Kayla Scott '09 and Barry Coleman, head of human resources at Orco

Kayla Scott, who will be entering her senior year Lycoming College this fall, is spending the summer as a marketing intern in Prague for Orco Property Group, a leading investor, developer and asset manager in the Central European real estate and hospitality market.

Scott first visited the company last year in the Czech Republic during a summer study abroad program hosted by the the Institute for Management Studies at Lycoming College.

“I got this internship simply by asking,” Scott said. “When I was here with Lycoming last May, we visited Orco and I asked Barry Coleman, the head of human resources, if there were any marketing internships available. I sent my resume to him and in December, I received an offer.”

Scott, who will graduate next May, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in corporate communication with a minor in business administration. She is a resident of Pen Argyl, Pa., and a graduate of Pen Argyl Area High School.

Operating in Central Europe since 1991, Orco Property Group, a public company based in Luxembourg, is currently managing assets of 2.5 billion Euros. Orco operates in a number of different countries throughout the Central and Eastern European region including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Croatia, Germany and Slovakia. Focusing on prime locations within major cities, Orco holds prestigious and varied assets that continually increase in value. Orco Property Group’s portfolio includes IPB Real, MaMaison Hotels & Apartments, Viterra Development, Gewerbesiedlungs-Gesellschaft mbH (GSG), Orco MOLCOM and Orco Real Estate as well as other retail properties.

“The projects I work on change day to day, which keeps things very exciting,” Scott said. “Currently, we are opening a luxury apartment complex in the center of Bratislava; it is selling for 7,000 Euros per sq. meter. So, I've been working with the marketing team on the launch party: picking a venue, menu, packaging and branding of the project.

“I also get to see the best flats in Prague when I go out with the sales brokers to meet clients,” Scott said. “I've been very fortunate to work closely and have a great relationship with my boss, Jason Cahill, the director of marketing and sales for Czech and Slovak republics. I know that I am definitely in the right major; I love the marketing, advertising and public relations process.”

Scott’s professional learning experience is providing an abundance of opportunities to travel around Europe and study the skills required in international business.

“I recently went to both Vienna and Bratislava,” Scott said. “I went there for a business conference, called Real Vienna and then to Bratislava to view the city gate building and pick a venue for the launch party at the end of June.

“While I was in Bratislava, I attended a business dinner with about 20 very successful people in the real estate business. It was an amazing experience. I've been to Brno, the Czech Republic’s second largest city. I'm very happy here!”

Despite experiencing a summer job few people can only dream of, Scott notes that she was having her doubts about traveling abroad.

“I'm very extroverted, so I love to be surrounded by people,” Scott said. “Being alone has taught me to rely on my instincts more. Being away from friends and family is also hard at times, but I've made great friends and met some amazing people.”

Now that Scott has immersed herself in the job and culture of Prague, it’s obvious to her that she made the right decision.

“It’s funny, I kind of talked myself out of it at first; I didn’t think I was brave enough to come to Prague alone, but I knew I had to go,” Scott said. “It took some reinforcement from Dr. Bonita Kolb, assistant professor of business administration, and Anne Landon, coordinator of internships, but I'm here now and I think it will be one of the most beneficial experiences for my career.

“I really encourage anyone who has any type of interest in travel to try an international internship. It's an adventure that is worth experiencing! I have learned so much in just one month about business, the world and myself.”

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