the clairemont team Archives - Clairemont Communications

Our Favorite Fourth of July Traditions

July 2, 2018January 31, 2023 Clairemont InternBlog, The Clairemont TeamFourth of July, Holiday, Independence Day, the clairemont team

Whether it’s stacking burgers on the grill, spending a day on the lake or just gathering as a family for sweet tea and conversation, everyone has a favorite holiday memory.

This week, we observe a day to be thankful for our freedom and to remember everyone that has helped shape the independence we enjoy. Our team members reminisce on their favorite Fourth of July traditions that make every year special.

Dana

“There’s nothing I love more than a small town parade and fireworks show. However, last year I was on the beach in Barcelona on July 4th and then watched the sunset from a rooftop over looking the city. This year I will be on the beach in Cancun and am hoping for another beautiful sunset. So I guess I’ve created a new tradition. Hmmm. Where should I be on the beach next year? Perhaps Italy? Greece? Costa Rica? Or maybe I’ll stay closer to home and celebrate Fourth of July on one of my favorite Florida beaches.”

Tracy

“Each year we spend July 4th at my husband’s family home at Harker’s Island, a special part of the world way down in eastern North Carolina. We all gather, and “all” means 16 of us now (including eight grandchildren under age 10) for a few days to slow down, catch up and enjoy the simpler things in life. Actually, with all those kids, it’s really not that simple. My July 4th in words: Jean’s chocolate cake, family, Cape Lookout, parade, fireworks, down east, shrimp boil, boat days and time to read.”

Cherith

“Growing up, the best Fourth of July celebration happened in a small Missouri town in my concrete driveway. At least according to my nine-year-old self. Dad would whip up some hamburgers on our trusty (ancient) charcoal grill. Mom would mix up our favorite drink. Made of half lemonade and half sweet tea, we appropriately dubbed it “Fifty-Fifty.” (It wasn’t until a hot second later that I learned someone had already invented this drink. Thanks, Arnold Palmer.) Then came the show. A box of TNT Pop-Its and sparklers. Armed with a few matches and that Fifty-Fifty, our little family of four made a host of wonderful, treasured July 4th memories.”

Nathan

“I have never really had a set tradition for the Fourth of July. I have spent it in several different states with several families throughout my life, each experience providing a distinct memory. However, no matter where I am or who I am with, fireworks have always been there. One time it was cheap grocery store fireworks in the back alleyway of my grandmother’s home in Seattle. Another was an impressive, professional show put on for hundreds of viewers at Stone Mountain in Georgia. Last year I witnessed a 20-minute spectacle at the Charlotte Knight’s baseball stadium. I don’t really care what I do as long as there are fireworks!”

Yasmine

“I’d say my tradition is a big cookout. We get all of the family (and some friends) to my father-in-law’s house and grill hot dogs and hamburgers. We just hang out together and have a great time. There’s almost always chocolate cake, too!”

Do you have any great traditions? Share yours with us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram!

Written by intern Nathan J. McDaniel, a senior at Western Carolina University.

Meet Nathan, Clairemont Intern

May 24, 2018January 31, 2023 Clairemont InternBlog, Entry-Level PR Job, The Clairemont Teamclairemont internship, PRSSA, Public Relations, the clairemont team, Western Carolina

As a rising senior, I am majoring in communication with a concentration in public relations and a minor in entrepreneurship. Apparently, I am the first intern that Clairemont has had from Western Carolina University (the best university this side of the Mississippi), so I am excited to bring a rural flavor to the City of Oaks!

How Did I Get Started?

I originally hail from the great state of Washington and have always been known for my outgoing and often goofy attitude. Known as the class clown throughout my days in grade school, when I finally got to college I figured that I needed to do something social that involved lots of interaction. I felt that communication could be one of my skills, but I really couldn’t discern between the many fields within the major. So, I put down public relations on my application and hoped for the best.

It wasn’t until I attended my first PRSSA National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia during my first semester that I found out what PR really was and how it is connected to writing, speaking and design. Now, I am president of my school’s chapter of PRSSA and cannot wait to be a part of the new wave of public relations professionals.

What’s to Like about PR?

Communication, for me, is not just about messages and how people send, receive and perceive them. I love communication because I love language. I have a deep love for writing and how it enables one to mold and craft the human language. I decided my passion for language was what I wanted to pursue, and I didn’t need to look past this field to utilize that passion. If you stop and look around, you can see miscommunication everywhere in the world. It is shocking to see how many problems exist that could easily be solved with better communication. One of my professors has always said that anything in life starts with good communication. In any field of work and with any task, one must always start with communication to ensure everything else can happen.

I love PR because it gives me the opportunity to connect with people and solve problems. I get to learn about ideas and concepts from all walks of life while challenging myself to come up with innovative solutions and worthwhile initiatives. Human connection is what drives all interaction in this world, so why not be at the crossroads of it all?

As a Sidenote…

I direct a lot of my passion for writing to music. I have been playing bass guitar and writing music for almost 10 years. Seeing live music is my biggest hobby, and I strive to spend as much time as I can seeing my favorite local small-time and big-time bands. If I am not jamming out to punk rock or 60s classics, you can find me enjoying a craft beer or taking a hike in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina.

Written by Clairemont intern Nathan McDaniel, a rising senior at Western Carolina University

Meet Yasmine, Clairemont Intern

May 22, 2018January 31, 2023 Clairemont InternBlog, Professional Development, The Clairemont Teamclairemont intern, NCSU, Public Relations, the clairemont team

When I was a child, I was an avid reader. The first book I ever read on my own was a selection from my extensive Winnie the Pooh collection. After that, I picked up a love of books and haven’t let it go since. Maybe that’s why PR was such an obvious fit; I love people’s stories.

Meet Yasmine

I was named after my great-grandmother whom I was never able to meet. My name is Yasmine Evans, and I’m what you might call a pioneer for my family. I’m the first in my immediate family to go to college. There’s a lot riding on my academic success, but thankfully, I have that love of books to keep me going. I’m a rising senior at NC State University (go Pack!) and major in communications with a concentration in public relations. I also minor in Japanese language, which tells you that I have an eclectic range of interests. I really love skincare and marry that passion with my love of Japanese and Korean culture. My shelves at home are full of products from overseas.

Where It All Started

Because of my love for people’s lives and the stories that are connected to them, I considered journalism while I was in high school. Once entering college, I discovered public relations and wanted to know more. A professor once told me that PR is storytelling. You tell the world your clients’ stories. As someone in public relations, you garner the right attention, you inform and you bring new ideas to the table every day. I knew that was what I wanted to do.

Clairemont

I was excited when I heard from the team that they wanted me to intern for them this summer. I knew that I would learn so much from these talented professionals and would have fun doing it. The Clairemont House, home to Clairemont Communications, is an inspiring story in itself—a well-designed space with old charm and modern flair. The small team enables me to participate and learn from many different projects and assignments. We’re truly a team here! I hope to bring my passion for writing and people to Clairemont, and I hope to become our clients’ master storyteller.

Written by Clairemont intern Yasmine Evans, a senior at NC State University.

Clairemont’s Baby Mama

June 13, 2016January 31, 2023 Sarah HattmanBlog, Oh Momma Monday, The Clairemont Teambaby mama, dancing, PR, the clairemont team, video

I am blessed, honored and grateful to work with such an amazing team. Nearly five months ago I told my colleagues that I was pregnant, and from that moment they have been incredibly supportive and excited for me. To better understand, look no further than our take on Starrkeisha’s Baby Momma Dance.

While we won’t find out the baby’s gender until he or she arrives, one thing is certain – the Clairemont team likes to celebrate and dance. Have you seen our “Good to Be Alive” video?”

Photo of the Week: Team Time!

April 1, 2016January 31, 2023 Jasmin SessomsBlog, Photo of the Week, The Clairemont Teamaward winning PR, Clairemont Communications, creative PR agency, Raleigh PR, Raleigh Public Relations Agency, the clairemont team

Cosmopolitans and Bloody Marys should be an everyday treat at work. Okay, maybe not every single day, but possibly once a quarter for the Clairemont team! On Monday, we piled into Dana’s Acura and gallivanted off to North Hills for an undisclosed afternoon of fun. First, we stopped by Coquette to nab a quick cocktail and then headed next door to the big silver screen. The laughs (and cringes!) we shared over Hello, My Name Is Doris at the movies were priceless.

Need a suggestion for your next team outing? Check out these ideas. Want to get the inside scoop on how awesome it is to work at Clairemont? Follow us on Facebook!