Sometimes the best paths are the ones that you never planned for.
If freshman-year Caleigh were to see what post-grad Caleigh is doing, she’d probably have to pick her jaw up off the floor. Back then, my plan was to move to Milan and work for a fashion magazine. Throughout college, I prepared for a career built around fast-paced campaigns, trend forecasts, ad strategy, and copywriting. As it turns out, I’m doing all of those things, just in a completely different industry. Today, I’m in Frederick, Maryland, telling the stories of communities, people, and progress, and I truly wouldn’t change a thing.
In my first full year after college, I’ve learned how much growth can come from unexpected places. I started with PPR Strategies as a summer intern in 2023, joined the team part-time that fall, and transitioned to full-time earlier this year as a Communications Specialist. In this role, I’ve really been able to dive deeper into client work by developing campaigns, managing digital content, and sharing stories that highlight the impact of community-driven initiatives.
This year, I completed the 2025 Chesapeake Basic Economic Development Course, which gave me a stronger understanding of the field I now support every day. From business attraction and retention to strategic planning and partnerships, this course introduced me to the core principles and tools that drive community growth. It also showed me how economic development professionals balance creativity with strategy to help their communities thrive. Beyond the lessons, it helped me see the power of collaboration, connection, and continued learning in building a stronger economic future.
I couldn’t have imagined how rewarding this work could be. Economic development may not have been at the top of my radar, but it’s become a space where I get to combine communication, strategy, and purpose every single day. I’ve learned to be flexible, to stretch and adapt as projects evolve, and to see challenges as opportunities to grow.
Looking back, I’m proud of how far I’ve come since my internship. And looking ahead, I’m excited to continue learning, creating, and contributing to the meaningful work our clients (and team) do every day.
Turns out I didn’t need Milan to find the fast-paced, creative work I was looking for; I just needed to find the right stories to tell.
