James Thach

Photo taken by Expressemploymentprofessionals.com

James Thach, Corporate Communications at Express Employment Professionals

By: Katie Graham

From 2006 to 2009, after graduating from Gaylord with an advertising degree, James Thach decided to take his internship to another level and actually work for it as Corporate Communications with Express Employment Professionals. Express Employment Professionals is a company that’s main goal is to show people how to find jobs. It has been around for over 25 years, helping people find the human resources and job skills to seek a career and a future. Thach worked at the international headquarters where he wrote blogs, columns, and press releases for internal and external audiences. His press releases consisted of writing to people about the latest employment and new office spaces that were available at the time. He would fill in the blank, with people, the insight as to how to go about seeking a job as well. Most of his blogs were fun facts to audiences about “How to be Interviewed,” or “How to Interview,” or “Top 10 ways to find the correct skills needed for your job.” Thach said that most of his time dealt with press releases that showed publicity to new job employment.

Thach also wrote pamphlets for the franchisees listing potential employment in the local areas. The pamphlets also showed where temporary workers were and became the “umbrella” to showing the progress of the company. Overall, quality writing was his main skill because he had to show a sense of reputation to the company, while publicizing to the audience the skills, material and training suited for the type of job that person was looking for. His knowledge consisted of knowing the franchisees and his company he was writing for. If he didn't know the rural area, he wouldn't know the jobs, therefore would have nothing to write about.

One of his responsibilities was to interview 2 franchisees about temporary works and economic trends. Thach would ask the franchisees about the trends that are possibly coming up, while predicting the work area that might have openings in the future. He would then send it to the publisher, where the pamphlet would then be published and sent out to the public to those wanting to find the fastest way to look for their job. This was best known as the Rosenberg Surveys.

His longest responsibility was actually building the main website for Express Employment Professionals. He designed it entirely by himself.

“It was pretty fun, don’t get me wrong, but I had to have my AP book on me at all times,” Thach said.

He is not currently working there anymore because of the amount of writing he had to endure every day. He got the job from interning there but never thought he would have a job right outside of graduating. Thach said that his best opportunities came from interning and to do as many as possible. This is what allows you to learn what you like and do not like out of a career. Thach also mentioned that even though you have graduated, it doesn’t mean you should throw away your AP book. Like mentioned above, he used his AP book every day during his time at Express Employment Professionals. It was a stable job, but not what he was looking for. It was a reality check, showing how much you are required to write in a job like this.

Thach now works for Crooked Tie Studios, where he records and creates wedding videos.

“It has nothing to do with my last job, but I love social media and photography so why not?” Thach said. His photography class got him into this, and his advertising capstone class pulled him further away from doing any kind of advertising.

Overall, James Thach is a writer and writing is his passion because it is the easiest to him. He wouldn’t mind doing more press releases and blogs, but for right now he’s getting his kicks out of going to weddings and making memories.

Oprah's No Phone Zone

Take the No Phone Zone Pledge Today!
By: Katie Graham
Photo: By Harpo Studios

Sixteen people will die today…and tomorrow…and the next due to texting and driving. Real statistics like these have made the “No Phone Zone” a growing campaign. Six thousand deaths can be prevented with this campaign, as well as 500,000 collisions per year. Oprah Winfrey is a successful public relation’s campaigner, and with her help and popularity, this campaign has become a pledge in saving lives. Twenty four states and D.C. have banned all cell phones while 8 states have prohibited all drivers from using handheld phones. This campaign provides information such as personal stories from real people who have experienced a fatal tragedy concerning the use of cell phones, while allowing viewers to sign a petition that states they will not text and drive. More and more people have signed this petition and it has become a special feature on the Oprah Winfrey show. Stars such as Justin Bieber and Julia Roberts have signed the petition, using the use of celebrities to popularize and help make this campaign succeed in awareness. Oprah will not stop until everyone knows the dangers of texting and driving.

VIDEO: "A Mother's Message About Driving and Cell Phones"

When you check out the Web site, you have access to partnering with the no phone zone, making an official commitment to never text and drive and watching personal stories with videos from families who have lost a loved one from the distractions of cell phones. In the end, you have the choice of taking the no Phone Zone Pledge:

“I pledge to make my car a No Phone Zone. Beginning right now, I will do my part to help put an end to distracted driving by committing to drive as responsibly as I can.” (http://www.oprah.com/questionaire/ipledge.html)

With this, you can choose one:

“I will not text while I am driving.”

“I will not text while driving and will use only handsfree calling if I need to speak on the phone while I am driving.”

“I will not text or use my phone while I am driving. If I need to use my phone, I will pull over to a secure location.”

Right now, there are 403,237 pledged to keep our roads safe. Overall, this campaign provides a personal touch to the saying “don’t text and drive.” By exposing people to the real life dangers of the pain this has on the families and drivers, more people are thinking twice before picking up their cell phone.