This month’s guest blogger is Madalyn Brown, a Summer 2026 Marketing & Communications Intern at Mary Cariola Center. A Webster, NY native and sophomore at Binghamton University, Madalyn serves as a Client Lead for the Binghamton Management Consulting Group, Vice President of Mentorship for Women in Business, and Athletics Production Assistant. She also played on the university’s club volleyball team. Madalyn is pursuing a degree in Business through Binghamton’s School of Management, with concentrations in Management Information Systems and Finance, and is expected to graduate in May 2029.

After my interview with Greg Kamp, Director of Marketing and Communications, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting myself into but felt hopeful about accepting a Marketing & Communications internship at Mary Cariola. Looking back, I’m so glad that I decided to pursue an internship here.

My first week began with one of the biggest events of the year: The Big Idaho Potato Truck visiting Mary Cariola. We kept being told to keep our eyes “peeled” for the truck to arrive (It was mostly Greg telling everyone that). After taking pictures of students and staff posing in front of a giant potato for 3 hours, I knew I was going to enjoy being here.

**Greg Kamp and I couldn't pass up a photo with the Big Idaho Potato Truck.**

One of the biggest things I was involved with here was press relations. Through drafting media advisories and coordinating with local new stations, I was able to gain a better understanding of Rochester’s local media landscape. I also did a lot of social media marketing. I learned how to post on Instagram and Facebook to cater to our Mary Cariola community. Annelise, my fellow Marketing & Communications Intern, and I also launched Mary Cariola’s TikTok account, and it was exciting to watch it grow as we started posting consistently. We were able to make a lot of videos promoting the upcoming Walking on Sunshine event in September.

Of course, once I had settled in, the infamous campus move happened. Our new office was directly next to a fast-food restaurant, so although I wasn’t exactly excited to come in every day smelling like French fries, Greg and the rest of my team made the transition easy.

Annelise and I collaborated on two Media Plans for Walking on Sunshine and recruiting Direct Support Professionals for our residential homes. We focused on expanding outreach to younger audiences. We researched a variety of options to expand reach, most notably implementing changes to the website using search engine and Instagram ads. Seeing Greg take our recommendations and incorporate them to improve the two campaigns, was incredible to see.

**Annelise, Sunny (Mary Cariola's mascot), and I covered all the bases cheering on the Red Wings! Of course they won!**

Then we started to get ready for Mary Cariola’s annual night at the Rochester Red Wings game. Annelise and I had an amazing time watching the game, talking with Cameron, a Marketing Associate, and making content for Mary Cariola’s TikTok. Unfortunately, I could not get Annelise to try a Zweigle’s white hot in true Upstate New York fashion. The game was a highlight of my internship here.

I want to give a special shout-out to everyone at Mary Cariola who made this internship an awesome experience. Greg was so dedicated and knowledgeable mentor, and it was truly an honor to work for him. Joanne, a Communications Specialist, was someone I constantly turned to for advice and always had incredible ideas to improve our campaigns. Cameron was a great coworker and always made the workday more enjoyable. I also enjoyed working with the Advancement team so thank you to Brad, Mara, and Sumeet. Finally, I wouldn’t have had such a meaningful experience without my fellow intern, Annelise, who made this summer especially memorable. I had a wonderful time working alongside her.

The people at Mary Cariola make this place incredibly special. Their dedication to the students and residents, while always keeping a smile on their faces, is a testament to how inspiring this school is. I would recommend this internship to anyone who is looking to improve their marketing skills or trying to grow in the field of business. I’m truly grateful for everything I learned during my time here.