Meaningful Impact: Mark Dziadul’s Summer Adventure

It was the kind of internship many students dream about. Mark Dziadul, now a senior majoring in business administration at TLU, landed a position with Boston Beer Corporation last summer. You may not have heard of the company, but you've probably heard of Samuel Adams beer, Twisted Tea, and Angry Orchard. Those are just three of the adult beverages produced by the company, and it all started with a family recipe for a Boston Lager that became a veritable force in the American craft beer movement.

So, what was Mark Dziadul doing at Boston Beer? Well first, it's important to note that he wasn't in Boston. "Although the company is based in Boston, I worked locally in the San Antonio region here in Texas as a Brewery Representative intern," he says. "As an intern in a corporate role, I focused primarily on building strong relationships with small businesses to promote our products and support the company's objectives."

Dziadul worked in sales and consulting-but that did not mean he was stuck sitting behind a desk, tapping away at a computer keyboard all day. "One of the most enjoyable aspects was the hands-on marketing support, where I hosted and participated at events such as volleyball tournaments, concert venues, and expos," he says. "Engaging face-to-face with consumers, business owners, and managers to share our products and merchandise was incredibly rewarding, and it was fun to see the joy and positive impact on our brand."

As he learned how his end of the business worked, Dziadul, along with his fellow interns, was given an intriguing opportunity. Boston Beer had recently launched a new product called Sun Cruiser-a canned concoction of iced tea mixed with premium vodka. The interns were challenged to find ways to improve the competitiveness of Sun Cruiser. Dziadul had an idea. "I focused on business efficiency by designing ready-to-go point-of-sale kits that provided small businesses with immediate access to marketing materials," he says. "This initiative saved time for our brewery representatives and company resources, while increasing satisfaction and loyalty among our customers through quicker engagement."

And guess what: That presentation was selected as the best in Dziadul's division-specifically the Mountain Division, which is one of the company's four national sectors. The Mountain Division basically covers Montana and North Dakota all the way down to New Mexico and Texas. "This led to the opportunity to present directly to executives, including the chief marketing officer and chief sales officer, and my pitch was also shared with the CEO," Dziadul recalls. "I was thrilled to learn my presentation earned the runner-up position nationwide." You heard that right. That presentation came in first in the region; second in the nation.

So it was a pretty good summer for Dziadul. "Reflecting on this experience, I feel pure appreciation for everyone I met and learned from," he says. "Preparing my presentation was exciting because it allowed me to apply the skills I've developed at Texas Lutheran University, especially the presentation skills I honed through the Bulldog Investment Company program. This experience has truly given me a competitive advantage as a student and in my career development."

So what's next for Dziadul, what with graduation looming? "As a senior graduating this fall with my BBA in marketing, I feel confident my academic experience gave me a deeper understanding of business operations, financial management, and strategic decision-making," he says. "I'm eager to apply these skills in the tech industry, where I hope to grow in a project marketing management role with an innovative company such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, or Apple. I'm passionate about collaborating with teams and connecting with consumers to develop marketing campaigns that drive meaningful impact."