Dyersburg, TN - September 23, 2025 - This summer at The Mill, we had the pleasure of welcoming Public Relations Intern Kadince Ferguson to our team through the LaunchTN Summer Intern Program. A Gibson County native, Ferguson was one of more than 500 applicants for the program. Out of those, only 50 were selected—including Ferguson, who was matched with The Mill Workspace.
Currently a senior at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Ferguson is set to graduate in winter 2025 with plans to pursue a career in public relations.
“Graduation is a tricky subject for a lot of students. What I’m certain of is that I just want to continue helping people, specifically small and local businesses,” she said. “I come from a family of small business owners and that’s one of my greatest passions.”
During her internship, Ferguson sharpened skills in video editing, storytelling, creative writing, and graphic design. But what stood out most for her was the chance to lead her own workshop.
“Chris and Rachel trusted me enough to let me plan my own event. That event was ‘Managing Stress and Overwhelm in Business.’ They let me take control of that really every step of the way,” Ferguson shared.
“It started with me coming up with the idea, and then I did the marketing plan, all the social media, all the community outreach, all the way up until the event. We set up chairs, and I spoke at the event and had a panel. I got catering and I did it all myself. I really take a lot of pride in that. It was over a month of constant buildup to the big event.”
She says the skills she gained at The Mill will carry her far beyond this summer.
“Obviously the things I learned, the technical things with the editing and video content and all that. I’m so glad I know that now, but more than anything, it’s just the communication that I’ve learned and that I’ve improved over the summer; how to communicate with people, how to ask for help; how to admit when you don’t know how to do something. I think that’s what’s going to help me the most.”
Ferguson also shared that her time at The Mill reshaped her career outlook in meaningful ways.
“Prior to The Mill Workspace, I planned, post-grad, to get a job that paid well and had good benefits. I was willing to do that as my first job, and I was willing to ‘rough it,’ honestly, until I had enough experience to get a job I was truly interested in. Being at The Mill this summer has taught me that I deserve more than that. It’s taught me that there are jobs out there that you can truly enjoy and be proud of the work that you do. I leave feeling like I’m truly doing something good.”
She encourages future LaunchTN interns to carefully consider the companies they choose and to align with organizations whose missions support their communities.
“Throughout the summer, I have had the opportunity to travel throughout Northwest Tennessee doing business spotlights… and I’ve met tons of small business owners. I’ve really learned that—it seems obvious—there’s more to a business than its façade. All these businesses have people behind them that have their own stories, their own struggles, and their own needs. Through working at The Mill, I have really learned to take a closer look at these places and have more empathy for all businesses,” Ferguson said.
“I have also learned that although it’s nine counties throughout Northwest Tennessee, it’s really one big community and the heart of it is The Mill Workspace. I’m really proud to be part of that.”
