American Music and Sound (AM&S) is proud to announce the appointment of Raegan Thompson as the first addition to their music industry internship program. Thompson’s hiring represents a key milestone in the ongoing initiative resulting from the partnership between Exertis | JAM’s AM&S division and Women in AV/IT (WAVIT), with a shared goal of enhancing diversity and creating avenues for aspiring professionals in the AV/IT workforce.
The 6-month long music industry internship aims to nurture the intern’s professional growth with mentorship from seasoned industry professionals and exposure to real-world projects led by an award-winning team. Thompson will receive valuable experience working closely with the AM&S marketing team, various JAM departments, and key customer accounts. Responsibilities will include conducting market research, developing social media content strategies, analyzing social media, and marketing performance, and assisting with the coordination of commercial events and trade shows.
Thompson is a recent graduate of California State University Northridge, where she studied screenwriting and public relations journalism. Her passion for storytelling complements her newfound love for marketing, which was ignited after undertaking a marketing internship with the university’s Strategic Communications and Brand Management department. Currently, Thompson volunteers with a popular alternative rock band’s marketing team, supporting their effort in social media development and public relations.
“Being selected for this internship with AM&S is a huge step for me as I work toward a marketing career in the music industry,” says Thompson. “I hope to share my internship story with other women to inspire them to pursue careers that empower them too, no matter where they want to work or who they aspire to be.”
AM&S, under the umbrella of Exertis | JAM, is dedicated to fostering diverse hiring practices, which aligns with WAVIT’s mission to pave the way for women to excel in AV and IT industries, thereby creating opportunities for their success.
“Our division is dedicated to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion because we firmly believe that our collective strength lies in the unique perspectives and talents everyone brings to the table,” said Jeff Hawley, Marketing Direct for American Music and Sound. “Embracing diversity is not just an ethical imperative; it’s a strategic advantage that fuels innovation, creativity, and success for our entire team.”
Thompson’s appointment serves as a meaningful step toward narrowing the gender gap within the professional AV industry. This new internship program is the first that WAVIT had created since its formation in January 2023. The women leadership of this organization hope to collaborate with more companies who are willing to challenge the gender gap traditionally seen in the AV/IT workforce soon.
“WAVIT was formed to actively promote, empower, support, and attract women to the AV and IT industries through a variety of initiatives,” says Gina Sansivero, WAVIT president and vice president of marketing and corporate communications at AtlasIED. “This internship and mentoring program is vital to not only attracting but retaining new female talent. The pilot program was more successful than we imagined, with well over 100 qualified candidates applying. Raegan was an absolute standout for us, and we are thrilled that she and JAM are so passionate about this coordinated internship and mentorship program. Can’t wait to help other organizations find their qualified candidate too!”