New faculty spotlight: Nate Evans

Nate Evans

Nate Evans, a doctoral candidate in the School of Advertising and Public Relations at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, will be joining the Grady faculty this fall as an assistant professor of advertising.

What classes (if any) are you teaching this year? I am currently teaching an Advertising Principles class at the University of Tennessee and am scheduled to teach Advertising and Society at UGA in the fall. 

Past academic positions/awards: My past academic positions have been teaching assistant/teaching associate/ and instructor of record. Here are the awards I have received:
- AAA Doctoral Dissertation Grant Competition: Funded by the American Academy of Advertising (AAA) 
- Top Student Paper: Advertising Division, Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)

- Kappa Tau Alpha Research Award: Best Student Paper, Advertising Division (AEJMC)

- Competitive Student Travel Grant Award: Funded by AEJMC

- ESPN's Research Funding Award

What are your research interests and why?  My program of research focuses on the theoretical and policy implications of interactive and embedded advertising formats. Specifically, my research concentrates on three main areas: 1) parents and children's advergames, including parents' perceptions, understanding, attitudes, and persuasion recognition in children's advergaming formats; 2) social media, in-game advertising (IGA), and massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs), which include applications of interpersonal communication theory, schema theory, and associative learning; and 3) larger societal and macro-focused implications of advertising communication, including an emphasis on children's international online advertising regulation.  

Are there any projects/publications you're working on that you can share a little about at this time? I was recently working on a piece that will be published in the next issue of the Journal of Advertising. This article examined parents attitudes and perceptions of children's advergaming using Parental Socialization theory. Co-Authors were Dr. Les Carlson (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) and Dr. Mariea Grubbs Hoy (University of Tennessee). Currently I am working on my dissertation, which tests the influence of advertising disclosures and cognitive load on parents' ability to recognize children's advergames as advertising. In addition to my dissertation I am also working on other manuscripts that focus on a re-conceptualization of the persuasion knowledge model, children's international online advertising regulation, and have future plans to study branded apps for children on tablets and mobile devices.  

 What are you most looking forward to while you're at Grady/UGA? Perhaps what I am most looking forward to at Grady is working along side some of the most productive and prolific scholars in the field advertising scholarship. I am also looking forward to working with, what I understand to be, some of the most motivated and gifted graduate students. Furthermore, my fiance Taylor Krcek and I recently purchased a house outside Athens in Danielsville. We are excited to begin our lives together as UGA Bulldogs (Formerly I was a Vol and she a Buckeye). 

Alumni Spotlight: Arielle D'Avanzo (ABJ '12)

Arielle D'Avanzo

 Arielle D'Avanzo, a 2012 graduate who majored in public relations and minored in Spanish, is originally from Atlanta. 

 What are you doing now and how did you get there? I'm working at Edelman in Washington, D.C. as an assistant account executive on the Food & Nutrition Team. Knowing that Edelman would provide me with the best experience and training in my field, I applied for the summer internship program prior to graduation. I interviewed for the position and was hired to start in June 2012 on the Food & Nutrition Team. Edelman's internship program is a little different from other companies in that if you're doing an exceptional job after three months, you may have the option to extend your internship for an additional three months. So, after three months of interning I was extended, and then a month later I was hired as a full-time employee on my team. I have been an AAE on the team for about six months now. 


 What activities were you involved while in Grady/UGA? 
- Active member of PRSSA. I served on a variety of PRSSA committees (Service & Outreach Committee; Publications Committee; Publicity Committee; Mentoring Committee)
- I was involved in Creative Consultants for three years serving as a member (for YogaSprouts), assistant account executive (for Porter Novelli's pro-bono client, The Jack& Jill Late-Stage Cancer Foundation) and account executive (for the UGA Women's Ultimate Team)
- I took part in the UGA Agency Tour in D.C.
- Intern with the Grady College Communications/External Relations Team my last year in school.
- Tutor at Chase Street Elementary School.
- Member of the Golden Key International Honor Society.
- Member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority.


 What is your day-to-day like at your job? (Any interesting projects that you can share with us?) Because I work on a variety of different accounts, my day is never the same and constantly shifting! But that's quite typical in an agency setting. Some days are devoted to primarily one client, while on other days I can be working on as many as four or five accounts. This work could include media pitching, developing materials such as a press release, talking points and scripts, coordinating logistics for upcoming events, staffing events and compiling media coverage reports. 

    One thing that always remains the same though is reading the day’s news. I usually spend at least 30 minutes of my day—no matter how busy—reading through clips so that I'm fully knowledgeable about what is going on in the F&N world. Also, Edelman does a wonderful job at providing learning and growth opportunities within the company. So, during any given week I may take part in a diversity training or an Excel how-to course. There are so many opportunities for growth here. 

   One client I work on is Walmart and its Healthier Food Initiative. In February of this year we held an event at a store in Springfield, Mo. to celebrate the progress Walmart has achieved in making healthy foods more affordable in just three years. What’s more, the First Lady Michelle Obama was interested in celebrating that progress in conjunction with the third anniversary of her Let’s Move! campaign. I worked alongside the Edelman team to manage store event logistics and optics, both in advance and on-site, draft and revise podium remarks, Q&A, fact sheets, talking points for influencer and media calls, and more. It was an incredible experience! 

 What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) has been helpful in your career today? All of it! Grady set me up for success. Between Campaigns, Research, Graphic Design classes, I built a strong foundation to start my PR career and am so appreciative of the learning and support I received from the college. Not to mention the staff and professors provided such positive and valuable direction. 

 What is your favorite Grady memory? In addition to attending the UGA Agency Tour in Washington, D.C., I also really enjoyed ADPRConnection, a networking event with companies from all over Georgia. The event was planned and created by Grady students. I served on the Social Media Committee for this event so it was neat to have both a behind-the-scenes perspective, and then actually get the chance to network with companies and organizations of interest to me. In addition to this, I had so many great memories interning for the Grady College. One that stands out is getting to plan and attend the Grady Alumni Gala, where I was able to meet distinguished graduates from Grady. 

I built a strong foundation to start my PR career and am so appreciative of the learning and support I received from the college. 

 What advice do you have for current AdPR students? I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but the value of networking is crucial in this industry. I attended the UGA Agency Tour when I was in school, and that's where I met someone from the F&N Team at Edelman, who ended up actually interviewing me for the position. Also, when you meet professionals in the field try to send a personal, hand-written thank-you card or note. You’d be surprised how few students actually take time to write these and how much they are appreciated—and noticed. And don't be shy about following up. I know when you don't hear back from someone you might think they're just not interested, but often times they're just super busy, so be sure to diligently and politely follow up. And be tenacious! You want to try your best to be memorable and stand out. 

     While in school, try and get as much writing experience—of all different forms—as possible. Whether it's writing an email to a client, developing a pitch for a reporter, creating a webinar script or speech, or providing analysis on a particular subject, excellent writing is essential in our world. And it's not always about learning one particular writing style. You may be called on to write web copy, social media content, brochures, speeches, briefing documents and client memos, so keep learning and expanding your writing skills and experiences. And of course, AP writing style is still very important in our business, also.

AdPR Alumni Spotlight: Steve Guyer (ABJ '05)

Steve Guyer

Steve Guyer (ABJ '05), an advertising major, is originally from Royston, Ga.

What activities/internships were you involved while in Grady/UGA?

• Martin Agency Student Workshop (Richmond, VA) ‘05.
• Staff Photographer, UGA Bulldogs Athletic Department ‘03-’05.
• VP. Interactive Media, UGA Ad Club ‘04-’05.

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

I’m a manager for Viacom’s Kids and Family group, which includes Nickelodeon and Virtual Worlds. I’ve been managing digital initiatives since 2006 when I worked at Grey’s direct marketing and digital agency. In the past, I’ve worked at G2 (part of Grey Group), Experian CheetahMail, AgencyRx (part of the CDM Group Omnicom Group).

What is your day-to-day like at your job? (Any interesting projects that you can share with us?)

We wake up each morning trying to find new ways to make Viacom’s kids and family properties more and more educational and fun. We just wrapped nick.com’s LIVE Kids’ Choice Awards experience which supported the on-air show experience on March 23 at 8:00pm.

What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) has been helpful in your career today?

The Campaigns class, definitely. Pulling together teams to do the new business pitches in the Campaigns class was by far the most helpful. Nothing beats real-world experience dealing with other team members. I realized after graduating that while I might take a test on my own, I needed every one of my coworkers to finish projects. Ron Lane was always very supportive of the work that I did and helped me build my confidence.

What is your favorite Grady memory?
There were two experiences that are in my memory:

• Traveling to New York was really what kicked it off for me. The school arranges the trip for students every year. The trip is a great opportunity to see what an agency looks like inside and a bit about what the environment is like.
• Working on the Campaigns class was a lot of fun. We worked really late and long hours to make the presentation the best it could be. There really is nothing like seeing an idea go from inception to a fully realized product.

What advice do you have for current AdPR students?

• Meet as many people, resources, colleagues, teachers, professors, athletes, musicians (you get the idea) as you can since you never know when you might want or need to reach out to them for advice or to join you in your project.
• Get really involved in any of the projects that you want to take on and drop the ones you aren't interested in (no one cares about a laundry list of clubs if all you did was pay dues--- that makes you a subscriber, not a member).
• Get ready to work really really hard!

Alumni spotlight: Scott Sparks (ABJ '10)

Scott Sparks

Scott Sparks, a 2010 graduate who majored in advertising and earned a New Media certificate, is originally from Athens, Ga. 

What are you doing now and how did you get there? I work as a strategist at 360i. I started as an intern at Translation, an agency I first learned about through one of the UGA AdClub agency tours in NYC. After interning, the agency extended an offer for a full time position in the spring of my senior year. After two years there, I found a more digital-focused opportunity at 360i.

What is your day-to-day like at your job? (Any interesting projects that you can share with us?) I help brands navigate the rapidly-changing marketing landscape, always making sure our endeavors are laddering back up to aligned-upon strategic objectives. My day-to-day changes a lot, but is typically filled with the crafting of briefs, writing of decks, various meetings or brainstorms with teams across the agency, and presentations to clients. I currently work on Hanes, NBC Olympics, Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental. In a nutshell, I do whatever's needed to make sure we're always staying on strategy for each of my brands. 

What activities/internships were you involved while in Grady/UGA? Ad Club, HSBT, NMI, Student Union.

What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) has been helpful in your career today? I can honestly say that I've used learnings from the majority of my Grady classes in my career thus far. I'd say my extracurricular activities (i.e. Ad Club, HSBT, study abroad) were even more helpful though. I would never be where I am today if I hadn't gotten involved in AdClub, visited Translation on an agency tour in NYC & stayed in touch with fellow alumnus, Rosie Siman (who was working at Translation at the time). 

What is your favorite Grady memory? Dressing up as the Easter Bunny for an AdClub Easter egg hunt for some of the Grady professors' children. It got ridiculously hot hopping around in that suit, but was really fun (& hilarious) at the same time.

What advice do you have for current AdPR students? Get involved in clubs & activities outside of classes. Don't just do it to put it on your resume, but have fun with it! You'd be surprised at the friendships & memories you'll make along the way. Also to that point, make real connections with people whenever possible. Connections, not solely the trading of business cards at networking events, are what can help you get to that next step in your career. Real connections & relationships, not solely the trading of business cards at networking events, are what can help you get to that next step in your career.

Find me on Twitter via @scottwsparks. Go Dawgs!

Student Spotlight: Katherine Keng

Katherine Keng, a senior majoring in public relations and English, is from Marietta.

What encouraged you to apply to Grady College?  I was decidedly undecided throughout freshman year. In terms of majors, all I knew was that I wanted to be in a line of work where writing would be a key tenet in my daily duties. I stumbled upon public relations, whereupon I was unclear about what such practitioners did. As I learned about the work, I realized that good PR underpinned the growth of my dad’s startup company. I applied for Grady because I believe every organization should invest in good PR, and I wanted to be one of the people making it happen.

What activities are you involved in at Grady/UGA/Athens? I am a part of UGA’s Honors Program, which has given me unique learning opportunities through Socratic Circle-type classes, lunchbox lectures and faculty mentor network. I am also involved with PRSSA and Creative Consultants. Currently I am working with EcoFocus Film Festival, a local environmental film organization. The setup is great because we have a lot of flexibility and room for creative idea sourcing. The best part for me is collaborating with same-age peers, which I haven’t been able to do much of in past internships. I was a contributing writer and copy editor for Little Red Book, a campus fashion magazine, and Chinese Language Society member and Alpha Lambda Delta service society member for three years.

What kinds of internships have you been involved in, and what were your responsibilities? Last summer I interned with JMC, LTD., the manufacturing partner of Ford Motors in China. I was JMC’s first intern, so experimentation was a running theme, and being in a foreign country upped the excitement. I took charge of the corporate newsletter, integrating my bilingualism and writing skills to write feature stories, reports on competitors and company updates. During this process I learned to digest and translate annual reports and also grew my Photoshop and InDesign capabilities. I also rewrote parts of the company’s English website for higher readability and web presence and sat in daily on marketing meetings and presentations to collate a higher understanding of branding.

What were the best parts of your internship experiences? The best part of my internship experience was being immersed in a different culture. It was a lot of fun but also made me appreciate certain aspects of American work culture more. I also engaged with some Chinese social media outlets. Though I learned a lot about the consumer mindset and social landscape, exploring the content on those sites did not feel at all like work.   

What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) has been helpful in your internship or work experiences? I’ve been lucky to have a roster of top-notch teachers. The Dr. Jones team has been especially wonderful. Dr. Barry Jones sharpened my writing skillset, while Dr. Betty Jones’ graphics communications class taught me many new things and had high real world relevance. I ended up with pieces for my portfolio after all their classes and really appreciated that the Drs. Jones were so helpful on any matter, both in and out of class. Dr. Leara Rhodes, my Honors faculty mentor, has also been incredibly generous with advice and time. All three of these professors take real interest in their students’ lives – I think that’s amazing.  

What advice would you give to someone who is considering pursuing an Ad/PR program? My advice would be to work on creating a brand for yourself. Find something that others don’t have and use that to an advantage. It’s not new advice, but especially in AdPR careers, a brand name can go a long way. (Of course, you also have to start with hard work in order to back up that brand!)

What are your career goals and interests? My short-term career goal is to find a position in either branding or corporate social responsibility. I realize that true social responsibility is not just participating in a program or two but actual integration of social and environmental considerations into an organizational vision. The idea of helping to transform an organization for the better really appeals to me. I’m interested in newness in all its forms (cool-hunting, technology, etc.), but I also know that some things, like being part of a good cause, transcend trends. 

Alumni spotlight: Katelyn Fish (ABJ '12)

Katelyn Fish

Katelyn Fish, a native of Johns Creek, graduated in May 2012 with bachelor's degrees in advertising and psychology.

 What are you doing now and how did you get there? I have been working as an Assistant Account Executive at Lovell Communications in Nashville, Tennessee for two months. I graduated from UGA in May of last year, and continued my job search in Atlanta and Nashville. I knew I wanted to stay in the south, but wasn’t dead set on Atlanta. I had visited a friend in Nashville earlier in the year and loved it’s vibrant, fun, young atmosphere. It’s the best combination of Atlanta and Athens, still a fairly big city, with a small town feel. A few weeks into summer, I landed an internship in the marketing department of Habif, Arogeti & Wynne, LLP in Atlanta. I actually found the internship through the AdPR group on LinkedIn. In October, I reached out to previous contacts I had made in Atlanta and Nashville, and I found myself with an amazing opportunity at Lovell Communications, a national public relations, marketing and crisis management firm in Nashville. I moved up here the day after Thanksgiving and couldn’t be happier.

What is your day-to-day like at your job? (Any interesting projects that you can share with us?)The thing I love most about my job, and really working in public relations in general, is that every day is different. One day I could be creating a media list and updating social media accounts, and the next I could be at a client’s office training them on how to interact with the media. Primarily, I do a lot of media relations, whether that’s creating media lists, pitching stories to reporters, or sending out press releases about our clients events. I also blog frequently for our firm, as well as update our social media accounts. The amount of knowledge and experience you will gain in just the first few months of your job is incredible.

What activities were you involved while in Grady/UGA? When I was a freshman I wanted to get involved in everything that I could. I knew I wanted to pursue a career in communications before I even set foot on UGA’s campus. I immediately joined PRSSA my freshman year and looked for ways to get involved. I was a part of Creative Consultants for two years, one year as an assistant account executive. Additionally, I co-directed the first ADPR Connection in the fall of 2012, and was on executive board my senior year. In addition to PRSSA, I was active in UGA HEROs, serving on the corporate relations committee and as a team leader for a group of freshmen. I was a member of the Panhellenic sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta, and held a position as the philanthropy coordinator. Being a “puppy walker” for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, raising a black lab puppy named Hope, was probably one of my favorite UGA experiences. For fun, I was very active in UGA intramurals and worked a part-time job for part of my junior and senior years.

What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) has been helpful in your career today? Every part of my Grady experience benefited me in some way in my career. Joining PRSSA was probably the most important first step. By joining PRSSA, I formed so many relationships with classmates and professors. Dr. Betty Jones, the PRSSA adviser, has been one of the most influential people in my life as I do not know where I would be without her. She is an amazing mentor and has had a tremendous impact on my career development. Additionally, being a member of PRSSA gave me the opportunity to co-direct ADPR Connection where I was able to build and develop skills that are so important for being successful in your career. I managed four different committees, created an entire event from concept to execution, formed an overwhelming amount of connections with industry professionals in Atlanta, and honed my writing skills along the way. The networking alone from ADPR Connection is one of the primary reasons for my success today.

What is your favorite Grady memory? One of my absolute favorite memories from my Grady experience was traveling to Washington, D.C. with PRSSA to tour a variety of public relations agencies and network with Grady alumni. Grady has so many wonderful opportunities that you can take advantage of to help direct you down whatever career path you want to take.

What advice do you have for current AdPR students? Network, network, network! I can’t say it enough. Your classes will provide you with the foundation you need, but absolutely nothing beats real world experience. The only way you’re going to get that experience is making connections with people in your field of study that can help you secure that extremely important internship. You can never have too many contacts, and you can learn something from every person that you meet. That being said, feel free to email me for any advice or questions that you have, especially if you’re interested in moving to Nashville. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn as well. 

UGA PR Seniors Complete Exclusive Coca-Cola Internship

  

Rebeka Geer

Two AdPR students had the opportunity to intern with Coca-Cola this summer as part of an exclusive internship program with Grady College. Rebeka Geer, a senior majoring in public relations and speech communications, and Jordan Crofton, a senior majoring in public relations and nutrition science, were chosen as this summer's interns in Coca-Cola's  Public Affairs and Communications group at the company's Atlanta location.

Summer interns with Coca-Cola’s North American Public Affairs and Communications group are chosen exclusively from The University Of Georgia’s Grady College.

Some of Geer's responsibilities included monitoring social media, drafting press releases and helping with the Coca-Cola 600, an annual 600-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup race. One of the most valuable lessons Geer learned during the internship was time management.

 "The people I worked with at Coca-Cola were eager to get me involved with the team and there was never a point when I didn’t feel like there was work to be done. I learned very early on that I needed to prioritize my assignments and as the summer progressed, I really learned to manage my time better," Geer said.

Some of Crofton's responsibilities included working on the company's intranet communications, and helping in projects such as the Sprite Uncontainable Game project and the ESSENCE Music Festival, a festival held in New Orleans where Crofton helped with on-site public relations.

"Because my growth throughout the summer came from the breadth of work I was able to experience, I can't pinpoint one specific detail as the best," Crofton said. "To say that the internship exceeded the confines of the office would be an understatement, and I couldn’t have asked to learn more in a span of 12 weeks. From lab innovation tours to a 6 a.m. route ride around metro Atlanta, there were countless opportunities that allowed me to learn about the Company from different perspectives."

Jordan Crofton on a company tour ride.

Both students cited their Grady College experiences, as well as the mentorship of their professor Betty Jones, as helpful during their summer internship.

"Dr. Betty Jones, the faculty advisor of PRSSA, has been such an incredible mentor," Geer said. "From the first time I went by her office a few years ago, explaining that I would like to be more involved with PRSSA, Dr. Jones has always been there if I needed anything. She helped me discover a career field that I find both challenging and rewarding and has shaped me into a confident, young PR professional. I would have never found out about this internship if it wasn’t for her."

"I don’t think I would have been a Coca-Cola intern if it wasn’t for the help of Dr. Jones," Crofton said. "She has been such a source of encouragement to me throughout the entire process. I am so thankful for all of the resources and preparation that Grady has provided me."

I strive to have a job where I’m constantly challenged as much as I was at Coca-Cola. I never want to become satisfied with my work and I hope to grow professionally from every future endeavor - Jordan Crofton

As for career goals, "I’m not sure exactly where I’ll end up, but I know it better be doing something I love," Geer said. "I do think I will begin my career at a PR agency because that environment will help me decide which type of clients I enjoy working with – whether it be non-governmental organizations, consumer public relations, B2B ... who knows! I just want to make sure I’m constantly challenged, find joy in what I do and am proud of the clients I work for."

"I strive to have a job where I’m constantly challenged as much as I was at Coca-Cola," Crofton said. "I never want to become satisfied with my work and I hope to grow professionally from every future endeavor. I'm especially interested in corporate communications and would love to find an intersection with nutrition. At this point, I haven't ruled anything out and I'm open to exploring different areas."

Internship Spotlight: Mallory Brannon

Mallory Brannon

Mallory Brannon, a senior from Atlanta majoring in public relations, is a U.S. advertising intern for Delta Air Lines, Inc. this summer. 

What are your responsibilities? My main responsibility has been planning the production of two TV commercials for Delta as well as various other projects. Since parts of the TV spots are filmed within secure parts of the airport, it has required not only coordinating with key Delta employees, but also The Department of Aviation, the FAA, TSA and of course our production company and ad agency. I’ve also maintained an active role in coordinating with our ad agency, Wieden + Kennedy, to make sure all advertising such as our digital, out-of-home and print are on schedule and submitted by deadline.

What valuable information or skills have you learned thus far at your internship? I came into my internship with a broad textbook level understanding of how a marketing department functions. I’m leaving with solid knowledge and firsthand experience of that now. Attending meetings everyday within the department and acting as a liaison between Delta and Wieden + Kennedy has helped me see how projects come together and our advertising really takes shape.

Planning a commercial is probably one of the hardest things you could ever be given the task of doing. Months of time are poured into what you see in that short 60-second spot. During production things change in a split second and you don’t have the option of not being prepared to solve the problems that arise. I’ve learned the value of being overly prepared, gained the ability to plan extensively, sharpened my communication skills and can operate smoothly under pressure.

The last day on set during our most previous shoot, I was told by the director and his production manager that if I could handle planning that shoot, I can plan anything. It had been a long, problematic past couple of days, but hearing them tell me that was so validating. It made all the stress and hard work completely worth it.

What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) has been helpful in your internship? My education at Grady gave me a great foundation to build on but more than anything my personal interests have served me well. This internship has been great because it not only incorporates advertising and PR, but something else I really love - aviation. Previously working for an airline allowed me to gain knowledge of airport and airline operations, which was especially useful in our logistical planning. I got more excited than most people consider normal any day I knew we would be working with airplanes. My passion for aviation has definitely made me want to work harder and put my best foot forward. I can’t say I’ve been bummed out about going to work a single day during this summer and I consider myself lucky to say that.

What has been the best part of your internship experience? Definitely working with so many truly talented people. I’ve had the opportunity to pick the brains of people at the top of many different industries. Everyone from our creative directors at Wieden +Kennedy to the director of our commercials has been a pleasure to work with. My colleagues at Delta have gone out of their way to cater to my interests and help me gain experience in those areas. When I had questions about how the marketing budget is allocated, my boss made time to go to lunch with me so we could talk about it. I’m thankful I’ve had the opportunity to spend time with people who were willing to invest their time in me. Flying to New York to film one of our spots wasn’t too shabby, either!

What are your career goals? I’d like to work in advertising and PR in the hospitality and travel industry. I’m attracted to hotels, restaurants and airlines. I love traveling and what better way to incorporate that into my life than work. Aside from work, my first priority after graduation is to log my last flight hours to finish my private pilot’s license.

Internship spotlight: Tommy McConnell

Tommy McConnell

Tommy McConnell is a senior advertising major from Atlanta.

Where do you work? I currently am an account management intern at breen★smith advertising in downtown Atlanta.

What are your responsibilities? Because breen★smith is a relatively small agency, I have responsibilities in pretty much all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the agency. Even though my official title has "account management" in it, I still get creative input in most of our projects, help traffic run smoothly within the agency, as well as interact with our clients on a regular basis.  

What valuable information or skills have you learned thus far at your internship?
Honestly, this interview would run on too long if I listed everything I've learned thus far. I'll try and keep it as brief as I can: 

I've become (fairly) proficient at software like Excel and Powerpoint and I've also observed creative programs like Photoshop and InDesign being used at its best, which in turn helps me understand more and more of the programs.

Organization has been really crucial to keep me at my best.

Always keep a little notepad and pen with you on all times to write down any of your ideas; you never know what might be the next big thing.

Embrace coffee. I know some of you might not drink it because of myths of adverse health effects but trust me, those are wrong and coffee is just so right.

Finally, I've learned how great agency life can be when things are running smoothly but also how stressful they can be when the deadlines come closer and closer. Take everything with a grain of salt though, because in the end our jobs are much cooler than everyone else's.

What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) has been helpful in your internship? Grady has pretty much prepared me for every aspect of this internship. Message Strategy with Dr. Kirsten Strausbaugh-Hutchinson has had a huge impact of my knowledge of working in an agency, from making creative briefs to knowing how to brainstorm. During my time in Cannes for the Lions Festival, Dr. Reichert provided me with invaluable knowledge of what the industry is like and how to take it all in. The actual Grady study abroad to the Lions Festival has served me as a source of constant inspiration. Every time I'm trying to think of a new idea for a client, I think back to a workshop, a masterclass, or a guest speaker that shared some insight with me.

What has been the best part of your internship experience? Working at an ad agency isn't really like "work" at all. I don't mean that it's easy because it certainly isn't, but it provides so many cool opportunities to see your artistic side in a real life setting. I wake up every morning and look forward to coming in for the day because I literally have no idea what the day holds for me. It seriously is a better alternative to the every day monotony that so many other careers have. I also feel like I'm a part of the breen★smith family as opposed to a co-worker or colleague which is a great feeling.

What are your career goals? I'm still keeping my options within the field of advertising very open. My plan once I finish my time at UGA (I'm still coming to grips with the fact that the end is in sight) is to enroll in either the Portfolio Center or the Creative Circus to pursue my dream to be part of the creative side of advertising. However, if I fall in love with the account side of advertising, I would absolutely pursue that path. Just look for me to be strolling down the red carpet to accept my Lion in Cannes soon enough...

AdPR Alumni Spotlight: Stephanie Friedrich

Stephanie Friedrich

Stephanie Friedrich graduated in 2010 with bachelor's degrees in public relations, sociology and a new media certificate.

What are you doing now and how did you get there?
I currently work for Novant Health in Charlotte, North Carolina in the public relations and marketing department. Novant Health is a not-for-profit healthcare system with 13 hospitals in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Novant provides healthcare services across the spectrum, as well as physician practices ranging from primary care to specialists.

I started my work with Novant through an internship in the public relations and marketing department the summer before my senior year of college. I lived in Charlotte for the summer and worked with the hospital on various projects. After I completed my internship, I knew I wanted to stay in the healthcare field. During my senior year, I got an internship with St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens. I continued my work with hospital communications and stayed in touch with Novant Health throughout the year.

Upon graduation, I took a job doing marketing and PR for one of Novant’s community hospitals in Gaffney, South Carolina. As the only person doing communications for this one hospital, the experience was invaluable my first year out of school.

After a year in Gaffney, I was able to move to the downtown Charlotte marketing department to represent four of Novant’s other hospitals. This transition allowed me to continue doing the same type of work but on a much larger scale. I have been in this position for about a year and will soon be moving into a corporate role in the department. The new role will allow me to work on projects that oversee all of Novant’s 13 hospitals. It has been great to move within the same department to covering different areas of the healthcare system. I have learned so much about the system overall and have gotten to work on a broad range of projects.

What is your day-to-day like at your job? (Any interesting projects that you can share with us?) Working in a PR and marketing department, every day is different. Whether I am conducting brainstorming meetings with my team, meeting with a doctor’s office to develop a marketing plan for a new physician coming on board or facilitating a press conference to announce a new partnership, I am always on the go and always connected to my email and phone. On a typical day, I can usually be found scanning social media sites, developing marketing plans and tracking measurements, tweaking budgets, responding to reactive media calls, editing articles, drafting press releases or writing website copy. The most interesting project I have worked on to date was being a part of the communications team that assisted in the opening of one of our newest hospitals. Being onsite during the grand opening, assisting with internal and external communications, media relations and events made for an overall awesome opportunity.

What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) has been helpful in your career today? I could not be happier with my decision to be a part of Grady College. After an indecisive freshman year, I found myself diving head first into public relations. I have always loved writing, quotes, words and talking with people, so I thought it might be a good fit. And it was. From the professors and writing assignments to Creative Consultants and PRSSA meetings, I gained valuable skills, a new-found confidence in my career choice, and wonderful friends and colleagues. My campaigns class also played a major role in helping me gain real world experience in the life of a PR professional. To this day I keep a binder of notes from my PR classes on a shelf in my office. It amazes me how often I reference those notes on a day-to-day basis. UGA did a fantastic job of preparing me for the real world. I truly feel confident in my skills and know that I am contributing in my profession. I can’t thank Grady enough.

"I could not be happier with my decision to be a part of Grady College ... UGA did a fantastic job of preparing me for the real world."

What is your favorite Grady memory? I have many favorite Grady memories; it’s hard to pick just one. I think my most favorite memory is a funny one from my PR Law class my senior year. I pride myself on being early to everything. I hate being late. In my PR Law class, arriving to class five minutes early was considered on time. If you happen to arrive a minute late, you were at risk of having to take the final exam, without any chance of exemption. I never walked that line until one day I happen to miss my alarm. I scrambled out of bed and made it to class with one minute to spare. I always laugh about that experience when I arrive to meetings, appointments and media interviews between 10 and 15 minutes earlier. Now, I don’t ever risk being late. A first impression is invaluable, and I always like to start off on the right foot.

What advice do you have for current AdPR students? Always network -- before college, during college and after college. Network within your company, within UGA alumni groups, in your particular industry groups, on LinkedIn, at happy hours, at PRSA luncheons, at work conferences, on your after-work softball team and at the grocery store. You never know where your next job lead might be waiting. Networking opens up new doors to experiences you may have never thought possible. And, at the end of the day, if you meet someone and they don’t lead you to your dream job, you still made a new contact. Continue to network. It will take you places you could not get to on your own.

Graduate student spotlight: Stephanie Stevens

Stephanie Stevens

Stephanie Stevens is a second-year master's student with a concentration in advertising. She is originally from Ponchatoula, Louisiana.

Where did you do your undergraduate work? Louisiana State University.

What helped you decide to choose Grady's AdPR program for your master's degree? I really didn't know much about different programs when I decided to apply to graduate school, so I spent a lot of time online just looking at schools. Grady came up a lot, along with all the great research that was going on here. Then one of my undergraduate professors encouraged me to apply. Having family nearby in Atlanta sealed the deal for me.

What are your areas of interest for research or for a future career path, and why? My undergraduate degrees are in Mass Communication and Sociology, so my research interests lie in the intersection of those areas. Specifically, I'm interested in electronic and traditional word-of-mouth for entertainment goods like books, movies, and music.

What kinds of activities (work, internships, etc.) have you been involved in during your graduate experience? I work as a teaching assistant in the Telecommunications department, so I've gotten to meet and work with some great faculty members there. It's also given me the chance to meet some of the smart and talented undergrads in Grady. This summer I'm doing a public relations internship with a small business here in Athens, a yoga company called Yoga Sprouts, which has been a lot of fun.

What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) has been helpful in your graduate program? The best thing for me has been being surrounded by such amazing people every day. I was a little nervous about not knowing anyone when I first got here, but both my professors and classmates have made Grady a second home. Now I know I always have people to go to for advice, whether it's about class or the ad industry or where to grab a bite to eat. That's a good feeling.

What's been your favorite part about living in Athens? I love that Athenians really embrace everything local, from food to music. It makes living here feel like being part of a community.

What are your career goals? I'm very interested in brand management, so my goal for after graduation is to find a job in an agency doing that.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering pursuing an Ad/PR graduate program? Ask questions! Lots of them. Something that surprised me when I was looking at grad schools was just how willing people were to answer the questions I had about everything from course requirements to parking options. Take advantage of that and learn everything you can before deciding if an AdPR program is right for you.

AdPR Alumni Spotlight: Caroline Hawkins

Caroline Hawkins graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in public relations and a minor in art history. She currently resides in New York City.

What are you doing now and how did you get there? I am currently living in New York and working at LaForce + Stevens, a full-service marketing communications agency. Most of my life I knew that after graduating from college I wanted to be in New York. Things all seemed to fall into place my junior year when I was searching for summer internships. Networking with older friends, I heard about LaForce + Stevens and their competitive internship program and made the decision to go for it. Luckily, there were quite a few Grady grads already working at the company who I met during an interview for the internship. They gave me guidance and ended up pulling me in to work on their Consumer-Lifestyle team as a summer intern. I had an amazing experience and kept in touch with my team throughout my final year at UGA, landing a full time job with the same team immediately after graduation.

What is your day-to-day like at LaForce + Stevens? (Any interesting projects that you can share with us?) On the Consumer-Lifestyle team, we have quite an eclectic and fun group of clients. We work with brands in the fashion, wine and spirits and personal care industries, among so many others. Not only do we have work for our day to day clients, but we also get pulled in as the red carpet team for many exciting events. This being said, no day is ever the same and nor would I want it to be.

Although things are constantly changing, there are some daily staples that come with PR. Scanning the press to stay up-to-date on what is being said about our clients is key. We all media monitor daily to ensure we are on top of things. Additionally, we are continuously establishing relationships with producers, editors, bloggers, freelance writers-- you name it-- to let them know about all of the interesting things we have going on and to secure placements for our clients. Event planning, client meetings and internal brainstorm sessions are just a few of the other things that go on at our office. I would have to say the most fun parts of my job is seeing ideas we've thrown around come together as a full-blown campaign or event that we can all get behind from start to finish.

What part of your Grady experience (classes, professors, etc.) has been helpful in your career today? Looking back, Grady was helpful in so many different ways. The variety of courses we were required to take really set us up for success. While there were a few classes I may not have fully appreciated at the time (no name dropping here!), in retrospect it is clear that each and every course was there for a good reason and has benefited me in my own career in more ways than I can explain. The most important part of Grady is in my opinion the professors. While some of the courses we took are probably offered at other universities, the professors at Grady really wanted to see us succeed and to truly understand what we learning, not to just take a test, make and A and head on our way. That is something I will always appreciate.

What is your favorite Grady memory? One of my favorite Grady memories is going to Dr. Betty and Dr. Barry Jones' home with other Grady students for soup dinners. This is a great example of how amazing the faculty is and how much they made me feel appreciated, even at a school as large as UGA. I will always think about sitting around the Jones' kitchen table with my class chatting about life and graduation and UGA and how great our experiences at Grady had been.

What advice do you have for current AdPR students? The most important piece of advice I have to give is to network like crazy. I know we've all heard it before, but I would not be where I am today without some friends along the way. Make the most of the fact that you are an AdPR student at Grady College, one of the top schools of journalism in the country. Talk to alumni, older students, professors or really anyone you think may provide you with sound advice on your career path and life in general. Lastly, you are young and you should enjoy it. Take a path that really feeds your fire and don't be afraid to try something new and a little bit out of your comfort zone.