pick my top three favorite projects they would be working on a commercial set, designing a social media story and working on copy for case studies.
Q: What did you learn during your time with NMCO Media?
AH: I learned to get out of my comfort zone when it comes to creating. There have been so many things I have wanted to do or become better at, but was afraid to take my shot. Working at NMCO media encouraged me every week to step into new roles and trust my own creativity.
Q: What were your favorite NMCO moments?
AH: For sure being an extra on a commercial set. I can tell everyone that I am an A-lister now.
Q: How will NMCO Media help you with your future goals?
AH: Working at NMCO Media has helped me understand branding, design and visual storytelling better, which is helping me move toward understanding marketing and brand storytelling better.
Q: What would you like people to know about storytelling?
AH: Storytelling looks different for everyone. It can be visual, verbal or in writing and there is no correct formula to storytell. Storytelling only has one common ingredient- it’s engaging.
Q: What’s your production process?
AH: If I’m having writer’s block, then I’ll do an outline, if the ideas are already there, then always dump writing first. Regardless, it always starts out as pen and paper.
Q: If you weren’t in school what would you be doing?
AH: If I wasn’t in school and pursuing a degree, I would want to be an adventure and food blogger (cliche, I know) and live out of my car, seeking the next national park, mountain top or coastline.
Q: What inspires you?
AH: Always nature, people and good storytelling.
Q: Who are your favorite writers?
AH: CS Lewis, Madeline L’engle and John Stienbeck are all writers who have the ability to create an immersive experience within their novels, and transport their readers to an entirely different place.
Q: What’s on your creative bucket list?
AH: Definitely writing a book one day, or just creating something I’m really proud of.
Q: What makes you interested in pursuing creative marketing as a career?
AH: I’m really interested in pursuing a creative marketing career in the non-profit industry- specifically for an organization like Make-a-Wish or Boys and Girls Club. I’ve worked with youth a lot and I think it’s important to invest in them and their futures, and with marketing, encouraging others to get on board with investing in young people, too.
I’m also interested in small businesses and community based marketing, really similar to what I did this summer. I love working with passionate people, and entrepreneurs are the type of people who really get behind their ideas!
Q:What can we expect to see from you in the future?
AH: Not entirely sure. I’ll still be telling stories, whether my own or someone else’s, encouraging others and seeking my next adventure!
To learn more about different agencies check out “3 Types of Agencies”.
