AdPR Alum Spotlight: Kristen Green

Kristen Green graduated from Grady in 2007. She earned a degree in Advertising and a New Media Certificate.

What are you doing now and how did you get there?

I am currently a Content Strategist at JWT in Atlanta. After graduating from Grady in December 2007, I began my career in Account Service at JWT in February of 2008. I learned a lot about the advertising business in my first few years, as I had the opportunity to work across multiple clients that spanned the gamut from cell phones to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In December of 2009, I hopped the fence and began my foray into Digital Strategy as an Assistant Digital Strategist. Digital Strategy was a perfect fit for me and I was now able to apply both my passion for all things digital as well as the knowledge I had gained through Grady's New Media Institute. I was able to use my nerd love for apps and gadgets to make recommendations and positive impacts on clients' businesses.

In May of 2010, I was promoted to Content Strategist on the United States Marine Corps account. Not only is it awesome to work for such a prestigious client like the Marine Corps, but the burgeoning field of content strategy has been a fun field to dive into head first. I've had the opportunity to do so many things in my role ranging from drafting the content for a major web redesign to all the way to being on a Marine Corps base collecting video content that will live on our websites. I have loved every minute of it. Digital and content strategy is where I have found my niche, and I am excited to see what the future holds as I plow forward in my career.

What is your favorite Grady memory?

Although walking across the stage and receiving my diploma and Grady pin will always be precious to me, I have to say that my favorite Grady memories are the long nights I spent in the halls of the building formerly known as the SLC (now the MLC) working all night on projects with fellow Grady classmates. Putting in those long hours on projects with a team is an exact replica of what you will be introduced to in the real world of advertising: teamwork, collaboration, long nights, lots of red bull and making memories that last a lifetime.

What advice do you have for current AdPR students?

Soak it all in. Campus. Athens. Football games between the hedges. Ringing the Chapel Bell. Lectures from brilliant professors. The ability to sleep in until noon. The vast array of knowledge from professors and peers. Soak it all in. College goes by so fast. The irony is that while you are in college, you can't wait to get out into the "real world", but once you're out, you would give anything to go back. So savor the late night cram sessions and take advantage of this time in your life to focus solely on learning and bettering yourself.

Go above and beyond in your projects. Seek out internships, opportunities to study abroad and be a hand raiser when called upon to go the extra mile. Not only do these things look good on a resume, but they make you a better person. When you go to those first terrifying interviews you'll learn that its less about what awesome accolades you can cram onto one piece of 8.5" x11" paper, and its more about the experiences that have molded you into who you are. People want to work with a team player who is passionate about what they do. So be passionate, soak it all in and relish away the days that you get to walk down the hallowed halls of Grady and across our beloved Athens campus before you move on to the "real world."

PR student selected for Lockheed Martin Communications Leadership Program

Congratulations to Heather Kevern for being chosen to participate in the 2012 Lockheed Martin Communications Leadership Program. Heather is a PR Major and the current PR Director of PRSSA. She was one of three students to be chosen for the program which is a two-year rotational commitment. During this time, Heather will have the opportunity to be a key contributor to her teams, applying her public relations knowledge and experience, writing and interpersonal skills, and leadership aptitude to the tasks at hand.

Heather joins a long list of UGA PR students who have participated in this elite program.

To learn more about this program, click here.

PHD CEO Andrew McLean visits UGA's Department of Advertising & Public Relations

Andrew McLean, CEO of PHD (US), today visited with UGA students and faculty. McLean first spoke about the future of media in his talk "Media - Now and Beyond the Horizon." Specifically, McLean offered predictions about technology and media and challenged students to use technology more creatively.

McLean also was a featured speaker at Cannes Lions Night at UGA, hosted by UGA's Ad Club. He emphasized the importance of attending Cannes Lions and taking advantage of Grady's study abroad program to Cannes Lions.

"If you want to turbo-charge your career and entry into the profession," said McLean, "a week at Cannes Lions will do it."

During his visit, McLean also met with faculty, Dean Clark and Parker Middleton, and a select group of students interested in pursuing a media career.

Grady welcomes Chris Hall, CEO of BBDO Atlanta, to Board of Trust

The Department of Advertising & Public Relations and the Grady College are pleased to welcome Chris Hall, CEO of BBDO Atlanta, to the Grady Board of Trust. The board serves as an advisory arm for Grady College.

Hall brings his expertise in advertising to the board as he joins other notables in the journalism and mass communication industries.

Chris Hall has worked in the advertising industry for over 20 years. Before being called to head BBDO Atlanta, Hall worked at J. Walter Thompson as Management Director and Director of Business Development. Hall has spoken at several universities in addition to UGA. He has spoken to our very own UGA Ad Club and talked with Grady students at the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival this past summer.

Ad Club takes on the Windy City

Recently, 16 members of UGA's Ad Club headed north to Chicago. From October 15th to October 19th, the students and their advertising faculty escort, Senior Lecturer Dr. Jennifer Griffith, participated in the Chicago advertising agency tour. This year the group was pleased to have Advertising and Public Relations Department Head Dr. Tom Reichert, AdPR's Dr. Karen King, and assistant dean for enterprise and development, Dr. Parker Middleton, join them on their adventure.

The group made stops at Starcom, Digital Kitchen, Tapestry, Leo Burnett, and McGarry Bowen. They also visited Advertising Age's Chicago office, Edelman Public Relations, and brand activation shops, Craftsman Experience and Kenmore Live Studio.

"Hopefully (fingers-crossed) I will be hired in Chicago and get to give back to UGA Ad Club by hosting them next time they tour the Windy City."

Ad Club first visited Chicago in 2007. The Chicago advertising agency tour alternates with the New York trip, so Ad club will journey back to the Big Apple in 2012. For the time being, though, it seems that the trip made a big impression on the advertising students. "I had strongly considered moving back to my home state of Texas upon graduating, but now I've decided I should take advantage of my youth and take a chance on another city (with Chicago being at the top of the list)," said senior Nicole Nazarenus. "Hopefully (fingers-crossed) I will be hired in Chicago and get to give back to UGA Ad Club by hosting them next time they tour the Windy City."

AdPR Recent Alum Spotlight: Kaley Meier

Kaley Meier graduated from UGA May 2010, with a degree in Advertising and a Comparative Literature minor. She currently resides in Chicago and works at Leo Burnett's Arc Worldwide.

What are you doing now and how did you get there?

I am an Assistant Account Executive on the Procter & Gamble account at Arc Worldwide in Chicago. Arc is the shopper marketing agency within Leo Burnett. I was well into my job search when I graduated in May and I managed to keep in touch with a contact I had in the HR department at Leo Burnett. Although nothing was available at the time, I sent him emails of interesting ad articles/campaigns every other week for a few months and mailed him a new marketing book I was reading so I would stay on the top of his mind.

When a position opened up for an entry level account person at Arc, I had a few phone interviews and was hired shortly afterwards. I stepped into the office on August 15th and have been learning, developing, and loving my position here ever since.

What are your responsibilities as Assistant Account Executive at Arc Worldwide?

A position on the account side is a great opportunity to work with every dimension of the business from creative and strategy to brand management and production. I help coordinate a number of in-store executions including product trays, displays, coupons, and online e-commerce.

My team is founded in shopper behavior and a constant drive to grab the attention of the shopper while he/she is in the store or shopping online. Shopper marketing is one of the fastest growing specialties in advertising because it relates directly to the point of purchase. Each day is different than the one before and I can honestly say I look forward to coming in every morning and contributing to great work.

What is your favorite Grady memory?

Grady has an amazing program, but the faculty is by far the program's greatest asset. My favorite Grady memory definitely involves Dr. Peggy Kreshel and Dr. Kirsten Strausbaugh-Hutchinson's campaigns class. The campaign assignment was challenging, time-consuming, and intense, but having that experience as an undergraduate was invaluable.

During that semester, most of my dinners can from a vending machine. I think I single-handedly supported Jittery Joes' business and I had a long-term relationship with the media wing in the MLC, but I made great work and that's what this business is all about. My team's finished product might not be Effie-worthy, but the guidance and feedback from Drs. Kreshel and Strausbaugh that we received along the way is so applicable to the industry. I can not thank them enough for preparing me for this career.

What advice do you have for current AdPR students?

The best advice I can give to any student involved in Grady's program is to stay curious. The main point of difference that set me apart in the interview process was the way I sold my sense of curiosity and passion for the ad industry rather than just pitching myself as a potential employee.

Grady provides a great platform for you to excel in the industry, but its your sense of curiosity to learn more about what makes a campaign great that is going to give you an edge in this industry. Going above and beyond a basic cover letter and resume will make you a more desirable candidate in the job market and, when you actually get a job, will lead to great, insightful work that positively impacts the brand and its consumers. Best of luck!