Tag: Grady Alumni

#ProfilesOfTenacity: Cesar Moncada

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What are you passionate about?

I am very passionate about helping others and using my skills as a form of service. The reason I chose to go into advertising and branding is to help businesses communicate in more creative and effective ways. I am interested in a lot of different things such as music, sports and art. I hope to make an impact in those fields and be able to help companies struggling with design and media.

What would people be surprised to know about you?

People may be surprised to know that I am a twin! My twin brother also completed his undergraduate degree at UGA in biological engineering.

What or who has had the biggest impact on your life during your time at UGA?

I would definitely have to say that the faculty of the New Media Institute have had the biggest impact on my life here at UGA. I went from not knowing a thing about new media to being fully immersed in the program and loving every minute spent in classes. I think the NMI has had a significant impact on my course of study. I remember being in my first semester of NMI classes and I still communicate with those professors to this day. The NMI professors have been brilliant mentors and I cannot thank them enough for guiding me and giving me such great opportunities.

Where is your favorite place on campus?

My favorite spot on campus would have to be North Campus. When the weather is nice the view is unrivaled, and I love spending time outdoors. Definitely a go-to study spot! 

What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?

The best piece of advice I received was from my father. He has always reminded me to never become complacent and to never stop searching for opportunities, whether it be in professional or personal life. I think it had the biggest impact on why I decided to pursue a master’s degree at UGA. I keep that advice with me every day and am always looking for different ways to better myself in all areas of my life. 

What is your favorite app or social media channel?

My favorite app would have to be Instagram. I am a very visual person and I love how the app has quickly grown into a knowledge sharing application rather than just being used for social purposes. 

What is an example of a time you used your studies and skills in a real-world experience?

I have had the opportunity to serve as a communications assistant with UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. The work I do as a member of the communications department directly correlates to what I have learned throughout my time at Grady.

What has been your proudest moment in the past year?

My proudest moment in the past year would have to be graduating with my bachelor’s and diving into my master’s programs despite a pandemic!

What are you planning to do after graduating? Do you have a dream job?

I am hoping to find a job doing creative work in fields that I am passionate about. I have always loved sports and music, so I hope to use the things I have learned to make a positive impact. My dream job is to be a creative director in an industry that I love.

Editor’s Note: Some of the above answers have been edited for length and/or clarity. 

The #ProfilesOfTenacity series is a set of student features highlighting the strength, determination and leadership of students in Grady College. Visit our Profiles in Tenacity webpage to view other profiles.

Meredith Dean among seven Grady College alumni inducted into UGA’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2018

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The University of Georgia’s Alumni Association annually recognizes outstanding alumni who have made an impact in their careers through its 40 Under 40 program. Grady College is proud to have seven honorees in the 40 Under 40 Class of 2018: Brooke Bowen (ABJ ‘07, JD ‘10), Chase Cain (ABJ ’05), Meredith Dean (ABJ ‘14), Josh Delaney (ABJ’11, AB ‘11), Ivey Evans (ABJ ’06, BBA ’06, MBA ‘13), Quanza Griffin (ABJ ‘01) and Lauren Pearson (ABJ ‘02).

Selections were based on the graduates’ commitment to a lifelong relationship with UGA and their impact in business, leadership, community, artistic, research, educational and/or philanthropic endeavors. The 2018 Class will be honored at the awards luncheon on Sept. 13 at the Georgia Aquarium.

Grady College will release profiles of the winners leading up to the awards luncheon.

Meredith Dean working at Secrest Studios

Name: Meredith Dean

Graduation Year: 2014

Current Occupation: Founder, The Dean’s List and program coordinator, Seacrest Studios

How did Grady College help prepare you for your career?

Without Grady, I never would have learned any of the tech skills (especially Adobe Creative Suite) needed to start my digital branding company, The Dean’s List, or developed nearly as many professional connections for my career. The New Media Institute taught me the importance of knowing how to code and use graphic design while the broadcasting curriculum prepared me immensely for becoming the media professional I am today. Thanks to the faculty and staff that share their plethora of real life experience, every lesson or concept that I learned in the classroom actually translated into the real world. I am eternally grateful to Grady and can’t imagine what life would have been like if I picked a different school.

What advice do you have for today’s Grady College students/young professionals?

Grady will give you endless opportunities if you take advantage of the vast alumni network we have. You can go to any state and find a home with a Grady connection. When I worked in New York City, countless times I would meet Grady grads —whether it be a producer at MTV or Amy Robach who invited me on set as her guest at Good Morning America after I reached out to her. I now work at Seacrest Studios because of a Grady grad connection who runs the Nashville Seacrest Studios.  I am a walking example of how the Grady family looks out for each other. I will always do what I can to help a Grady student, as would countless other alumni, so don’t be afraid to ask for help.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned as you’ve navigated through your career?

Always empower others and stay curious. Every single person you meet could change the entire course of your life and vice versa. There is a Ted Talk called “Lollipop Moment” that has shaped the way I look at every interaction. Don’t brush people off or think that you don’t need to learn about that concept/person. In my opinion, people who are successful want to learn something about everything and can find fulfillment in even the smallest of things. For an example in media, every reporter used to have a cameraman. Nowadays, every reporter (or MMJ) needs to know how to shoot their own stories/stand ups, video edit, write their script for web, create their graphics, post on social and go on-air all in one day. Stay hungry by craving knowledge.

Meredith Dean House is a dormitory at the Khwisero Girls School in Kenya that Dean helped build.

Describe a moment in your professional/personal career that you are most proud of.

I am most proud of how many patients and families’ lives we have been able to touch at Levine Children’s Hospital through our programming at Seacrest Studios. To see the emotional, spiritual and physical healing of these strong kids through music, new media, radio and TV is awe-inspiring. There is nothing like having a former patient come back to the studio just to visit as a happy and healthy child. Additionally, I have branded and career counseled over 100 clients all over the world with TDL. To focus on our mission of empowering women everywhere, I donate 10% of my profits to Habitat Aid Initiative, my family’s non-profit in Western Kenya. I have built a dormitory at Khwisero Girls School (Meredith House) and plan to build several more. My hope is to change the world little by little by helping these women in their educational pursuits and get my clients their dream jobs.

Chase Cain among seven Grady College alumni inducted into UGA’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2018

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The University of Georgia’s Alumni Association annually recognizes outstanding alumni who have made an impact in their careers through its 40 Under 40 program. Grady College is proud to have seven honorees in the 40 Under 40 Class of 2018: Brooke Bowen (ABJ ‘07, JD ‘10), Chase Cain (ABJ ’05), Meredith Dean (ABJ ‘14), Josh Delaney (ABJ’11, AB ‘11), Ivey Evans (ABJ ’06, BBA ’06, MBA ‘13), Quanza Griffin (ABJ ‘01) and Lauren Pearson (ABJ ‘02).

Selections were based on the graduates’ commitment to a lifelong relationship with UGA and their impact in business, leadership, community, artistic, research, educational and/or philanthropic endeavors. The 2018 Class will be honored at the awards luncheon on Sept. 13 at the Georgia Aquarium.

Chase Cain on on the red carpet for The Handmaid’s Tale.

Grady College will release profiles of the winners leading up to the awards luncheon.

Name: Chase Cain

Graduation Year: 2005

Current Occupation: Creative Producer, Hulu

What advice do you have for current Grady College students/young professionals?

Every industry represented in Grady College is shifting and evolving at an increasingly rapid pace. First, be flexible. Second, think ahead. What’s the job you want to have at 25 or 30? Then consider what your “next best right step” will best position you for that goal. Yes, I just quoted Oprah! Sadly, many professional recruiters lack the imagination to consider that you could handle a role without the direct experience or qualifications. Also, most recruiters are inundated with applicants for a single role and an ever-growing workforce. Make their job so easy that it doesn’t require any imagination on their part to envision you as the perfect fit for the job you really want. That may require a short-term sacrifice for the long-term goal.

What experience during your time at Grady College had the biggest influence on where you are today?

What was initially a setback became the most valuable lesson I took from Grady. The programs may have different titles now, but the experience is evergreen. I originally applied for admission as a “Broadcast News” major but was denied! Instead, I was offered a spot as a “Telecommunications Arts” student. No sir. That wasn’t what I wanted to do, and I certainly wasn’t going to come so close to my dream to be deterred now. I wanted to be in front of the camera in a newsroom, and this was the major to prepare me for that role. I specifically chose UGA and Grady College for its outstanding broadcast program and faculty. What did I do? Asked for an in-person meeting with the dean of Grady College at the time. After some persistence with his assistant, they finally gave me the time, and I didn’t waste that opportunity. I prepared a pitch, practiced it and delivered it flawlessly in only a few minutes. Needless to say, two years later, I graduated with a Broadcast News degree — and with a GPA putting me on the Dean’s List. After being named to UGA’s 40 Under 40, I would imagine anyone at Grady would agree that never yielding from your dreams is always the right decision. 

Chase Cain hosting a panel at George Washington University

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned as you’ve navigated through your career?

I’ve learned that I must clearly and directly ask for what I really want. No one else can read your mind, and you can’t count on anyone to detect subtle signals. If you want something specific, ask for it! Sure, maybe they say no, but at least they now know what you want. Retired Grady Professor David Hazinski once gave me some terrific advice. He told me that I can ask 100 people for the job I really want, and that I should be prepared to hear “no” 99 times. He impressed upon me, “you only need one person to say yes. Why do you care what everyone else says?” It’s an excellent reminder to fervently chase your dreams and to never be discouraged by obstacles. It only takes one “yes,” no matter how many setbacks precede it.

UGA alumnus builds House of PR at Netflix

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(Editor’s Note: this feature was originally published in the Summer 2018 issue of Georgia Magazine.)

If you had asked a young Ted Donath ABJ ’03 what he’d be doing now, he would’ve guessed anchoring the news.

He loved that the news helped broaden his worldview and connected him with places beyond his hometown of Marietta. Although he didn’t follow the broadcasting path, he did find a job with a worldwide reach.

Donath works as a public relations director at Netflix, serving the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. With more than 118 million subscribers worldwide, Netflix is the world’s largest internet entertainment service and Donath and his team tell stories to media to get the public excited about it.

But what really gets people excited is talking to Donath about his job.

“No matter where I go, I mention the company I work for, and suddenly everyone’s telling me a story about what they’re watching, what they love, and what they hate,” he says.

“Entertainment serves a lot of purposes. It can make you laugh, cry, think, and feel things. It helps people connect. That’s really important, no matter how you receive your information.”

Before he landed at Netflix, Donath bounced around different industries, using his storytelling talents to promote businesses in fashion, beauty, travel and technology. He even helped with campaigns at the 2010 Winter Olympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics and helped facilitate the live broadcast of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“I was fortunate enough to be able to work on some of the world’s largest events,” he says. “The scale of those events and the joy they bring to people is immeasurable.”

Today he lives in Los Angeles and wakes up each day ready for a new challenge in the unpredictable world of public relations, basing his storytelling on the ever-changing culture and outside world.

“That’s an exciting thing. Everything moves, and you’re always adjusting and pivoting.” Through the chaos, Donath has fallen in love with his position, and the company he now calls home.

“I love working at Netflix. I have the opportunity to work with some of the smartest and most inspiring people I have ever met,” he says. “We are all working together to influence culture. And we have really good breakfast burritos.”

Grady Alumni involved in production of upcoming film ‘Burnt Offering’

Posted on by Don McClain

Behind the scenes of the dark, edgy production of “Burnt Offering” were several alumni from Grady College using skills that they learned during their time in school.

“Burnt Offering” is a horror/ thriller feature film written by University of Georgia graduate Jennifer Perez (AB ’03) and directed by Atlanta native, Steven Perez. The film was produced by Blackhall Entertainment in association with Barred Owl Productions and filmed at Blackhall Studios in Atlanta. “Burnt Offering” is set to release late summer 2018 and will be available on all platforms.

“This story will keep you on the edge of your seat,” said Connor Pannell (ABJ ’16). “The quality of this film proves that a Georgia-based team can execute and deliver a quality end product when the pressure is on.”

Pannell served as gaffer and second unit cinematographer. His job was to create an edgy look to generate a thrill for the film during its nine-day filming schedule. The lighting technique that Pannell had to develop during this time was staged to create a standard for the film and supplement the story of “Burnt Offering.” He did this through a lighting design of dingy greens, steely blue moonlight and yellow tones to produce a tense, vibrant atmosphere. Pannell used skills that he learned while taking classes in the Department of Entertainment and Media Studies at Grady College, which gave him the freedom to cultivate his own skills, develop lighting techniques and create his own process.

Alex Newberry stands ready to get the cameras rolling for the next film take. (Photo courtesy of Connor Pannell)
Alex Newberry stands ready to get the cameras rolling for the next film take. (Photo courtesy of Connor Pannell)

“Burnt Offering” is a film based on four teenagers who are running from the police and decide to hide in an abandoned schoolhouse. The teens soon realize that they are not the only ones there.

Pannell encourages UGA students who are looking to pursue a career in the film industry to find a specific skill and master it. He suggests that working with others and creating content to constantly post on different social media platforms, will get ambitious graduates noticed.

“Do it for yourself and own the story,” said Pannell. “Being diplomatic, honest and unapologetically yourself creates an atmosphere where the right people are magnetized to you and your work.”

Pannell got involved with the production of “Burnt Offering” through the director, Steven Perez. They worked together on previous film sets and had similar visual taste. Pannell has been interested in the film industry since he was a child. He grew up watching many films with his parents, which gave him a wide-ranging experience. Being able to view a variety of films shaped the desire for Pannell to capture a good story for others to enjoy.

“I’d work with Steven and my fellow Grady alums a thousand times over,” said Pannell. “The creative dialogue and bond among us throughout the film is really what people dream about having in this industry.”

There were several other Grady College alumni involved in the production of “Burnt Offering”:

Patrick Bailer (ABJ ’17) was a grip for second-unit work, Grayson Guldenschuh (ABJ ’17) was a part of second AC, Nathan Duconge (ABJ ’16) was the casting director, Alex Newberry (AB ’18) was a part of the second AC team, Pannell served as gaffer and second unit cinematographer and Vivian Zingleman (ABJ ’16) was the post production coordinator.

Grayson Guldenschuh on set during production for the film. (Photo courtesy of Connor Pannell)
Grayson Guldenschuh on set during production for the film. (Photo courtesy of Connor Pannell)
Connor Pannell discusses the next lighting project. (Photo courtesy of Connor Pannell)
Connor Pannell discusses the next lighting project. (Photo courtesy of Connor Pannell)
Vivian Zingleman gets cast and cameras ready for the next scene. (Photo courtesy of Connor Pannell)
Vivian Zingleman gets cast and cameras ready for the next scene. (Photo courtesy of Connor Pannell)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UGA Grady College announces recipients of 2018 Alumni Awards; Sanford Circle honoree

Posted on by Don McClain

The University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication is pleased to honor four outstanding graduates with its 2018 Alumni Awards, and a beloved Grady College professor who will be inducted into the Sanford Circle.

Sally Yates (ABJ ’82, JD ‘86) receives the John Holliman Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award; Ashley Huston (ABJ ’96) is honored with the Henry W. Grady Mid-Career Alumni Award; Polina Marinova (ABJ ’13) is awarded the John E. Drewry Young Alumni Award; and Jisu Huh (MA ’00, PhD ‘03) receives the Distinguished Alumni Scholar Award.

Barry Hollander, a professor of journalism who died in January, will be inducted into the Sanford Circle, a posthumous membership created to honor friends of Grady College whose achievement and generosity of spirit remain with the college.

All award recipients will be recognized along with the 2018 Grady Fellowship inductees, at Grady Salutes: A Celebration of Achievement, Commitment and Leadership on April 27, 2018.

Sally Yates is a distinguished lecturer at Georgetown Law School. Yates is a former deputy attorney general of the United States. President Barack Obama nominated Yates to be the U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Georgia, where she was the first woman to hold the position in the Northern District of Georgia. During her time as U.S. Attorney, Yates was appointed by Attorney General Eric Holder to serve as vice chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee. She was nominated for John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award and won the Mary Church Terrell Freedom and Justice Award during the Detroit NAACP’s 62nd Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner. She graduated from the public relations program at Grady College, and earned her law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law. As the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award, Yates also will be inducted into the Grady Fellowship.

Ashley Huston most recently served as the chief communications officer for the Dow Jones Company and The Wall Street Journal. Huston is a strategic communications executive with extensive experience working with dynamic global media, sports and news brands. She has also held roles at CNN, ESPN and News Corp. Huston began her career as a student assistant in the University of Georgia’s Sports Communications office. She graduated with a degree in public relations from Grady College.

Polina Marinova is an associate editor at Fortune Magazine where she is the author of Term Sheet, Fortune’s daily newsletter. Before the Term Sheet, Marinova was an audience engagement editor at Fortune, managing all of Fortune’s social media accounts and crafting social campaigns around Fortune franchises. She is a journalism graduate of Grady College.

Jisu Huh is the Raymond O. Mithun Endowed Chair in Advertising and Director of Graduate Studies at the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota. Huh’s research program covers a wide range of topics related to advertising and its effects, especially in the digital and social media contexts. Huh is immediate past president of the American Academy of Advertising and also serves as an associate editor for Journal of Advertising. Additionally, she serves on the editorial board of several journals in the field of advertising, including International Journal of Advertising, Journal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising, and Journal of Advertising Education. She is an elected member and chair of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) Standing Committee on Research. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and a doctorate in mass communication from Grady College.

Barry Hollander
Barry Hollander

The Sanford Circle honoree, Barry Hollander, taught the fundamentals of journalism to countless students throughout his 26 years at Grady College. He was known for his wit, his attention to facts, his social media comments and his fierce loyalty to his students, many of whom he stayed in touch with through their successes after graduation.

Grady Salutes: A Celebration of Achievement, Commitment and Leadership will be held at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education and Hotel. Tickets can be ordered by visiting the Grady Salutes reservation website.

Eight Grady College alumni to be honored at 2018 Bulldog 100 Awards

Posted on by Stephanie Moreno

Eight graduates of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication representing seven businesses will be honored by the University of Georgia Alumni Association at the 2018 Bulldog 100 awards ceremony in January.

The annual program recognizes the fastest-growing businesses owned or operated by UGA alumni.

To be considered for the award, a company must be in business for a minimum of five years, have verifiable revenues of $100,000 or more for the calendar year 2014, and operate in a manner consistent with the Pillars of the Arch and in keeping with the values and image of UGA, according to criteria set by the UGA Alumni Association.

The following Grady College alumni and their businesses will be recognized:

The final rankings—determined by a compounded annual growth rate over the last three years—will be released during the ceremony.

The public, including UGA alumni and friends, is invited to celebrate the Bulldog 100 honorees Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta. The evening will begin with a reception, followed by dinner and the awards ceremony. Registration is open at alumni.uga.edu/b100.

Grady College holds memorial tribute to Don Carter, commemorates Endowment for Journalism Excellence

Posted on by Stephanie Moreno

Grady College faculty, alumni and friends celebrated a memorial tribute to alumnus Don Carter (ABJ ’38) and commemorated the Don E. Carter and Carolyn McKenzie Carter Endowment for Journalism Excellence Oct. 12, 2017, in the Peyton Anderson Forum.

“Today we are privileged to remember Don and gather with people who will testify to his hope for journalism and for the students who will follow him at Grady College,” said Dean Charles Davis.

(l.-rt.) Kent Middleton and Terry Readdick reminisce about their friend, Don Carter.

Kent Middleton, professor emeritus of journalism and friend of the Carters, spoke about Don’s hopes for journalism’s enduring values.

“For Don, excellent journalism was simple. It was truthful, timely information delivered by smart, curious reporters in clear sentences,” said Middleton. “He reminded students and board members regularly about the importance of getting the story right, naming sources and explaining the importance of journalism to the community.”

Continued Middleton: “Don trusted the Grady College to employ his and Carolyn’s gifts to perpetuate factual, ethical and fair journalism. And, of course, there’s never been a time when the public has needed that kind of journalism more.”

Janice Hume shares the vision and plans for the Carter Endowment for Journalism Excellence.

Janice Hume, head of the Department of Journalism and Carolyn McKenzie Carter and Don E. Carter Chair for Journalism Excellence, discussed the vision and plans for the Endowment for Journalism Excellence.

“Our mission is to use this transformative gift to pass those values along to our students and to strengthen our industries,” Hume said.

The Carter gifts have been used to establish a course in journalism credibility, fund faculty research, support an intern at The Brunswick News—Don Carter’s hometown newspaper, launch a “Best Summer Stories” student contest, fund student travel for training and networking, and help to send students to cover the Paralympic Games in Rio, with much more to come, she said.

Terry Readdick, another longtime friend of the Carters, shared some of his fondest memories that illustrated the couple’s shared sense of humor and zest for life.

“(Don) and Carolyn loved life, more than anybody I think I’ve ever met,” Readdick said. “I discovered they traveled to every continent. They traveled to all but a handful of countries…they had so many friends and they did so many things.”

Among those in attendance at the memorial tribute were members of the Grady Board of Trust. Member Jim Zachary devoted a column in the Oct. 15 issue of The Valdosta Daily times to Carter, which he titled “Walking in the shadow of journalism greatness“. The piece is published here with permission.

Don Carter was a truth teller.

He died at the age of 99 and was still telling the truth right up until his death.

He was a journalist.

In fact, Carter was a journalist’s journalist.

At the Grady Board of Trust meeting held on the campus of the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia Thursday, we listened to stories about Carter and his love of Grady and for journalism.

A Grady grad, Carter found himself at The Atlanta Journal in the early 1940s and that is how he found the other love of his life, Carolyn McKenzie, who competed with him for coverage while she was reporting for the Atlanta Constitution.

Their rivalry was more than friendly, it became a lifelong love story, and they were married for more than 60 years.

Don was always — and first and foremost — a reporter.

By the end of his illustrious newspaper career, he was vice president of news for Knight-Ridder.

For many years, he sat on the board of directors of The Red & Black newspaper that serves the University of Georgia campus.

As chairman of the board that Carter shaped for so many years, it is impossible not to feel the weight of his shadow and to be humbled by it.

Don Carter is newspaper royalty.

When he spoke, people listened.

Carter believed in the importance of factual and unbiased reporting.

He thought it was absolutely essential that hard news reporting and editorials be clearly separated.

He died at his beloved home on Sea Island and left behind an incredible legacy and large endowment for Grady College and the educating of future journalists.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution quoted President Jimmy Carter at the time of Don Carter’s death, “Rosalynn and I mourn the loss of my cousin and lifelong friend Don Carter. Don and I grew up together in Plains, and he supported me throughout my political career. He will be remembered not only as a superb journalist and newspaper executive, but as an advocate for the important role that journalists play in our democracy.”

Newspapers have a rich tradition as the Fourth Estate, providing a check on government while serving as a public watchdog.

That important role in democracy depends on journalistic integrity.

Journalistic integrity depends on accuracy in reporting, naming sources, correcting mistakes and clearly distinguishing between news and editorials.

Don Carter believed news reporting was about telling readers who, what, when, where, why and sometimes how and not about telling readers what to think.

Opinions are for opinion pages.

News pages are for news — for truth telling — the thing that Don Carter did best.

See more photos from the tribute on the UGA Grady Flickr account.

AdPR Week alumnus profile: Neil Hirsch (ABJ ’00)

Posted on by Stephanie Moreno

In honor of AdPR Week, we are profiling select Grady College alumni who are using their Grady education in the creative industries they serve. In this series, they discuss their career paths and offer advice to current Grady students.

Neil Hirsch, APR, graduated from Grady College in 2000 with a degree in public relations.  He is the director of corporate external communications for the Americas at InterContinental Hotels Group. Hirsch was part of the inaugural Grady College AdPR Advisory Council in 2014.

Grady College: What are some of your everyday duties?

Neil Hirsch: I’m responsible for external communications for InterContinental Hotels Group across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean. This includes corporate media relations, issues management and executive visibility.

GC: How did you get your start?

NH: My first full-time role after graduating from Grady was in a mid-size PR agency in Atlanta. It was a great place to start – you’ll never work alongside more PR professionals than in an agency environment.

GC: What skills did you learn at Grady that have helped you throughout your career?

NH: Grady provided me with a solid foundation for my career in public relations. Beyond what I learned in the classroom, it’s what I learned and the relationships I created through my involvement in PRSSA, Grady programs and my internships that distinguished me from my peers.

GC: Is there any additional advice that you’d like to give?

NH: Take every opportunity you have today to prepare you for your career. Ask questions. Make meaningful connections with professionals and with your peers. Have a vision for your future, but also be open-minded about where your career may take you.

 

See more in this series:

AdPR Week alumna profile: Jackie Herr (ABJ ’82)

Posted on by Stephanie Moreno

In honor of AdPR Week, we are profiling select Grady College alumni who are using their Grady education in the creative industries they serve. In this series, they discuss their career paths and offer advice to current Grady students.

Jackie Herr, a 1982 advertising graduate, is the co-founder of PICFARI, LLC, a website and mobile app “that appeals to anyone who loves to travel and take photos.”

Herr is a longtime supporter of Grady College. She served on the Grady Board of Trust and is part of AdPR’s The Second Century Club, which is comprised of individuals who make an annual contribution to the AdPR Excellence Fund of $1,000 or more.

Grady College: Which courses or professors were most helpful in preparing you to work in the industry?

Jackie Herr: Professor Ron Lane’s Campaigns course was pivotal. He taught us the importance of knowing your audience, how to establish your presence, how to effectively communicate concepts and strategies in a meaningful, memorable and measurable way. This course really tied the ribbon around all the creative, strategy and research classes

GC: How did you get your start?

JH: During college, I worked for a radio station as a receptionist, DJ, copywriter, and sales-kind of a Jackie of all trades! After college, with Professor Lane’s help, I landed a job at an ad agency as a media buying assistant.

GC: What advice would like to give to students?

Engage and stay engaged with key professors, administrators, bosses, clients and colleagues. They form the basis of a very influential network of next jobs, next clients, and next opportunities. This is where you begin to establish your A-list network. I’m not talking about the hundreds you have in your social media networks, I’m talking about those key people in your life who will go out of their way to help you be successful and not just press the button on Facebook or on Instagram. This is usually a small, but very influential group. One of my best job connections came from a chance meeting with a media rep who had been kept waiting for over an hour to see one of my colleagues. I felt sorry for him and a simple conversation turned into a connection that led not only to my next job, but the source for amazing client referrals.

Work hard to get those internships, preferably before junior year. Demonstrate that you have a “go-getter” attitude. The more you engage now, the more successful you’ll be later in life.

See more in this series: