Meet Jillian Shea: Summer 2026 Develomark Cohort Spotlight

Jillian Shea joined the Develomark Cohort to get hands-on digital marketing experience. Within weeks, she was sitting in a real client meeting for a civil engineering company and turning what she heard into blog content. Next on her calendar: a video shoot for a local coffee shop.

Jillian is a rising senior at the University of Rhode Island studying business management and marketing, and a member of the Summer 2026 Develomark Cohort, our 12-week paid digital marketing internship in Connecticut. You can watch Jillian's full video update on YouTube.

Hands-On Experience, Not Just Theory

"What I hope to gain from this program is hands-on experience in digital marketing, and learning more about AEO and SEO," Jillian says. A few weeks in, that is exactly what her schedule looks like: real clients, real deliverables, and skills that go beyond the classroom.

"What I've already gained is new knowledge about all things digital marketing," she adds. "I've learned what AEO is — answer engine optimization." For cohort members, AEO is not a buzzword; it is a working skill they apply to live client websites every week.

Why Do Companies Need to Be Visible on AI Platforms Like ChatGPT?

One of Jillian's biggest takeaways so far is why digital marketing matters in the first place. "Companies need to optimize their websites in order to be seen on AI platforms such as ChatGPT," she explains. When people ask AI tools for recommendations, the businesses that get mentioned are the ones whose websites clearly answer real questions. That is the visibility gap the cohort teaches members to close for Connecticut businesses.

From a Client Meeting to Blog Content

Jillian's current project started in the room with the client. "I was just in a client meeting for a civil engineering company, and now I'm making blogs based on what I learned in that meeting," she says.

That is the cohort workflow in miniature: listen to the client, understand their goals and their customers, then translate those notes into content built to rank in search and get cited by AI. It is the same process our team uses for every client engagement.

Next Up: A Video Shoot for Lion's Den

Her next project moves from writing to video: a shoot for Lion's Den, a local coffee shop. Going from technical blog writing for an engineering firm to on-location video for a coffee shop is exactly the range the program is designed to build — cohort members leave with portfolio work across industries and formats.

Curious what the program involves week to week? Read our Summer Cohort program overview. And if you are a student ready to build real marketing experience in Connecticut, apply to the Develomark Cohort today.