Internship Story: Maddie Ruppert at Salad Collective

What began as a casual question to her sister—“What if I were your intern?”—turned into a hands-on dive into digital marketing for Maddie Ruppert. This summer, she worked in Golden, Colorado, as a marketing intern for Salad Collective, the parent company of several industry-leading, better-for-you restaurant brands. From conducting market research to developing campaigns, Maddie gained valuable, real-world experience and a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed in marketing.

Why did you choose to intern here?

I love to travel and try new things. Having this internship in Colorado was an opportunity I didn’t want to pass up. I was specifically looking for an internship that was in marketing and could work with a brand or an in-house team. I thought it would be amazing to get insight into the restaurant industry and work with three different brands: MADGreens, Tokyo Joe’s, and Snappy Salads.

What were your internship tasks?

I was assigned the task of completing competitor price research for restaurant ingredients, locations, and first and third-party delivery. I used that data to compare markup prices from previous years and analyzed new competitor trends. For the new menu launch and rebranding, I made three mock-up campaigns for the Orchard Crunch Salad: An in-store POP (point of purchase) poster, email blast, and social media content. I then worked on Tokyo Joe’s new promotion deals and YouTube Ad for Snappy Salads LTO Maryland Crab Cake Salad. I was involved in assisting the marketing team during photo shoots and creating content from the media taken.

What did you like most about your internship?

My favorite part of my internship was working hands-on with the marketing team during the MADGreens menu photoshoots and rebranding. I got to help out on mood boards, arrange the set, be in some of the lifestyle shots, and even create my own content. It was super fun to see behind the scenes and mock up my own graphic design media with Adobe programs, which I can use for my portfolio.

What were the biggest challenges you faced as an intern?

The biggest challenge was the time it takes to learn new programs. Specifically in digital marketing, getting comfortable with Google Analytics, including Google’s Email Strategy Performance, Segment builders/demographics, and Media Business Manager. There are a lot of different paths you can take in marketing, and I’m trying to figure out what sector of marketing I want to pursue when I graduate.

What things did you learn during your internship that you couldn’t have learned in the classroom?

During my internship, I had the opportunity to attend meetings with various departments and in-store operation managers. Simply observing how professionals interact with one another, resolve issues, and make decisions taught me professional and personal skills that can’t be fully taught in a classroom.

How will this experience help you as you move forward in your career?

Not only was this experience a good resume builder to showcase experience, but it was also a great way for networking with potential future employers and references. The exposure to various roles and departments helped me explore potential career paths that I would like to pursue for my future. My team gave me tips on what they wish they had known about marketing before graduating from college.

Any advice to share with other students considering an internship?

If you have the opportunity to do an internship, definitely take advantage of it. Getting in-person experience to work with other professionals in your field of interest is a huge learning experience and sets you up for success in your career. It helps to apply places earlier than later, use any connections you have, and trust the process – don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear back from employers right away.

Hometown: Libertyville, Illinois
Class: 2026
Majors: Marketing and Management
Minor: Graphic Design
Internship Title: Marketing Intern at Salad Collective

Story by Regan Lawn