McNeese Student Interns with Crying Eagle Brewery

McNeese State University senior, Logan Jones, caught a glimpse at all the moving parts of a successful business during his summer internship at Crying Eagle Brewing Co. in Lake Charles.  

Jones is a management major with an entrepreneurship minor from Moss Bluff.  

Jones worked under the president of the company, Eric Avery, who graduated from McNeese with a bachelor’s degree in biological science and a minor in chemistry.  

“Logan was given multiple assignments where we had him create important spreadsheets on our financials, research point of sale systems and complete cost and benefit analysis,” Avery explained. “All were projects that we have needed to work on forever, but find little time to do.” 

While the internship took place mainly at Crying Eagle, Jones also went to off-site events like the groundbreaking for the company’s lake front property, sponsored golf tournaments and a Rum Revival.  

For Jones, the best part of the internship was experiencing every level of a successful business.  

“Some days I would be working with the administration on budgeting inventory prices and the next day working with the floor manager to count inventory,” he explained. “I experienced every aspect of what it takes to run a business.” 

Jones’ tasks were a breeze thanks to his McNeese classes in economics and marketing, but he still learned a lot over the summer.  

“One of the most important things I learned is to march through adversity,” Jones said. “We were faced with many different problems. By confidently working through them and finding the perfect solution, we kept moving through to the next one. If you move too fast, you will miss the problem. But if you move too slow, you will miss your solution. 

“Business isn’t just about the numbers. It’s about the team you have driving with you that truly keeps the business moving,” he added. 

Avery appreciated having Jones as an intern. “Logan was exceptionally valuable. He came to us with an elevated knowledge base and was an ideal fit as an intern here,” he explained. 

Jones left his internship with practical experience and skills. “I learned how to effectively communicate with employees, business owners and customers,” Jones said. “You can read and write things all you want, but if you can’t pick up the phone and make it happen, then it was a waste of time.” 

Jones’ summer spent at Crying Eagle has pushed him a step forward in achieving his professional goals. He wants to be an entrepreneur and to own or run a successful company.  

“Not only have I boosted my resume, but I have also gained experience, grown my understanding of entrepreneurship and built the foundation of my career,” he said. 

Jones encourages McNeese students seeking internships to take the next steps for their future careers. “The connections I’ve made put me a step ahead for future job opportunities,” he said. “Internships are amazing opportunities to find your fit.” 

Avery shared what makes McNeese students great interns. “Interns that learn about and engage in what they aspire to do are invaluable,” he said.  

“McNeese isn’t just a local university, but more of what I would consider a ‘boutique’ university. It has elevated education, collaborative classroom settings and successful job placements,” Avery said. 

“Students aren’t just numbers at McNeese, but members of a family. Family loves, family cares,”