Jennifer Haveman

Photo taken from andersonhansonhlanton.com

Jennifer Haveman, Account Executive at Anderson Hanson Blanton

By: Christy French

Anderson Hanson Blanton is an advertising, marketing and public relations agency in Dallas, Texas. They take a no-nonsense approach to ensure they meet their clients’ needs and work within their desired budgets. Their core philosophy is to appeal to their clients’ target publics by making their clients’ products emotionally appealing.

Jennifer Haveman has an undergraduate degree in English Literature. The majority of her experience in PR and marketing was learned on the job. She expressed she has had some great mentors along the way, as well as some mentors who pushed her to her full potential.

Looking back, Haveman says she has been involved in the PR /Marketing industry since the 8^th grade. She was on the yearbook staff in Junior High, the newspaper staff in high school and then was in news radio during college. She took a small detour in the nonprofit world working with at risk youth before stepping back into the advertising arena. “I learned a lot about marketing and PR working for a nonprofit,” says Haveman. “There was never a budget for PR so I learned quickly how to gather the facts, tell the story and then sell the story in order to raise money to reach the people in need.” Haveman says it was just a natural progression that she came to work for an Anderson Hanson Blanton in 2007.

Haveman says the most challenging part about working in this industry is unearthing the needs of their clients. Most clients have an agenda when they meet with her. “It is important to take the time to talk to them and find out the story they don’t see,” says Haveman. “Then the company can help them develop this story to build a strong message for their target audience.”

“For new PR professionals, first, they need to be professional, and show a smile and good attitude,” says Haveman. “Second, be a self-starter and take the extra effort no matter what you are asked to do. Research your clients, competitors, relevant industries and media trends.”

Haley Downing: Account Manager for Waller & Company

Haley Downing: Account Manager for Waller & Company
By Callie Gillock

Haley Downing, a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma, found her niche in public relations when she entered college. At a young age, Downing knew she had a passion for writing like none other. After completing her first PR entry class she discovered an industry where writing was integrated with social interaction and client relations, which was what she was looking for.

Downing graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree from Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations. She is now the Account Manager for Waller & Company, a PR firm located in Tulsa.

Waller & Company is a full-service public relations firm that was founded in 1996. This organization believes having a strong PR firm requires mutually beneficial relationships with all clients. Waller & Company strives to build lasting relationships with clients by creating resourceful ideas and solutions that will satisfy companies’ needs.

Not only does her job allow her to fulfill her passion for writing, but it also permits her to explore different areas in public relations. “I love working with such a diverse spectrum of clients,” Downing exclaimed. “Our firm has restaurant and hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare and technology divisions so we are always busy doing something different and coming up with new ideas for each of the client industries.”

When getting into the PR business you need something that sets you apart from everyone else. “My advice to young PR professionals is to complete as many internships as you possibly can before looking for an entry level position,” said Downing. “The University of Oklahoma adequately prepared me for an entry level PR position, but my internships set me apart from other applicants while job searching.”

For a successful career path, PR professionals should have a creative mindset and a proactive approach with all client relations. Also, Downing insists, “a PR practitioner should have knowledge of AP style writing, familiarity with PR writing, document formats and research techniques.”

Houda Elyazgi - Senior Account Executive for Saxum PR

Photo provided by Saxum PR website.

By Cassie Little

It didn’t take Houda Elyazgi much time to make it in the world of public relations after graduation from the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication in 2007. After just three years working in the field, Elyazgi is a Senior Account Executive for Saxum PR at the firm’s Oklahoma City location.

Elyazgi said her job is one that requires competence in many fields as well as a lot of patience. Some of the skills she considers most important include: communication, writing, oratory, leadership, multimedia and social skills. She describes the work as hectic and exciting but very rewarding at the same time. One of her favorite parts of the job is the opportunity she’s been given to work with non-profit organizations.

A typical workday for Elyazgi is always changing. She said most workdays start early in the morning consuming a vast amount of media including newspapers like The Oklahoman and The Tulsa World, as well as numerous online sources. Then, her day is filled with client meetings and campaign tasks.

She considers the most difficult part of her job the high stress level it invokes. She said the best way to not be overwhelmed at work is to take a deep breath, step back and remember to take the job one step at a time.

While many challenges are included when working in public relations, Elyazgi said the benefits outweigh the obstacles. She suggests that future PR practitioners work to take initiative and use their voices.

“Never be afraid to step on someone’s toes and challenge yourself,” she said. “If you’re always comfortable, you’re doing something wrong.”

David Joplin: A True Professional Communicator

David Joplin: A True Professional Communicator
By Sabrina DuFran

Photo provided by Moore Norman Technology Center website

Communications and professionalism are strategies that David Joplin, Director of Marketing and Communications at Moore Norman Technology Center, has mastered; however, in his unpretentious way, he confides that the “truth is, none of us have all the answers.”

Joplin actually began his career in communications working on movies, such as “Rainman,” “Offerings,” and a commercial spot for Nissan. He then began as Video Producer for the Oklahoma Department of CareerTech, where he developed corporate, promotional and training videos for new and growing Oklahoma companies.

“Between film, commercial, public relations and marketing, I have worked in the communications field for almost 20 years,” he explained. The past 12 years Joplin has been Director of Marketing and Communications, first at Canadian Valley Technology, and now at Moore Norman Technology Center. He supervises a marketing and communications department of six full time and eight part-time staff members for a $30 million plus organization. Joplin and his staff are responsible for all marketing, public and media relations, advertising, crisis communications and student recruitment.

Joplin received his undergraduate and master’s degree from the Gaylord College of Journalism at the University of Oklahoma. Broadcast Journalism was his emphasis for his undergraduate degree, and for his master’s degree he studied Public Relations. He also conducted graduate work at the University of North Texas and was accepted to UCLA’s film school.

The importance of research in the communication profession cannot be stressed enough, as far as Joplin is concerned. “You must be diligent about conducting research on the front end to guide your communication strategies and messages, but even more importantly, be able to provide post-campaign evaluation data…you must be able to ‘show’ results,” Joplin said.

Joplin advises future PR professionals to consistently follow the R.A.C.E. formula (Research, Action Planning, Communication, Evaluation) for successful results. “Ours is a nebulous profession; therefore, the more we hold ourselves accountable to demonstrate irrefutable results, the more we will succeed,” Joplin advised.  He also stressed the importance of learning from your “elders” in the public relation field, as well as focusing on all job responsibilities of the positions in the public relations department. “Each job matters,” he explained, “and we must learn from others throughout our entire professional lives.”

Public relations is about effective communication with your audience. “At the end of the day, the questions will always be: did your audience understand your message, and did that message make a positive impact?” he concluded.

Ben Elder: Communications Specialist for Cherokee Nation

Ben Elder is a communications pro that believes everyone involved in the industry should realize the true "Tao" of public relations and communications. Elder, who has been in the industry for five years, is the Senior Communications Specialist for Cherokee Nation. The Cherokee Nation is the sovereign working government of the Cherokee people. The tribe is federally acknowledged and consists of more than 290,000 Cherokee residents. The capital is in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Elder attended Oklahoma State University where he received his Journalism and Broadcasting degree. At this time, he is in the process of obtaining his Masters of Science in Strategic Communications from Oklahoma State University-Tulsa. His professional background ranges from doing contract work for the Worlds Fair in Edmond, to working full-time in the music industry. He has been working for Cherokee Nation since 2007 and is the head of the strategic communications for the cultural tourism department.

There are many skills that are required in the field of public relations and communications. "This profession is all about reading people and picking up on verbal nuances and patterns," Elder explains. "That's the key to being a great communicator." There will be many types of people a professional will communicate with every day, therefore it is important to meet the communication approach of those you work with. Another major skill that is very beneficial in this area of business is knowing how to work with the Web. In Elder’s words, “If you are savvy on the Web, you are an immediate asset to your organization.”

As for advice for future PR professionals, reading and writing every day is crucial, according to this communications expert. Ben Elder gave an insightful look into the public relations industry with information and advice that could help any PR practitioner in the making.

The image on this post was received from http://digital.library.okstate.edu/chronicles/v018/v018p357.html

Kandy Parsons Senior Development Officer

Kandy Parsons, Senior Development Officer

by, Carrie Bugg

Kandy Parsons is the Senior Development Officer at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oklahoma. She is an Oklahoma native and graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in Business Education. Before she worked for Make-A-Wish, Parsons worked as a marketing representative at the Xerox Corporation from 1985 to 1991. In her time here, Parsons was trained in sales. This proved to be very helpful in her current position. "I’m not afraid to make the “ask” which is where many people stumble. I’m tenacious so I keep working until I get what I need," Parsons said. In 1992, she became a substitute teacher and a community volunteer. Parsons has always had a passion for community service work.

In the spring of 2007, Parsons was looking for another career. She was leading a bible study and praying about her career path when someone suggested Make-A-Wish. Parsons researched the organization and adored its mission. "It combined two of my favorite things: kids and charity work," Parsons said. She interviewed with the organization and became a member of the Make-A-Wish staff in June of that same year. She has been working there for three years.

Parsons is oversees all fundraising efforts for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oklahoma. MAWFO does not receive any state or federal funding, so every dollar must be raised by the organization. However, every dollar raised in Oklahoma stays in the state to grant the wishes of Oklahoma children. Parson's favorite aspects of her job are meeting the wish families and working on fundraising with student groups in a program called Kids for Wish Kids. KFWK gives students an opportunity to create and manage fundraising projects to grant wishes of kids their own age. "It's wonderful to see kids passionate about helping others," Parsons said. She also enjoys the opportunity to meet so many people from all over Oklahoma.

Parsons said the most difficult aspect of her job is recruiting funding for wishes. It is challenging to get many foundations to understand just how many people one wish can effect through a grant application. "It looks like you affect only one person with a wish, when in reality, a wish affects the child's family and the community," Parsons said.

In contrast, the most rewarding part of Parsons' job is improving someone's life every day. "It is wonderful to hear from the wish kids and their families about what a wonderful experience a wish was for them," Parsons said. She enjoys building relationships with the wish kids.

Parsons encouraged future public relations professionals to be passionate about their career choice. "I work many long hours, but I don't mind because I love what I do," Parsons said. Seeing the smiles on children's faces is worth working for.

American Airlines Goes Pink for Breast Cancer

American Airlines Goes Pink for Breast Cancer


By: Jenna Taylor


Thousands of individuals work to raise awareness of a terrible disease during the month of October. October represents National Breast Cancer Awareness month and American Airlines is dedicated to helping with this cause. American Airlines has long been a supporter of a breast cancer and has been partners with Susan G. Komen for the Cure for many years.
American Airlines, American Eagle and Susan G. Komen for the Cure have partnered up this year and are having a "Pink-out" at airports across the country Oct. 1-15. The purpose of this “Pink Out” is to observe National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and raise funds to find the cure for breast cancer which all three organizations are very passionate about. The "Pink-out" will take place in 18 different cities that range from the East coast to the West coast. American Airlines and American Eagle employees will be wearing pink clothing in order to represent the cause. The employees will also be decorating the ticket counters, jetways, baggage claims and aircrafts in the color pink to raise awareness of breast cancer. American Airlines has been promoting the event through various resources and hopes that their customers will also take the initiative to wear pink as they travel any of the days during the two week “Pink Out”. All of these initiatives have been put into action in order to support the overall goal of American Airlines to raise $1 million for breast cancer research.

Not only will they be wearing pink clothing and decorating the building with the color pink, American Airlines will also be flying their eight pink-ribbon planes to Susan G. Komen events as a reminder of the devastating disease that affects so many women today.
In my opinion, this is a fun way for American Airlines and American Eagle employees and customers to support Komen for the Cure during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The goal of this campaign is to develop a way to unite people and communities in the fight to end breast cancer. This campaign also increases the ability to promote the organizations that are involved with the cause and portray them in a positive light to the public. In this particular case study, women were mostly targeted because of their likelihood to relate to the issue of breast cancer. American Airlines and American Eagle had a good strategy of using eight pink-ribbon planes to act as a reminder to the community about the campaign. This campaign shows what a powerful role public relations can play in raising awareness of an important cause, such as breast cancer.

For more information about American Airlines and their partnership with Susan G. Komen, visit http://joinus.aa.com/komen?anchorlocation=directurl&title=komen.

Photo taken from Join American Airlines Website.

Stuck on "Brand" Aid

Stuck on “Brand” Aid

By Aran Coleman

Photo courtesy of Ogilvy PR

BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages have long been a staple in every family’s first-aid kit as a source of healing, comfort and protection. The popularity and name recognition of the iconic BAND-AID® Brand provided the company with more than just success. Over time, copycat brands emerged, trying to ride along on the coattails of BAND-AID® Brand’s well-deserved notoriety.

BAND-AID® realized that it was vitally important for the company to keep its brand name relevant and distinguishable from brands tainting their prestige. Therefore, BAND-AID® decided to seek out the help of Ogilvy PR to develop a communication platform that would update the brand without losing any its significance.

The main objective for the new BAND-AID® campaign was to emphasize the strength of the brand and create a better connection with the current generation of web-savvy consumers, especially moms and dads. They decided to use emotion as a means to relate to their target publics. This new and improved identity could make BAND-AID® uniquely their own. They used the word “stick-with-it-ness" to promote the emotional and functional aspects of the versatile brand. They used to campaign to try and make “stick-with-it-ness” a household concept.

The new initiative was dubbed the Stick With It! Campaign. The biggest tactic used was the creation of the first-ever Stick With It! Awards. This event was created to acknowledge and honor everyday kids who have "stuck with it" in the different aspects of their lives. Ogilvy worked with BAND-AID® and Nickelodeon in a joint effort to bring validity to the campaign. A contest was implemented and the prizes were a vacation to Hollywood and a tour of the Nickelodeon Animation Studios. Ogilvy used 15-year old Nickelodeon star Emma Roberts (the new Nancy Drew) to improve awareness for the campaign and the contest. Having Roberts as a spokesperson gave kids someone to identify with and drew attention to the overall goal of the initiative. To get the word out, she was sent on an extensive media tour where she visited radio stations and made public appearances. This strategy made a huge difference in reaching not only children, but also their parents.

The Stick With It! campaign went above and beyond what was expected. Coverage of the initiative exploded, bringing in over 65 million media hits for BAND-AID®. Most of the exposure was aimed at kids and parents together by using a famous spokesperson and other methods. Thanks to the involvement of Roberts, 3,500 entries were submitted for the contest. Stick With It! successfully highlighted the BAND-AID® Brand reliability. They also found a unique way to update the brand and give it a new pop to keep and attract consumers.