The success of AdPR Week 2016

Bryan Reber moderated the "Rio 2016: Sports PR and media on the world stage" panel. 

The Grady College's Department of Advertising and Public Relations hosted AdPR Week from Sept. 26 through Sept. 30. The week incorporated speakers and visitors including those from Wieden + Kennedy and Gary McCormick, from GMc Communications, hosted by faculty and student organizations. Each AdPR event exposed students to industry related information and helpful advice from professionals. The week culminated with an exciting panel discussion about the Olympic games entitled, "Rio 2016: Sports PR and media on the world stage". UGA's Olympic silver medalist Chase Kalisz and journalists and public relations professionals, Nicole Chrzanowski, Mike Mobley, Vicki Michaelis and Mark Johnson shared their experiences and lessons learned from the recent Olympics and Paralympics. Hosted by AdPR and Grady Sports Media, AdPR's Bryan Reber moderated this event.

The AdPR Department developed the High Five Donor Recognition Program. This program was designed to provide AdPR students with a fun and easy way to demonstrate their AdPRide. In return for a $5 donation, students and alumni entered to win a three prizes. The first place prize winner, Madison French, received a personal University of Georgia Yeti Cooler. The second winner, Katie Shivers, was awarded a lunch an The National, a restaurant located in downtown Athens, with her favorite AdPR professor. Sophie Ryland, the third place winner, earned a basket filled with "AdPR Swag" including an AdPR cup and notebook.

1st Place - Madison French

2nd Place - Katie Shivers

Third Place - Sophie Ryland

This year's AdPR Week surpassed all goals and expectations by reaching record giving levels. With generous donations throughout the week from students, alumni, faculty and friends of the department, AdPR received over $8,500 in gifts towards the Excellence Fund. This fund will help department initiatives such as providing students with travel grants for study abroad programs, helping with the implementation of the SEE Suite social media monitoring lab and supporting leading research by AdPR's nationally recognized faculty.

AdPR Week 2016 was very successful and the department hopes for continued success in the future. Thank you to all of the generous donors for contributing to the Excellence Fund.

AdPR Alumni Spotlight: Michael Gray

Michael Gray, Communications Consultant for Wells Fargo

We are proud of our AdPR Alumni!  AdPR Week seems like the perfect chance to take a closer look at what one esteemed alumni, Michael Gray, is doing now. With past work at Porter Novelli and Fox Sports, Gray has experience in the public relations industry. He currently holds a position as the Communications Consultant, Corporate Communications, North Florida Region for Wells Fargo.

AdPR Department: What are some of your everyday duties?

Michael Gray: My job as a communicator for Wells Fargo is to enhance and manage the company’s reputation. This is accomplished through internal and external communications, issues and crisis management, and acting as a trusted advisor for my clients. Every day, I am focused on effectively communicating our desired messages through positive storytelling and engagement with our key stakeholders – team members, external media, and our customers and communities.

AdPR: In your previous positions and also in your current one, were there any assignments or duties that you were required to take on that surprised you?

Gray: I have learned to never be surprised in the public relations field. One of the biggest indicators of success for a PR professional is adaptability. It’s imperative to be open-minded and to not let anything throw you for a loop.

AdPR: What are some concepts or skills you would consider essentials for AdPR students to grasp before they graduate?

Gray: Writing is key. Many other skills are developed as you progress in your career, but your writing is what will set you apart from others. Confidence is also extremely important, but make sure not to confuse confidence with arrogance. It’s good to have a little modesty, and to understand there is always room for learning and development.

AdPR: After graduating, what was one of your biggest challenges while entering the job field?

Gray: I had a difficult time deciding what exactly I wanted to do and where I wanted to live. Did I want to try agency life or focus on corporate? Did I want to stay in Atlanta, where I grew up? Did I want to pursue a career using my economics degree instead? For me, there were more questions than answers at graduation, which was uncomfortable. But I also learned something through those challenges – when the right opportunity comes along, trust your gut. You will know when you find it.

The Grady College Department of Advertising and Public Relations hosts second annual AdPR Week

The Grady College Department of Advertising and Public Relations hosts its second annual National AdPR Week at UGA from Sept. 26-30. UGA clubs and organizations including PRSSA, IABC and AdClub are arranging and hosting various special events, presentations and professional development workshops with industry veterans for students throughout the week.

In addition to the engaging events, the AdPR department is launching AdPR Giving Week. This new program will allow current students, alumni and current industry professionals to support current and future programming for AdPR students.

AdPR pride will be encouraged and shared throughout the week on social media using the hashtag #AdPRide.

Find more information about AdPR Week here. 

Recently Dedicated Peyton Anderson Forum presents Ideal Space for AdPR Students

The Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication dedicated the Peyton Anderson Forum on Dec. 2 in Athens.

Yan Jin discusses research tactics with Creative Consultants members.

Made possible by grants of $500,000 from the Peyton Anderson Foundation and additional funds from Tom and Edwina Johnson, the forum has proven to be the hub of all activity for the Advertising and Public Relations department throughout the fall semester of 2015.

Peyton Anderson Forum dedication on Dec. 2, 2015.

The beautifully crafted and furnished forum was home to a Creative Consultants bootcamp on research by Yan Jin, associate professor of public relations at UGA. Students were able to push together chairs in the forum to interact as teams and learn more about research for their potential clients.

The department also hosted a very successful AdPR Week with a line-up of speakers from around the country. Grady College came together from Sep. 28 to Oct. 2 to hear from the well-renowned advertising and public relations community; most of which activity occurred in the forum.

From roundtables with executives, to one-on-ones with professors, to elaborate group work, the Peyton Anderson Forum has proven to be the ideal space for Grady students to learn and grow. The AdPR department is excited for another great semester in the spring of 2016, and also for the potential that this space has to offer.

Joseph Olewitz of 22nd Story Strategies visits AdPR

Joseph Olewitz - 22nd Story Strategies

Coach, mentor and sales professional Joseph Olewitz spent 16 years responsible for USA and International revenue growth as a member of the leadership team at two multi-national digital agencies before founding his own company, 22nd Story Strategies, in 2010. Created in response to demand from entrepreneurs and executives who realized that an experienced individual such as Olewitz could provide invaluable guidance with regards to revenue growth, 22nd Story Strategies has helped a wide range of businesses from start-ups to global giants meet and exceed their sales and revenue goals. 

Based in New York City, Olewitz works with companies around the world, where, functioning as a Virtual Chief Revenue Officer for his clients, Olewitz has built and implemented revolutionary and disruptive intentional revenue growth programs based on his deep experience and passion.

The following lecture, given by Joseph Olewitz in celebration of National AdPR Week, is open to all Grady students: 

Monday, September 28th from 2:30 - 3:30 PM

Brought to you by AdPR at UGA

Discussion: Entrepreneurship - How to prepare for the new world in Advertising and PR

Location: Peyton Anderson Forum - Grady College

Video Coverage of this event can be found here: https://youtu.be/_V—Js4rbis 

For more about Olewitz, visit his blog at www.intentionalgrowth.com, his LinkedIn profile, and check out www.22ndstorystrategies.com to learn more the services offered by 22nd Story Strategies.

Southern Company's Tripp Cagle to Host AdPR Week Talk

Tripp Cagle, the communications supervisor for Southern Company, will be a featured speaker for Grady's AdPR Week (October 1-5). Cagle, a UGA alum, will give a talk entitled "The World of Corporate PR" on Wednesday, October 3rd at 11:15 a.m. in MLC 102, which will focus on how  corporations solve crises and manage government relations.

Cagle is a 1981 UGA graduate, having studied public relations. He is a two-time ARC Award winner for annual report copywriting in the United States. Cagle's visit is the first ever Visiting Professional-in-Residence at Grady College/UGA sponsored by the Southern Company. In addition to speaking to the Introduction to Public Relations course on Wednesday, Cagle will speak with the programs PRSSA group, meet individually with students, and speak in several graduate and undergraduate courses. 

"We are very excited to host Tripp Cagle for this special event," said Dr. Bryan Reber, Assistant Department Head and Public Relations professor. "He brings a wealth of corporate public relations experience to share with the students and faculty."

The Southern Company is a Fortune 500 electric utilities holding company based in the Atlanta, and one of the nation's leading providers of electricity.

MDC Partners' Kip Voytek to Kick off AdPR Week at UGA

Kip Voytek

This year's Advertising and Public Relations Week (October 1- 5) will include a visit from Kip Voytek, senior vice president and director of Digital Innovation at MDC Partners. Voytek, a Hearst Foundation's Visiting Professional-in-Residence, will give a talk on "Inflection Points: Advertising, Now that We're Officially Digital" on Wednesday, October 3rd at 12:20 p.m. in MLC 171. 

The lecture will focus on the advertising industry's evolution through digital technology, and how the industry can embrace and capitalize on the next wave of change.

As director of Digital Innovation, Voytek is responsible for leading the integration of emerging technologies and digital practices with MDC agencies and their brands. Prior to working for MDC Partners, Voytek was the senior vice president and executive creative director of Interaction Design at R/GA, providing creative leadership on the Nike, Nokia, J&J, IBM and other accounts.  He also served as head of Planning at RAPP, a multichannel marketing agency network.

Kip’s introduction to interactive design was as a game designer for EAI and Byron Preiss Multimedia, where he designed games based on licensed properties such as X-Men, Spiderman, Barbie, Clue, Scooby-Doo and Animaniacs. Prior to his focus on interactive design, Kip was a political consultant and speechwriter.