Senior account executive Katie Garagozzo talks about her team's new projects:
Katie: We've got some great new things going on with edunLIVE that everyone should know about. This week and next week we are holding a Spring Cleaning Clothing Drive. Stop by Coughlin, Catherine/Monica, Madonna, and Twohy and donate your gently used clothing to the barrels with the Salvation Army stickers.
We know that everyone can't get into all the dorms on campus, so go to the Coughlin location - there is public access to this new dorm and drop off those unused clothes!
Looking ahead in April we've got a big event coming up! We are going to set up a tie-dying booth at MadonnaStock, so come by on the 24th, listen to the bands play, and tie-dye some shirts!
We'll have more updates coming up for you soon!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
edunLIVE Team Makes Headway
Last week, one of our teams met with our only on-campus client - edunLIVE. Senior account executive Katie Garagozzo talks about how the meeting went:
Katie: Let me start out first by briefly introducing all of my team members. Our four person team is made up of myself, Katy Kenealy, Gini Soto, and Ellie Thodal, all PR majors who have been helping brainstorm lots of great ideas for our client this semester.
Our last meeting with edunLIVE went great, they have actually been working on an awareness event on their own in conjunction with the Zimbabwe honey project that we often see on campus, getting their name in with a series of events including honey sales and a keynote speaker.
Additionally, they have been in the process of creating more shirts to get out for sale relatively soon...I won't ruin the surprise yet, but I got a look at the drawings and they look amazing!
The first thing that we did was introduce ourselves to the new president of the club, and immediately set up a new email account for the club. With this email account, we are setting up a facebook account, a blog (look for it here on Blogger soon!) and a twitter. All of these social media sites will help edunLIVE generate more publicity for themselves, and hopefully help them network and keep in contact with future clients.
Another effort we have made was to create a new client list for edunLIVE that lists all of the clubs here on campus, their primary contacts, and a brief description of the club. My team and I are now going through the list and trying to get into contact with as many of the clubs as we can. edunLIVE offers a very valuable service that every single one of the clubs on campus can take advantage of, and we want to make sure that we begin to make our presence known.
We've come up with a few publicity ideas including creating t-shirt shaped flyers and having a hanging clothes line with a few shirts on it letting people know what edunLIVE is. We are planning a clothing drive in conjunction with the Salvation Army that will take place right after Spring Break, and a tie-dying event that will happen at MadonnaStock...so keep your eyes peeled for all of our events! We are planning on getting in contact with Tom's Shoes and Invisible Children and seeing if they are available for any kind of partnerships - we thought the missions of each were very compatible with edunLIVE's and a business connection would really lend itself between each organization.
So those are all of our updates from Team edunLIVE...we will keep you updated with all of our events and planning as they happen!
Katie: Let me start out first by briefly introducing all of my team members. Our four person team is made up of myself, Katy Kenealy, Gini Soto, and Ellie Thodal, all PR majors who have been helping brainstorm lots of great ideas for our client this semester.
Our last meeting with edunLIVE went great, they have actually been working on an awareness event on their own in conjunction with the Zimbabwe honey project that we often see on campus, getting their name in with a series of events including honey sales and a keynote speaker.
Additionally, they have been in the process of creating more shirts to get out for sale relatively soon...I won't ruin the surprise yet, but I got a look at the drawings and they look amazing!
The first thing that we did was introduce ourselves to the new president of the club, and immediately set up a new email account for the club. With this email account, we are setting up a facebook account, a blog (look for it here on Blogger soon!) and a twitter. All of these social media sites will help edunLIVE generate more publicity for themselves, and hopefully help them network and keep in contact with future clients.
Another effort we have made was to create a new client list for edunLIVE that lists all of the clubs here on campus, their primary contacts, and a brief description of the club. My team and I are now going through the list and trying to get into contact with as many of the clubs as we can. edunLIVE offers a very valuable service that every single one of the clubs on campus can take advantage of, and we want to make sure that we begin to make our presence known.
We've come up with a few publicity ideas including creating t-shirt shaped flyers and having a hanging clothes line with a few shirts on it letting people know what edunLIVE is. We are planning a clothing drive in conjunction with the Salvation Army that will take place right after Spring Break, and a tie-dying event that will happen at MadonnaStock...so keep your eyes peeled for all of our events! We are planning on getting in contact with Tom's Shoes and Invisible Children and seeing if they are available for any kind of partnerships - we thought the missions of each were very compatible with edunLIVE's and a business connection would really lend itself between each organization.
So those are all of our updates from Team edunLIVE...we will keep you updated with all of our events and planning as they happen!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Meet Your Leadership Team - Wes DeShano and Nicole Raisch
Get to know you THE FIRM leadership team, Presidents Wes DeShano and Nicole Raisch. Read on to learn about what they think about public relations, THE FIRM, and what type of animal they would be!
1.Why do you love PR?
Wes: I believe that public relations exemplifies creative thinking. When you think about it, PR is really all about knowing how language works and using that knowledge to your advantage. Practitioners only have a limited number of words they can use to convey a message that resonates with people. I find it fascinating that words are as powerful as they are. When a message is effective, you can’t help but think you understand the human condition.
Nicole: Public relations is one of the very few fields that offers the opportunity to directly influence others in a positive way. Practitioners have the opportunity to share the message of their company to the world. The ability of public relations to connect people internationally to a cause is astounding; public relations is the glue between the desire to do good for a company and the realization of that desire to the world.
2.What made you want to be part of the leadership team for THE FIRM?
Wes: After having such a positive experience with The Firm last year, I really wanted to help other public relations majors get involved with it. I have a lot of respect for The Firm’s founding President / Vice President team, Torie McIntyre and Aly Dunphy, and I aspired to fill their shoes in order to keep The Firm running. Being part of the leadership team for The Firm allowed me to do this, and I have found it extremely rewarding. That being said, it is also a lot of hard work and stressful at times. That’s okay though, because I think it is beneficial to have that type of experience before graduating and entering the professional world.
Nicole: Both Torie McIntyre and Aly Dunphy (President/V.P last year) did a fabulous job of setting up a structure and client base for The Firm. I wanted to be a part of the leadership team this year because I believe that The Firm has so much to offer Gonzaga clubs and Spokane companies (not to mention all of the great experience it offers GU students). I wanted the opportunity to continue with the previous leadership team’s work and increase the student participation in The Firm and the client base. Wes and I have added a significant number of new policies and team management strategies to increase the effectiveness of The Firm, all of which couldn’t be done without the fabulous work originally done by Torie and Aly.
3.What is your favorite part of social media?
Wes: I think that social media’s greatest strength is its ability to keep interested audiences up-to-date in real time. If you follow your favorite organization on Twitter, for example, nothing says “I care about you!” like a Twitter post that previews tomorrow’s headlines.
Nicole: My favorite part of social media is that it is a great way to connect people; someone in Australia or China can read the same post as I can on my computer at home. Social media helps companies and people connect with others they wouldn’t be able to reach through any other medium.
4.What is your favorite part of PR?
Wes: My favorite part of public relations is the writing. I’m also an English major, and I have to say that writing is undoubtedly my passion in life. Writing a sentence four or five different ways, or trying to brainstorm the “best” word possible for a project, is something that I never find tiring or burdensome. Because the truth is, certain words will appeal to certain people.
Nicole: My favorite part of public relations is a combination of writing and people. I love being able to put together words into sentences that create emotions in people. I also really enjoy how writing can connect people; when someone reads a sentence or a press release about a nonprofit providing eye glasses to an old woman who hasn’t been able to read her bible in years – that is when the emotional appeal of words connects people to causes and creates change. I love public relations because it gives me the ability to use my words to positively impact the world.
5.What is your favorite pet?
Wes: I love all three of my cats back at home! Their names are Tucker, Ted, and Dicey, and they never cease to amuse me!
Nicole: I have two chinchillas, Gouda and Chi. They are hilarious to watch jump and bounce around. They each have their own personalities and it’s rewarding to watch them grow and get more comfortable with me.
6.If you could be an animal what you be and why.
Wes: This one threw me for a loop! I think it would be pretty fun to be a koala bear, if I had to pick just one awesome animal to be. As a koala bear I would just hang out in the Australian outback and take it easy. Or I might try to get a cameo on the next season of Survivor held there.
Nicole: If I could be an animal, I would definitely be a dog. They are one of the few animals that really enjoy being connected to other animals and people. Dogs also show emotion and they can recognize emotion in others; both characteristics which are very valuable.
7.What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
Wes: I usually try to squeeze as much as I can into my free time, mainly because I have so little of it! But when I decide to take a break from school, I really like to play sports and have marathon sessions of watching my favorite TV shows. I play intramural football, basketball, softball, and Ultimate Frisbee, and I also enjoy action sports like bike riding, skateboarding, and skim boarding. My favorite TV shows of all time are The Office, That 70’s Show, How I Met Your Mother, and Arrested Development. All of these shows are pure comedic genius!
Nicole: In the rare bits of free time I have, I really enjoy working out. Sweating out the stresses and frustrations of the day is something that helps me stay on track. I also play all the intramural sports I can. Recently, I signed up for yoga, Zumba, and snowboarding classes – I love them all so far! I have been playing volleyball since high school and I play on the Gonzaga Women’s Club Volleyball team and it is one of my favorite hobbies. I also enjoy watching all kinds of movies and my favorite TV shows – 30 Rock, House, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I also enjoy relaxing with friends and experiencing as much as I can in Spokane, at Gonzaga, and all over the world.
8.What do you want to gain from being part of THE FIRM?
Wes: I want to be able to say that I was instrumental in establishing The Firm as a respectable organization in Spokane. I believe that our clients are very grateful for our services and that our teams have the potential to positively benefit these clients. Having this sense of accomplishment is probably the main experience I want to take away from being part of The Firm.
Nicole: I have always been comfortable in my leadership abilities but I would also like to gain first hand experience on how a firm and client relationships function. I also want to leave a solid foundation for the upcoming leadership team to continue to establish The Firm as a legitimate public relations firm for organization throughout Spokane; I believe the need is there and there are many clients that could benefit from our services.
9.Are you excited about THE FIRM? What are your expectations?
Wes: Absolutely! My expectations have already been met by our teams, and it’s only halfway through the year. I really wanted to see enthusiasm and creative thinking from our members, and I believe that our teams have succeeded in this. I look forward to our teams carrying this energy over to next semester and producing quality documents for our clients.
Nicole: Of course! We have a lot of great individuals working with extremely appreciative clients. All of the teams are energized and ready to create some great materials, put on events, and manage communications for our clients. I expect all of the teams to work hard and have fun. My hope is that each team can create something to benefit each client and make a measurable difference.
10.Where are you from originally (before GU)?
Wes: I am originally from Poulsbo, WA. All I can say about my hometown is this: Norwegian influence, shops closed at 7 p.m., population of about 10,000, super small! Really though, I love my hometown and think it is an awesome place to live. There’s just something about the Pacific Northwest that appeals to me.
Nicole: I am originally from Los Gatos, CA. My hometown is just outside of San Jose, CA. I love the location; I am one hour from San Francisco, 45 minutes from the beach, and can choose out of 3 movie theaters within 15 minutes. I love the sunshine and you can never get enough of it in California!
11.What do you love about GU?
Wes: I love everything about Gonzaga! There are so many opportunities for academic success, social life, and professional development on campus that I can’t think of a better university to attend. When I think back on my time at GU, I can honestly say that I will have nothing but positive memories of the place that shaped the course of my life.
Nicole: When I visited Gonzaga for the first time more than 4 years ago, it was the first college I visited that I got “good vibes” from. And after 4 years at GU, I now understand why Gonzaga has good vibes – great academics, a vibrant athletic scene, fabulously friendly people, a well rounded curriculum, and a belief in giving back to the community.
12.What do you think THE FIRM can do for Spokane and for GU?
Wes: I think that The Firm has tremendous potential to benefit both Spokane and GU in terms of providing dependable public relations services. As we continue to grow each year, our reputation can only grow. Hopefully, the community will recognize the level of talent that our organization has, as well as the willingness of students to help other clubs, organizations, and businesses meet the goals they want to accomplish. The Firm has such a bright future at GU, I can’t wait to see what next year’s teams are able to do!
Nicole: Many great clubs and companies throughout the Gonzaga community and Spokane have a lot to offer students and consumers, their word just needs to be heard. I think that The Firm can fill that gap and help connect audiences to these valuable clubs and companies. I believe that next year’s team will continue to develop The Firm’s notoriety throughout the community through great work and good client relations.
1.Why do you love PR?
Wes: I believe that public relations exemplifies creative thinking. When you think about it, PR is really all about knowing how language works and using that knowledge to your advantage. Practitioners only have a limited number of words they can use to convey a message that resonates with people. I find it fascinating that words are as powerful as they are. When a message is effective, you can’t help but think you understand the human condition.
Nicole: Public relations is one of the very few fields that offers the opportunity to directly influence others in a positive way. Practitioners have the opportunity to share the message of their company to the world. The ability of public relations to connect people internationally to a cause is astounding; public relations is the glue between the desire to do good for a company and the realization of that desire to the world.
2.What made you want to be part of the leadership team for THE FIRM?
Wes: After having such a positive experience with The Firm last year, I really wanted to help other public relations majors get involved with it. I have a lot of respect for The Firm’s founding President / Vice President team, Torie McIntyre and Aly Dunphy, and I aspired to fill their shoes in order to keep The Firm running. Being part of the leadership team for The Firm allowed me to do this, and I have found it extremely rewarding. That being said, it is also a lot of hard work and stressful at times. That’s okay though, because I think it is beneficial to have that type of experience before graduating and entering the professional world.
Nicole: Both Torie McIntyre and Aly Dunphy (President/V.P last year) did a fabulous job of setting up a structure and client base for The Firm. I wanted to be a part of the leadership team this year because I believe that The Firm has so much to offer Gonzaga clubs and Spokane companies (not to mention all of the great experience it offers GU students). I wanted the opportunity to continue with the previous leadership team’s work and increase the student participation in The Firm and the client base. Wes and I have added a significant number of new policies and team management strategies to increase the effectiveness of The Firm, all of which couldn’t be done without the fabulous work originally done by Torie and Aly.
3.What is your favorite part of social media?
Wes: I think that social media’s greatest strength is its ability to keep interested audiences up-to-date in real time. If you follow your favorite organization on Twitter, for example, nothing says “I care about you!” like a Twitter post that previews tomorrow’s headlines.
Nicole: My favorite part of social media is that it is a great way to connect people; someone in Australia or China can read the same post as I can on my computer at home. Social media helps companies and people connect with others they wouldn’t be able to reach through any other medium.
4.What is your favorite part of PR?
Wes: My favorite part of public relations is the writing. I’m also an English major, and I have to say that writing is undoubtedly my passion in life. Writing a sentence four or five different ways, or trying to brainstorm the “best” word possible for a project, is something that I never find tiring or burdensome. Because the truth is, certain words will appeal to certain people.
Nicole: My favorite part of public relations is a combination of writing and people. I love being able to put together words into sentences that create emotions in people. I also really enjoy how writing can connect people; when someone reads a sentence or a press release about a nonprofit providing eye glasses to an old woman who hasn’t been able to read her bible in years – that is when the emotional appeal of words connects people to causes and creates change. I love public relations because it gives me the ability to use my words to positively impact the world.
5.What is your favorite pet?
Wes: I love all three of my cats back at home! Their names are Tucker, Ted, and Dicey, and they never cease to amuse me!
Nicole: I have two chinchillas, Gouda and Chi. They are hilarious to watch jump and bounce around. They each have their own personalities and it’s rewarding to watch them grow and get more comfortable with me.
6.If you could be an animal what you be and why.
Wes: This one threw me for a loop! I think it would be pretty fun to be a koala bear, if I had to pick just one awesome animal to be. As a koala bear I would just hang out in the Australian outback and take it easy. Or I might try to get a cameo on the next season of Survivor held there.
Nicole: If I could be an animal, I would definitely be a dog. They are one of the few animals that really enjoy being connected to other animals and people. Dogs also show emotion and they can recognize emotion in others; both characteristics which are very valuable.
7.What are your hobbies? What do you do in your free time?
Wes: I usually try to squeeze as much as I can into my free time, mainly because I have so little of it! But when I decide to take a break from school, I really like to play sports and have marathon sessions of watching my favorite TV shows. I play intramural football, basketball, softball, and Ultimate Frisbee, and I also enjoy action sports like bike riding, skateboarding, and skim boarding. My favorite TV shows of all time are The Office, That 70’s Show, How I Met Your Mother, and Arrested Development. All of these shows are pure comedic genius!
Nicole: In the rare bits of free time I have, I really enjoy working out. Sweating out the stresses and frustrations of the day is something that helps me stay on track. I also play all the intramural sports I can. Recently, I signed up for yoga, Zumba, and snowboarding classes – I love them all so far! I have been playing volleyball since high school and I play on the Gonzaga Women’s Club Volleyball team and it is one of my favorite hobbies. I also enjoy watching all kinds of movies and my favorite TV shows – 30 Rock, House, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. I also enjoy relaxing with friends and experiencing as much as I can in Spokane, at Gonzaga, and all over the world.
8.What do you want to gain from being part of THE FIRM?
Wes: I want to be able to say that I was instrumental in establishing The Firm as a respectable organization in Spokane. I believe that our clients are very grateful for our services and that our teams have the potential to positively benefit these clients. Having this sense of accomplishment is probably the main experience I want to take away from being part of The Firm.
Nicole: I have always been comfortable in my leadership abilities but I would also like to gain first hand experience on how a firm and client relationships function. I also want to leave a solid foundation for the upcoming leadership team to continue to establish The Firm as a legitimate public relations firm for organization throughout Spokane; I believe the need is there and there are many clients that could benefit from our services.
9.Are you excited about THE FIRM? What are your expectations?
Wes: Absolutely! My expectations have already been met by our teams, and it’s only halfway through the year. I really wanted to see enthusiasm and creative thinking from our members, and I believe that our teams have succeeded in this. I look forward to our teams carrying this energy over to next semester and producing quality documents for our clients.
Nicole: Of course! We have a lot of great individuals working with extremely appreciative clients. All of the teams are energized and ready to create some great materials, put on events, and manage communications for our clients. I expect all of the teams to work hard and have fun. My hope is that each team can create something to benefit each client and make a measurable difference.
10.Where are you from originally (before GU)?
Wes: I am originally from Poulsbo, WA. All I can say about my hometown is this: Norwegian influence, shops closed at 7 p.m., population of about 10,000, super small! Really though, I love my hometown and think it is an awesome place to live. There’s just something about the Pacific Northwest that appeals to me.
Nicole: I am originally from Los Gatos, CA. My hometown is just outside of San Jose, CA. I love the location; I am one hour from San Francisco, 45 minutes from the beach, and can choose out of 3 movie theaters within 15 minutes. I love the sunshine and you can never get enough of it in California!
11.What do you love about GU?
Wes: I love everything about Gonzaga! There are so many opportunities for academic success, social life, and professional development on campus that I can’t think of a better university to attend. When I think back on my time at GU, I can honestly say that I will have nothing but positive memories of the place that shaped the course of my life.
Nicole: When I visited Gonzaga for the first time more than 4 years ago, it was the first college I visited that I got “good vibes” from. And after 4 years at GU, I now understand why Gonzaga has good vibes – great academics, a vibrant athletic scene, fabulously friendly people, a well rounded curriculum, and a belief in giving back to the community.
12.What do you think THE FIRM can do for Spokane and for GU?
Wes: I think that The Firm has tremendous potential to benefit both Spokane and GU in terms of providing dependable public relations services. As we continue to grow each year, our reputation can only grow. Hopefully, the community will recognize the level of talent that our organization has, as well as the willingness of students to help other clubs, organizations, and businesses meet the goals they want to accomplish. The Firm has such a bright future at GU, I can’t wait to see what next year’s teams are able to do!
Nicole: Many great clubs and companies throughout the Gonzaga community and Spokane have a lot to offer students and consumers, their word just needs to be heard. I think that The Firm can fill that gap and help connect audiences to these valuable clubs and companies. I believe that next year’s team will continue to develop The Firm’s notoriety throughout the community through great work and good client relations.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Reflexology by Jean: THE FIRM Creates Logo, Writes Feature Story and Sponsors Event
After another successful meeting with Jean, our group is about ready to have documents completed by the end of the semester! Ashley has created a logo for Jean, Annie is working on the Gonzaga Bulletin feature story, and Karina is finishing a brochure. We invited Jean to participate in “Spa day” on campus the Sunday before finals week, where Jean will set up her “take-out” reflexology kit. Students will have an opportunity to experience a reflexology session with Jean at a discount price.
For next semester, our goal is create more documents and continue to appeal reflexology to athletes and dancers. Jean has suggested we create a formal disclaimer about reflexology on it “not being a medical treatment,” a tear-off sheet for her clients that includes information, answers questions, schedules appointments, and/or provides a disclaimer. We suggested an opportunity for Jean to be a guest author in the Inlander newspaper. She has continued to be a positive and flexible client to work with and the group is working well on schedule. We hope to see Jean at “the Spa” on Sunday, and we will send out notice about Jean through Morning Mail prior to Sunday. We will meet again after break.
For next semester, our goal is create more documents and continue to appeal reflexology to athletes and dancers. Jean has suggested we create a formal disclaimer about reflexology on it “not being a medical treatment,” a tear-off sheet for her clients that includes information, answers questions, schedules appointments, and/or provides a disclaimer. We suggested an opportunity for Jean to be a guest author in the Inlander newspaper. She has continued to be a positive and flexible client to work with and the group is working well on schedule. We hope to see Jean at “the Spa” on Sunday, and we will send out notice about Jean through Morning Mail prior to Sunday. We will meet again after break.
Monday, November 16, 2009
GU Look Great: THE FIRM helps owner with social media
We have been keeping in contact with Tonya and have thought of a few ideas for the future. The first thing that we will work on is getting her better acquainted with the social media world. On Saturday we are going to have a meeting with Tonya to teach her how to place advertisements on Facebook as well as get login information for her site so that we can update it with pictures, stories, etc. We are also going to work on making a Twitter page for her.
Another project that we have in the works is getting GU Look Great involved in some charity work. I am hoping to connect her with Wishing Star, a non-profit organization in Spokane, so that she can do a pro-bono haircut for one of their wish candidates. If this is an option then we can also create a press release for her.
The last thing that we are working on is creating flyers to be passed out at ticket distributions for basketball games. Tonya would like to create colored hairspray and stencils for the basketball games. Stencils would say things like "GO ZAGS, GU, etc." The hairspray colors would come in blue, red and white and would cost only about a dollar or 2 to get your hair spray-painted on game days. We need to talk to Kennel Club and the Athletics department to make sure this would be OK to do on game days. If not, then maybe she could just do the spray-painting from her salon.
That's about it for now!
Another project that we have in the works is getting GU Look Great involved in some charity work. I am hoping to connect her with Wishing Star, a non-profit organization in Spokane, so that she can do a pro-bono haircut for one of their wish candidates. If this is an option then we can also create a press release for her.
The last thing that we are working on is creating flyers to be passed out at ticket distributions for basketball games. Tonya would like to create colored hairspray and stencils for the basketball games. Stencils would say things like "GO ZAGS, GU, etc." The hairspray colors would come in blue, red and white and would cost only about a dollar or 2 to get your hair spray-painted on game days. We need to talk to Kennel Club and the Athletics department to make sure this would be OK to do on game days. If not, then maybe she could just do the spray-painting from her salon.
That's about it for now!
Monday, November 9, 2009
THE FIRM Welcomes You!
Welcome to the Official Blog for THE FIRM at Gonzaga University!
THE FIRM is Gonzaga's very own student-run public relations firm. THEFIRM facilitates pro-bono PR under PRSSA, Public Relations Student Society of America.
Specializing in all things messaging - THE FIRM provides comprehensive PR campaigns, advertising solutions and communications services to clubs at Gonzaga and businesses throughout Spokane.
Stay tuned for THE FIRM member introductions and client updates!
THE FIRM is Gonzaga's very own student-run public relations firm. THEFIRM facilitates pro-bono PR under PRSSA, Public Relations Student Society of America.
Specializing in all things messaging - THE FIRM provides comprehensive PR campaigns, advertising solutions and communications services to clubs at Gonzaga and businesses throughout Spokane.
Stay tuned for THE FIRM member introductions and client updates!
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