Accounting Senior Helps Launch HUNT Through Internship Role
Jagger Morvant, a senior accounting major from Moss Bluff at McNeese State University, turned an internship into a significant role, and a full-time job offer, with HUNT Refined Repellent.
A Southwest Louisiana company, HUNT offers a cleaner and more refined insect repellent for outdoor enthusiasts. The company’s founders planted their roots at the Business Incubator of Southwest Louisiana in the Henning SEED center at McNeese. The company had an idea, a small team and some Louisiana grit, but it needed a few McNeese students.
“From the beginning, we knew we wanted to launch in the business incubator in the Henning SEED Center because of its proximity to campus and the history of strong companies that have grown out of that building,” explained Garbriel Fontenot, HUNT co-founder. “We wanted HUNT to be built in the same ecosystem.”
That proximity to campus led the company to Morvant and other students who helped launch the company.
“I discovered how much goes into starting a business from the ground up,” Morvant said. “It is challenging but rewarding! Everyone must work together, or it will not be successful, and everyone learns something new every day.”
Fontenot explained that interns from the College of Business at McNeese have a strong foundation in business, technology and consumer behavior. While working with HUNT, the interns shared every experience and helped build the company.
“One of the best decisions we made early on was keeping our talent pipeline local,” he said. “Jagger is a perfect example of a person with a strong work ethic and sharp business instincts as well as someone who genuinely lives the brand.”
Morvant says he used what he learned in his accounting classes every day at HUNT.
“Most people probably do not know how much of a business consists of accounting. From sales to payroll and even inventory, accounting is used for almost everything,” he said.
Fontenot explained that Morvant played a big role in shaping HUNT early on by working in accounting and marketing. He handled HUNT’s accounting software and worked directly with its accountant. Morvant also worked on marketing, branding, social media, web design and merchandising.
Working with all the different aspects of running a business gave Morvant a good perspective for his future. He says to move into leadership roles one needs to understand every area of a company.
He plans to join the company full-time after graduation. “I feel like I am a part of the company now and being a part of the original core team to get the company off the ground has been so fulfilling.”
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