Year: 2021

And the Silver Anvil Award goes to …

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We are thrilled to announce that with our client Ingersoll Rand, Clairemont Communications won a PRSA Silver Anvil for our “Owning the Future: Ingersoll Rand’s Equity Grant” campaign. Our entry received this high recognition in the Events and Observances category, and Clairemont is honored to have partnered with Ingersoll Rand on such a milestone initiative in the company’s history that combined internal communications, external communications and event planning.

Ingersoll Rand committed to make all employees owners in the company and awarded an equity grant of $150 million, one of the largest by an industrial company. To improve employee connection, contribution to financial performance and awareness within the industry, the team united 16,000 global employees during COVID-19 through a virtual bell ringing event with the New York Stock Exchange, meticulously coordinated with 300 simultaneous on-site and remote celebrations.

Since 1944, Silver Anvil Awards have recognized our industry’s outstanding public relations programs and awarded organizations that have successfully addressed challenging issues with exemplary professional skill, creativity and resourcefulness. The honor, often referred to as the “Oscars of the PR Industry,” is bestowed only on the most outstanding programs with proven results. See a complete list of the 2021 Silver Anvil Finalists here.

Thank you to Ingersoll Rand for trusting us to collaborate day in and day out with you on such important, rewarding work!

Interested in reading more about Clairemont Communications’ award-winning work? Check out our blog on the 2019 Sir Walter Raleigh Awards here!

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Finding PR in a Pandemic

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Similar to many college students, I work in the restaurant industry. Over the years I have been asked so many questions that I have learned not to be surprised by anything. Sometimes I get wrapped up in a conversation with a customer who wants to know everything about me, where I go to school and what I want to do with my life. The one question that never fails to surprise me is “Why are you studying communication at a STEM school?” 

The question is fair, especially if the person asking knows NC State for its College of Engineering or athletics. Therefore, in my time at State, I have made it my responsibility to work hard to debunk the stereotype that you need to be focused on STEM at a mostly STEM school. My experience as a communication student has been the perfect balance of challenge and opportunity, and here’s why.

Finding Opportunities

When I came to NC State in the fall of 2018, I found my place in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, studying communication. While I had no idea what was ahead of me, I did know that I only wanted to take the bare minimum of math and science classes! I would have traded my Geology 101 class (which was NOT “rocks for jocks” like I had been told), a five-minute walk from where I lived, for the trek across campus to the Court of North Carolina for my communication, journalism and English classes any day.

Then, in spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I was finishing up my sophomore year coursework at my parents’ house, grieving what might have been a summer traveling or a high-profile internship, and scrambling to find something productive to fill my time. Spring 2020 reminds me of the restaurant slang “in the weeds.” The phrase is used to describe getting behind on a busy night, and at the time, that was exactly how I felt. In hindsight, I’m sure most everyone felt this way. But I was able to channel my “work harder” mentality inspired by a STEM school environment to help find opportunities in a doomed situation. I stayed connected to campus by writing for NC State’s student newspaper, Technician, and attending virtual events with my PRSSA chapter. When both organizations were seeking leadership for the next school year, I was ready to apply!

I couldn’t have imagined that some of my most influential experiences yet at NC State would occur during this time.

In May 2020 I was hired as a news editor for Technician and elected to the board of our PRSSA chapter. Two irreplaceable experiences I don’t believe would have been possible if everything was “normal.” Both the newspaper and PRSSA taught me more about what I wanted to do with my career than any summer internship could. I planned virtual events, networked and recruited new members to campus organizations in a time when most students were desperate for a connection to campus life. I helped lead a student newspaper through a pandemic entirely through Zoom calls while simultaneously becoming a stronger writer, student and leader. And, believe it or not, I was still able to make the most out of a summer in a pandemic!

The PRSSA E-board during our first-ever virtual ‘PR Day’ networking event in November 2020.

Joining Clairemont

While I was proud of the work I was doing, I learned that I didn’t want to be a news journalist. Inspired by my experiences with PRSSA, I decided I wanted to intern at a PR agency. 

To anyone who asks me why I study communication at a STEM school, the answer is “why not?” The relationships and experiences I have gained at NC State have led me to so many opportunities, including finding Clairemont Communications.

Joining the Clairemont team this summer is the next exciting step on my career journey. I am eager to work alongside the Clairemont team and clients, gain industry knowledge and build confidence as an aspiring PR professional. Thank you, NC State, for getting me here, I wouldn’t have it any other way!

By Clairemont intern Anna Beth McCormick, a senior at NC State University.

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Coming Back to Clairemont!

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My Clairemont Communications Internship

This past year of my life could be described as a whirlwind rollercoaster with many ups and downs.

During the final semester of my senior year in college in January 2020, I landed my dream internship at Clairemont Communications! I found my passion for PR (which you can read about here), and I was ready to dive right in to learn the ropes of an agency focusing on local clients. I loved making the journey from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to the Clairemont House in Raleigh three times a week. I could feel my experience and skills growing, and I truly felt I had landed in the perfect spot.

Then, along with March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived. When I think about it now, the beginning of the pandemic was a little surreal. Everyone thought an extra week of Spring Break couldn’t be so bad, right? Well, we were wrong. The pandemic brought so many heartbreaks, challenges and complications to people around the entire world – myself included.

During that time of uncertainty, one constant I was extremely grateful for was the amazing women of Clairemont Communications. With their consistent help and support, I was able to successfully finish my internship virtually from the comforts of my small Chapel Hill bedroom.

Graduating College in a Pandemic

After leaving Clairemont in May 2020, I graduated college and headed home to Charlotte, North Carolina. From there, I started my search for a full-time position in public relations. I knew the post-grad job search would be challenging; however, the pandemic made it almost impossible. Most agencies were in a hiring freeze, and many had done away with entry-level positions.

So, I made the executive decision to take a slight detour from my planned career path. For seven months, I paused my job search and worked as a preschool teacher. Some people may think teaching is completely different from working in public relations, but I beg to differ. Being in charge of 20 3-year-olds can prepare any PR professional to practice patience, handle any last-minute issues (or crisis!) and prepare for a leadership role. I believe that those months as a teacher helped train me for a fast-paced career in public relations.

Returning to Clairemont a Year Later

In April 2021, I was ready to wrap up my teaching career and return to my true passion: public relations. I was thrilled for the opportunity to return to Clairemont and join Dana, Kelli and Tracy as a full-time member of the team. I look forward to this new chapter and what it holds.

Looking to join the Clairemont Communications team? Check out this post to learn more about our open position!

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A New Chapter

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Last summer, after months of confinement, isolation, and Zoom frustrations, I hit that dark day. Disconnected and despondent, I was uncertain of the world’s future and my own. 

But then, a social media post took me to an unlikely place: the banks of the Seine, where I watched models float by on a barge while dressed in Balmain’s latest fashion line. I couldn’t stop smiling. Watching clips of the event on repeat, I realized the exhibition was a bold celebration in the face of last year’s adversity. “Balmain Sur Seine” was more than a publicity stunt powered by a social media campaign: it was joy and hope.

The moment captures so much of what I envision for my career as an advertising creative. A career I hope to launch with the MSc in Fashion, Design and Luxury Management program at the Grenoble École de Management in Paris, France. Hosting the fashion show on the water was innovative and beautiful, but the exhibition was also the first to be streamed on the social media platform TikTok. It was a groundbreaking venture in new media and connectivity –– connectivity that moves beyond physical borders and the limitations of a pandemic to reach global audiences. 

As new media continues to integrate perspectives from around the world, a multicultural learning environment is crucial. To create innovative campaigns like “Balmain Sur Seine,” I must leave the United States’ social bubble and cross new borders myself. This program will provide me with that multicultural integration along with the solid foundation of industry skills and professional experience that I need. 

I’ve always been intrigued by how words can be leveraged to connect with people. This fascination led me to study media and journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While studying abroad in 2019, I interned for the Paris-based journalism agency Worldcrunch. I translated articles from Le Monde and Les Echos into English, developed social media content and even wrote stories of my own. This experience helped me realize that rather than being a reporter on trends, I want to use storytelling to cultivate brand culture. This epiphany was a revelation of how I envision a meaningful career: one that influences taste and creates tangible impact.

With that fresh perspective, I redirected my career goals to advertising and public relations by exploring courses in marketing and joining Clairemont Communications in Raleigh, NC as a marketing and public relations intern. Over the past ten months, I’ve had the opportunity to work with clients big and small, develop social media strategy, compile coverage reports, attend press events, assemble media lists, pitch news outlets, edit videos, write blog posts and so much more. 

In addition, I’ve gained valuable soft skills in time management, problem-solving, collaboration, effective communication and leadership. I’ve experienced both the joys and challenges of working in PR, which gives me an incredible head start in the marketing world as I embark on my next adventure. I’m forever grateful.

While I have built a solid foundation in media through my studies and professional experiences, I know enough now to realize what I have yet to learn and what I could accomplish by continuing my education. The MSc in Fashion, Design, and Luxury Management program at Grenoble École de Management would supply me with the industry knowledge and marketing fundamentals that I require to continue my career. My dream career is to be an in-house copywriter for a luxury fashion brand. This degree would supply me with the industry knowledge, marketing essentials and cultural immersion that are critical for success in the luxury industry.

Earlier this month, I graduated with distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.A. in Media and Journalism. Earning my degree not only marks the end of my time at UNC-Chapel Hill, but it also signals the end of my time as an intern at Clairemont Communications. While I’m excited to start this next chapter, I am sad to leave the Clairemont Team. Through their leadership and guidance, I have grown as both a professional and a person.

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. 

By Clairemont intern Maia Guterbock, a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill.

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Barre3 to Host FREE Community Class

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Feeling stuck in a fitness rut after so many months of working from home? Clairemont client, Barre3 is going to help you get back to prioritizing YOU!

Barre3 is a balanced, total-body workout combining cardio, strength training and mindfulness –– hence the “3” in Barre3. On Saturday, May 22, local Barre3 instructors will be joining hundreds of other Barre3 studios from across the nation to celebrate how far we’ve come over the past year.

Join us as we come together for a FREE outdoor 45-minute, full-body, balanced workout that includes, strength and conditioning, cardio and mindfulness in Raleigh’s beautiful Dix Park (Williams Field – 1800 Umstead Drive Raleigh, NC 27603). You’ll be guided through sustained holds, muscle-burning micro-movements, and heart-pumping cardio bursts that will leave you feeling balanced in your body and empowered from within as we collectively recognize the challenges we have all had to overcome.

DJ Joe Bunn will provide the music and Buoy Bowls Food Truck will be available for post-workout treats. There will also be several giveaways and special offers, including 5 classes for $50. Tennis shoes, a yoga mat and water are recommended.

Anyone is welcome! The class is FREE and open to the public, so grab a friend and join local Barre3 instructors Alston and Kailey on May 22 at 10 a.m.! 

Sign up here.

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