Grow, Connect and Influence with the Chamber

For more than 80 years the Opelika Chamber of Commerce has been working every day to make Opelika a better place to live, work and grow a business. Recognized for their operational best practices among 501(c)6 not-for-profit Chambers of Commerce, the Opelika Chamber was named the 2024 Chamber of the Year by the national organization, Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), and is one of only 3 5-star accredited chambers in the state of Alabama. Representing more than 1,000 businesses and over 20,000 employees, the Opelika Chamber connects businesses to each other and to new ideas, helps them grow and expands their influence by meeting with government decision makers to ensure business-friendly conditions exist.

The Opelika Chamber is a high-performing team that expects a lot of every member and delivers amazing results. It starts with core values. These are ours:

• Practice Positivity
• Earnestly Build Bridges
• Earn Trust
• Aspire to Excellence
• Seek Continuous Growth
• Practice Servant Leadership

Position: Opelika Chamber Events Intern

Reports To: Marketing & Events Manager

The Opelika Chamber Event Intern position is a role that assists the Marketing & Events Manager in the development and execution of all Opelika Chamber events. These events include, but are not limited to, board retreats, Annual Meeting, Ribbon Cuttings, Food Truck Fridays, Business After Hours, Business Over Breakfast, etc. The ideal candidate will be a strong and confident communicator, self-motivated, task-oriented with a positive outlook and a clear focus on high quality customer support; possess excellent time management skills; and are comfortable dealing with a broad spectrum of business industries and people.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Assist with the planning and execution of all events put on by the Opelika Chamber, with tasks including but not limited to table setup and breakdown, loading, transportation and carrying of heavy materials (no more than 40 lbs.), pre-event setup and post-event breakdown, and more.
• Assist with the execution and preparation work for the 20 Under 40 program and the Lee County Young Leaders program, including but not limited to meeting and session setup, refreshments, ordering supplies, and application processing and management.
• Serve as staff support for Room Rentals in the Opelika Chamber facility, assist with room set-up and break down.
• Serve as staff support for Chamber events, retail promotions, fund raisers, seminars, retreats, social events, and special meetings as directed by the Vice President.
• Interns should be prepared to assist with front desk coverage and support Chamber events as needed, including occasional evening or weekend commitments.
• Support the Marketing & Events staff members & their needs as requested.
• Other duties assigned by the Marketing & Events Manager or President/CEO.

Desired Experience and Required Attributes: 

• High school diploma, some college, or college degree preferred.
• Available 10-15 hours per week.
• Interns are expected to provide their own laptop for the duration of the internship. The device should be capable of running standard business software and maintaining reliable internet access.
• Comfortable with accountability, takes ownership of your work.
• Strong time management & organizational skills required.
• Enthusiasm and a positive attitude, ability to maintain grace under pressure.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Team-player mentality, and willingness to support colleagues even if it’s outside of job description.
• Passion for talking to people, relationship building, and building bridges.
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs. with ease and willingness to roll up your sleeves for event set up.
• Technically proficient with working capabilities in the following programs:
  • Microsoft Office Suite with excellent skills in Outlook, Word, Excel & PowerPoint.
  • Social media platforms to include Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram & TikTok.
  • The ideal candidate should have working knowledge or be willing to learn these platforms, and others to include GrowthZone, Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, etc.

Compensation: This is an unpaid learning-based internship that offers hands-on experience, mentorship, networking with local business leaders, and professional development opportunities.

How to Apply: To apply please email the Marketing & Events Manager, Saffron Koppelmann, at saffron@opelikachamber.com of your interest with your resume attached. If selected for the interview process, she will reach out to set up a time to meet. The intern will be expected to start May 27, 2026. The internship is for the summer and/or fall (candidates can request the one summer semester or both summer and fall.)