Year: 2013

Official PR Theme Song by PRSA’s Counselors Academy

Dana PhelpsBlog, Counselors Academy, Professional Development, Public Relations, , , 4 Comments on Official PR Theme Song by PRSA’s Counselors Academy

Every industry needs a theme song, don’t you think? This one is for all of you hardworking PR people!

We kicked off the PRSA’s Counselors Academy 2013 conference earlier this summer with a wonderfully fun and collaborative opening session led by Banding People Together. I’ve previously blogged about how much I love what Banding People Together does and how in the conference setting it is a terrific way to meet new people, collaborate and have a really great time.

As the 2013 Counselors Academy conference chair, I knew we had to add Banding People Together to our schedule. Plus, we were in Austin, so a songwriting session seemed fitting. Attendees formed four bands and with the leadership of a Banding People Together songwriter/facilitator, they were tasked with agreeing on a band name and writing a song about today’s challenges of running a public relations agency.

After group performances, a distinguished panel of judges selected “The Shit Kickers” (we were in Texas, y’all) as the winners. As the prize, Banding People Together’s Brandon Hill so graciously recorded the song. Thanks to Brandon, Alan Schaefer, Brant Menswar and John Stringer at Banding People Together and Clairemont’s fabulous summer intern, Kate Fedder, for adding conference photos taken on attendees’ mobile devices for some extra fun!

Kate also added the lyrics so that you can join sing-along style as you embrace this as the official PR person’s theme song. Enjoy!

 

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Clairemont Interns: Introducing Kate Fedder

Margot HorganBlog, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, The Clairemont Team, , , , , , , , , 1 Comment on Clairemont Interns: Introducing Kate Fedder

We’d like to formally introduce you to our fabulous summer intern, Kate Fedder. A rising senior at UNC-Chapel Hill (go Heels!), Kate is winding up to complete her final year in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication where she is majoring in Public Relations.

Prior to joining Clairemont, Kate studied abroad completing an honors semester in London while also interning at a London strategic public relations and communications agency working on client accounts like Fitness First, YooMoo, Rangemaster and Toyota.

With a love for fashion and an awesome go-getter attitude, Kate has been a natural fit at Clairemont and has been proving day-in and day-out that she has some serious PR chops. We have discovered that she has a special talent for creating meticulously organized and thorough media lists and has absolutely no fear when it comes to trying out some media pitching.

What more, you may ask? What other talents does Ms. Fedder possess? Well, she’s a natural at writing creative copy and can zero in on spelling and grammar errors that even the most seasoned editors could miss. But, probably most importantly, Billy – Clairemont’s top dog and CMO (chief motivational officer) – LOVES Kate, and that is something you just can’t learn in school.

Want to learn more about Kate? Check out this video she put together about work at Clairemont. Have some special advice for our summer intern? Please share below in the comments section!

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Transforming Your Agency: How Change Inspires Creativity

Margot HorganBlog, Counselors Academy, Professional Development, Public Relations, , ,

At the PRSA Counselors Academy Conference, Indra Gardiner, founder/chief influence officer, i.d.e.a, will discuss how to transform your agency with change that inspires creativity. What can you expect to learn from her Breakout Session? Today’s guest blogger, Carolyn Ray, managing partner, CASACOM, gives us a little sneak peak…

Often, when people hear the word “change,” we are filled with anxiety and trepidation. But, in Indra Gardiner’s mind – change can be a wonderful catalyst. At the PRSA Counselors Academy Conference June 9-11 in Austin, Texas, Indra will share her own experience transforming her agency from a fairly traditional “PR shop” to an integrated, creative environment thriving with new innovations and big ideas.

Some of the benefits that she and her team have experienced include:

  • A more creative integrated approach
  • A shift from vendor to partner
  • A highly electric and stimulating environment for her team

In her words

According to Indra, with change comes conflict. However, conflict can be a key part of creativity. “The greatest artists and bands in the world have all experienced some level of conflict. It leads to better work. The ability to artificially create tension pushes them harder – it results in late nights, but also better work. We all need a certain amount of pressure to perform.”

In her presentation at PRSA, Indra has some goals for you:

  • First, she wants to inspire you!
  • Help you think about how you are approaching problems in a new way
  • Challenge the status quo
  • Push yourself harder

As she says, opportunities are much greater than we think – with the right model and philosophy we can tackle bigger problems than ever before!

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PRSA’s Counselors Academy Member Spotlight: Q&A with Laura Pesin

Margot HorganBlog, Counselors Academy, Professional Development, Public Relations, , , , , , , , ,

Last but certainly not least, meet the final member of the Counselors Academy conference planning committee, Laura Pesin!

Getting to know you…
Name: Laura Pesin

Agency: DeVries Global

Position: Executive Vice President

First job in PR: Associate at The Dilenschneider Group

Your insights…

Most loved thing about being in PR: Nailing a consumer insight related to my client/brands in such a cool, simple way that media and consumers alike “get it” and share it.

Best source for breaking PR news: PRWeek

Number one recommendation to new PR professionals: Be fearless, don’t be shy. And, don’t default to email, pick up the phone/get out of your office!!

About Counselors Academy…

Most valuable aspect of being a Counselors Academy member: Making connections to industry insiders that have a different way of looking at PR, dealing with challenges and approaching client service – and learning from them!

Role on the planning committee: Content Committee team member

Best thing about the Counselors Academy conference: Same as “most valuable aspect” question above.

Most fun memory of a Counselors Academy conference: Have only been once, but was sitting next to Elise Mitchell of Mitchell Communications at dinner in New Orleans last year and oversharing with eachother… 😉

 

Counselors Academy Member Spotlight Blog Series: 

Our very own Dana Hughens is the PRSA’s Counselors Academy Conference Chair for the 2013 conference June 9-11 in Austin, Texas. As conference chair, she has the privilege to work with other members of the conference planning committee, which consists of senior-level PR counselors and agency owners from across the United States and Canada. We caught up with these PR pros to find out their secret to success and what they love most about Counselors Academy.

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PRSA’S COUNSELORS ACADEMY MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: Q&A WITH JON GOLDBERG

Margot HorganBlog, Counselors Academy, Professional Development, Public Relations, , , , , , , , ,

Getting to know you…
Name: Jon Goldberg

Agency: Reputation Architects

Position: Founder and Chief Reputation Architect

First job in PR: Campaign for the reform of onerous playground rules in the fifth grade. Then internal comms and PR for Prudential Insurance and 20+ years at J. Walter Thompson, Edelman and Porter Novelli.

Your insights…

Most loved thing about being in PR:  Talking executives off the ledge and showing them how to transform major crisis situations into opportunities to demonstrate responsible leadership.

Best source for breaking PR news: PR Week online alerts

Number one recommendation to new PR professionals: Don’t be afraid to introduce yourself and ask for advice from people who are older and wiser. Find an excuse to go meet executives you admire, or are just interested in talking with. Make those connections early and they’ll remember you later on.

About Counselors Academy…

Most valuable aspect of being a Counselors Academy member: For me, it all comes down to something Eric Morgenstern said during my Counselors 101 session, which is that the odds of any of us competing against one another are slim, so we might as well work together and have all of us succeed. Annual membership in Counselors Academy: $195. Being able to access the brains of hundreds of people who share that mindset: Priceless.

Role on the planning committee: Marketing and PR, doing what Abbie says, and antagonizing Ken Jacobs.

Best thing about the Counselors Academy conference: The chance to meet and really get to know the most energetic, entrepreneurial, smart, and fun-as-all-hell people in the PR business. I arrived in Asheville a skeptic. I left with Las Vegas already on my calendar and a constellation of new friends and trusted colleagues.

Most fun memory of a Counselors Academy conference: Seeing the Eagles live at the New Orleans Jazz Festival, with around a dozen Counselors crammed into the tiny patch of turf Eric and Shanny Morgenstern staked out and guarded for us for the entire day. That’s what Counselors do for each other.

 

Counselors Academy Member Spotlight Blog Series: 

Our very own Dana Hughens is the PRSA’s Counselors Academy Conference Chair for the 2013 conference June 9-11 in Austin, Texas. As conference chair, she has the privilege to work with other members of the conference planning committee, which consists of senior-level PR counselors and agency owners from across the United States and Canada. We caught up with these PR pros to find out their secret to success and what they love most about Counselors Academy.

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