PR/Marketing: Jobs Landed

In January 2009 I stepped away from the career I loved and had never imagined leaving. After working for more than a decade as a full-time reporter covering arts, entertainment and news across metro Detroit, I watched newspapers, magazines and media outlets shrink and collapse around me. I knew I had to find a new way to use my writing skills and media experience. I had worked as a freelance copywriter for Publicity Works in the past and had a great working relationship with both Lisa Maas, the president of Publicity Works, and PR Manager Jim Miller.

The moment I announced I was leaving journalism and looking to make the move into public relations, they were both very supportive. I was hired on in a temporary capacity for a position that quickly led to my current full-time job as an account executive and content manager. I hope I was able to bring a reporter's perspective to our work, a sort of insider's understanding of deadlines, newsroom culture and story angles. I also made the move at a key time as social media began to take hold and transform in the industry. On my first week of work, Lisa suggested I read David Meerman Scott's The New Rules of PR and Marketing. With so much new to explore in the realm of social media, I was really drawn to the myriad of ways we are able to help share our clients' messages.

At Publicity Works I was encouraged to jump in with both feet and learn the PR ropes from every angle. I still spend much of my days writing – though now it is more often in the form of new business proposals, press materials and correspondence with reporters or clients. I love the fact that, as in my previous career, my days are never predictable. There is always a new challenge to tackle. We work with a wide range of clients – from restaurants to fashion taste-makers, non-profits and unions to financial experts. The approach changes to suit the needs of each one. I'm constantly researching some new topic. I've spent mornings looking on as one of our chef's cook on television;  days running around Fashion in Detroit runways to connect reporters with designers; and evenings supporting charitable events we've promoted. The work is fast-paced, interesting and unpredictable.

To keep my inner-journalist happy, I write a blog and freelance whenever there is time and opportunity to do so. I've found that as long as I'm doing work that I believe can make a difference, or shed light on something wonderful happening in the metro Detroit area, then I've accomplished something worthwhile. I feel lucky to continue to have that opportunity each day.

At Speedshape – we create content that is used for Broadcast, Print, and Digital. My role is to help ensure integration of the client’s content into all digital media. I am also responsible for the development of new business relationships in the digital space – creative, technology, and media.

Everything I can do to make my clients happy, which includes lots of writing, message development and media relations. From crafting key messages and writing Web site copy to telling their stories’ any way possible, my days center around making sure more people hear about my clients and what they’re doing to positively impact others’ lives.

I am a Public Relations Consultant for a woman-owned, full-service, boutique PR firm in Farmington Hills.

As an account coordinator at Tanner Friedman, I’m able to help create, implement and manage strategically developed communications plans to meet the needs of our clients. Our firm does not believe in a “one size fits all” approach, so I’m able to custom tailor plans using traditional, new, social and other mediums. I’m also able to take on non-traditional projects fitting my previous experiences, including assisting the development of programs for nonprofit organizations and co-coordinating our firm’s internship and student support programs.

In addition to my day-to-day activities at the office, I am also heavily involved in community service and education, both locally and statewide. I represent Tanner Friedman as a guest lecturer on a variety of topics relating to journalism and public relations for select courses/organizations at local universities, including Oakland University, Wayne State University and UM Flint. I serve as vice president of the board of directors for Oakland University’s student-run newspaper, The Oakland Post, and sit as community service chair for Fusion, the Detroit Regional Chamber’s young professionals group. I’m also a conference planning/board member in the Director of Communications position for Michigan Youth Leadership (MYLead,) a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to developing leadership potential in Michigan’s youth.

Since joining MPA, I have been project manager on many great design projects.  My experience with each differs.  I usually am involved from project development/conception through to the ribbon cutting, really, whatever needs to be done to deliver a great product.  I have been very fortunate to work with diverse and uniquely talented individuals at MPA to deliver projects such as Club Panacea in Detroit, the YMCA Renaissance Center, Detroit Athletic Club renovations, Franklin Hills Country Club renovations, the Lofts at 400 Parent Street in Royal Oak, a private Tree House in Bloomfield Hills, UNICA Home Retail Store in Las Vegas, Steamworks in Toronto, the Harris Russo Salon in Rochester Hills and many, many more.  I now find myself working in all segments whether it is light commercial/retail, single/multi-family housing, hospitality, planning, institutional, and small budget/unique projects.

I am the Sales Coordinator for Arzika, LLC. With strength in research and records keeping, I support the Arzika team on each project with a meticulous attention to detail. I focus on bringing in new opportunities and contributing to the success of the sales team. I am the ultimate networker and connector.

My work history includes such positions as advisor to the Minister and Civil Servant to the Head Chief of the Ministry of Justice and Citizenship for the State of Paraná, Brazil. I was a key player in the collaboration and development of the Minister's strategies. I also developed strategies and talked to voters about political concerns and networked with politicians and all ranks of government officials while working for PMDB in the Governor's 2007 Campaign. Prior to my experience in the Brazilian Government, I worked for a prestigious law firm in Curitiba, Pereira Dabul that worked in conjunction with Deloitte, where I drafted and translated contracts, worked directly with clients and was in charge of legal procedures.

I'm one of two team members who leads Franco’s retail, lifestyle and entertainment accounts. I'm also highly involved in directing the agency’s social media efforts by providing strategies and counsel to Franco’s diverse client base. I'm part of Franco's Leadership Team, which advances the agency’s mission and growth. The beauty of working at a PR agency is the work I do varies from day to day. There are no "typical days" in the life of an agency PR professional. Some of my duties include writing media materials, media monitoring (print, broadcast and Web outlets and social networks), connecting and building relationships with media (traditional journalists and bloggers) on behalf of my clients, planning and implementing events, providing strategic counsel, advising on social media efforts and strategies, research, planning and executing PR campaigns, new business outreach and handling current or potential client crises. Aside from the previously mentioned roles, I also provide public relations programming and services to some of Franco's clients in the auto/tech, nonprofit and financial industries.

I'm involved in a few organizations that I consider to be "side jobs" because while they aren't part of Franco, they are directly related to me growing and advancing as a PR professional. I'm a member of PRSA Detroit and I help arrange events with the New Professionals Committee. I'm part of Social Media Club Detroit. There's no specific title, but I guess you could say I'm part of the executive team that's involved in planning each chapter meeting (which includes deciding on a location and presenter and spreading the word about the meetings via social media) and working to continue growing and advancing the Detroit chapter. I take notes of the presentations at each meeting and post them on our SMCD Facebook page. I'm also very involved with Tweetea. It's a weekly event on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. at Goldfish Tea in Royal Oak. It's smaller scaled than SMCD, but the idea is to bring together metro Detroit's social media community in order to strengthen relationships beyond the ones we create via social networks. We usually discuss various topics throughout the evening with the goal being to take away something when you leave, such as a new tidbit of knowledge about a particular industry or person who attended.

I do marketing/advertising consulting. I go into a business write up a strategic marketing plan with executable channels to promote that companies brand. I then work that marketing plan on many levels -- PR, web, graphic design, TV, radio buys and all ad copy. I have strategic partners I work with in video and web who I bring in as needed. My costs are lower then a traditional marketing/advertising firm because I have no big beautiful building that I pay and pass that cost along to my clients.

I really love what I do and love to help businesses grow their brand or start a new brand. Most of my clients are credit unions and I also work in the film world as an actor, Art Director and marketer. I stay very busy because I network, network, network. And my clients refer me all the time.

ePrize is the global leader of interactive promotions- we work with 74 of the top 100 brands, such as Coca-Cola, Disney, Proctor and Gamble, Clorox, The Gap and Dell. Our goal is to connect brands directly to consumers by motivating specific behavior (i.e. purchases, website visits, referrals). ePrize designs and manages all aspects of interactive promotions ranging from online sweepstakes to large scale points-based loyalty programs.

As a Senior Producer for ePrize, I weave dreams on a regular basis, ensuring that my client's objectives are met by engaging consumers through online interactive campaigns and media events.

I am responsible for providing business-to-business and business-to-consumer public relations and integrated marketing communications support for several technology, automotive and alternative energy clients. My day-to-day responsibilities include developing and executing client communication and marketing plans, social media strategy and implementation, developing communication strategy, fostering and maintaining media relationships, various forms of writing and market research support.
 
As a millennial with years of hands-on experience using social media, I also play a key role in the Eisbrenner Public Relations strategic social media practice, providing research and social media strategy and implementation both internally and for clients.

I plan and execute promotions and product launches, develop experiential marketing activities for clients and write and distribute press releases and other media documents. I also pitch and secure media placements for product launches and experiential marketing campaigns and facilitate brand ambassador training sessions. I develop and execute social media campaigns for clients in the quick food service and financial industries as well as plan and provide on-site support for events including press conferences and galas, among other events.

I serve as an out-of-house marketing manager to small-to-medium-sized businesses.

I love the spontaneity of my job – no matter how planned out my day is, it’s never going to go exactly the way I thought. And with clients in the automotive and technology industry - particularly energy transmission and advanced batteries - I’m constantly learning! I spend about 70%  of my time writing and the rest conducting research, working with media, coordinating events and reading (I monitor for client placements and industry news). My favorite projects include writing/producing corporate brochures and event planning.
 
My office is very diversified so my co-workers work with clients in the non-profit, healthcare and retail industries, which is great because we all get a taste of each other’s work. We work hard - and sometimes long hours depending on events or large projects - but we always have fun together. A few times a year our bosses host “Franco Frolics,” where they take the whole office out for appetizers and cocktails. It’s just a great way to spend time together outside of work and get to know each other on a more personal level. We have a great family culture here, which makes coming to work that much easier.

I own a public relations company, which specializes in helping small-to-medium sized businesses raise their visibility with the media and the communities the serve.