ADjacks Blog

Goodman promotes SD through public relations

 Wanda Goodman, 2004 graduate, is the Media and Public Relations Manager for the South Dakota Office of Tourism. Her degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a specialization in Advertising and a minor in Business helped prepare her for this position requiring a diverse set of skills.

Primary job duties – At the end of the day, it’s the job of my team and I to drive consumer travel choices to SD using public relations strategies. Our main objective is to develop public relations strategy that coordinates with our office’s marketing efforts. Other duties include writing press releases, pitching stories to journalists, handling media inquiries/phone calls and hosting writers to SD on press trips. My role also includes managing the SD Film Office. One person on my team handles inquiries about SD’s filming locations, helps obtain film permits for production companies, works with in-state crew and service businesses, and helps the in-state film industry to grow.

Most challenging aspect of my job –

• Keeping up with the ever-changing trends in communication and figuring out which of them are necessary and which are not.
• Finding the most effective way to communicate with each of our audiences (staff, the public, the media, board members, the SD visitor industry).

Favorite quote – Do or do not. There is no try. – Yoda

Favorite TV show – I’m completely and hopelessly addicted to Lost.

Most important class I took in college and why – Campaigns; it’s the closest thing to real-world experience you can get from a college class. It taught me the importance of an integrated campaign, and how imperative it is that all elements of a campaign work together.

Last book read – The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls. I loved it, and would recommend it to anyone.

 

I think students should know – Employers are very impressed when you do your research. I once interviewed a potential intern that knew about our 2010 Initiative goals program. This isn’t something we publicize very much, so I knew he did a lot of digging to find it. Because of this and some other impressive qualities, I ended up hiring him.

 

Links:
The South Dakota Office of Tourism: www.TravelSD.com or www.MediaSD.com

SD Tourism on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SDTourism

SD Tourism on Twitter: @travelsd

Wanda Goodman at LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/wandagoodman

Discover the creative part of yourself.

Fabulous. Fun. Quirky. Original.

That describes the alumni work featured in this blog post. Creativity and innovation are in demand in today’s job market. But that’s not why you should discover and pursue your personal passions. I’m inspired to pay a little more attention to my creative side by these alums.

Painter Brandi Brooks moved to San Francisco shortly after graduating from SDSU. She works as the Director of Marketing at the American Academy of Ophthalmology by day and paints in the evening. You need to visit Brandi’s web site to study her work. She has been featured in numerous juried shows in the San Francisco, CA, and Jackson Hole, WY. Brandi says the painting to the left titled, "The Yard’s Full of Yaks 2.0," was inspired by rock cairns she saw on a trip to TIbet. Her online gallery includes mostly oil paintings, but she has recently expanded into jewelry.

Ariela Bonen started her company, RBK Creations, while looking for work in the Dallas area a few years ago. With the true spirit of an entrepreneur, she and her mother, Brenda, opened a shop on Etsy where you can check out her original bouquets, boutonnieres, and other button inspired work. Her most recent work is featured at flickr.

Quite a few bloggers have discovered RBK Creations recently. These posts can be found under Ariela's profile link at Esty. The photo to the right is from Ariela's photoshoot by Rockstar Photography. With a full-time job, she spends evenings creating designs for weddings, baby showers and other festive occasions.

True inspiration.

Alum writes blog for young professionals

Check out Renee Halgerson's blog at Cooper Ink Designs. She offers interview and resume advice, along with sharing interesting articles about the job environment and trends.

Copper Ink Design Blog

Have you started branding yourself online with a blog and social media strategies? If not, it should be at the top of your list of New Year's resolutions.

Alumna and owner of Copper Ink Design

Renee Halgerson

Job title: Marketing Specialist at SDN Communications and Graphic Designer for my own business, Copper Ink Design.

Primary job duties: At SDN, I help to make sure the corporate brand sets us apart and is on target with our customers’ expectations. I also get to create brochures, design logos, layout the newsletter, organize big events, attend trade shows, and help plan the marketing strategy for the year. I started Copper Ink in 2006, and help small businesses establish their branding through graphic design and marketing strategies.

Year graduated: May 2005 (Journalism Major with Graphic Design, Marketing, and Spanish Minors)

Internship while in college: Daktronics Commercial Marketing

Other industry activites: AIGA board member, SDSU Staters board member, member of SDAF, volunteer for Junior Achievement, member of Toastmasters, and helped start a monthly professional development book club in Sioux Falls.

Favorite quote: “You get the best out of others when you give the best of yourself.”  ~Harvey Firestone

Favorite movies: The Shawshank Redemption, The Fugitive, A Few Good Men

Favorite ad campaign and why: The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. I think that campaign has so much depth. It not only sells the product, but supports the “The Dove Self-Esteem Fund” and conducts workshops for girls. In a country obsessed with looks, weight and vanity, this campaign reminds women that real beauty starts from within.

What no one knows: As a kid, I loved the Ninja Turtles and MacGyver.

I like to: Travel. I’ve been to 10 foreign countries so far and hope to visit all (new) 7 Wonders of the World some day. “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”

Advice: Do as much as you can to be involved. Volunteer for an organization you are passionate about and make lifelong contacts along the way. Networking at events will be much easier when you are in involved with the business community.

I think students should know that: You are so fortunate to have outstanding instructors in the SDSU Journalism Department. Don’t take them for granted—learn from them, challenge yourself, and take advantage of opportunities they offer you. Your teachers can make great references when you are looking for that first job.

Links: SDN Communications, Copper Ink Design, AIGA South Dakota, Renee's LinkedIn Profile

Grad Student offers insight to Ad students...

Jerry Smith

Job title and company work for: Student, University of Texas at Arlington, Master of Science in Marketing Research. Intern, DMS Research (Online sample company).

Primary job duties: Show up to class, study and participate in class discussion! Currently my courses are Marketing Information Management, Qualitative Research, Marketing Research Seminar, and Managerial Accounting (ugh). I am halfway through the 39 credit program. The courses are either focused on numbers (stats) or discussion (marketing problems). 

Year graduated: Spring 2007

Internship while in college: Daktronics, Keyframe marketing department.

Other industry activities: Currently I am the president of the UTA Marketing Research Graduate Student Association. We spend a lot of time here just trying to get face time with area professionals. Networking is key in the business and can get you a long way.

Favorite part of my job: Interacting with other students and co-workers who share the same passion for marketing research. Not many people accidentally stumble into the industry, so you know that people are willing to share knowledge and innovate. It’s always changing and companies are realizing that in order to succeed, they need to depend on research more and more. There is a high demand for researchers.

Favorite movie: Breaking Away.

Favorite ad campaign and why: Sonic Drive-in. It just makes me laugh out loud every time I see it for some reason.

Favorite class at college: Online wellness.

Most important class I took in college and why: Campaigns (MCOM 442). You realize the importance of working with others and meeting deadlines on your own without a professor always looking over your shoulder.

Interests: Spending time with my wife, Megan, exploring Dallas, and racing my bike.

Advice: Get as much face time with industry people as possible. Talk to them about your classes, what you’re studying, what you enjoy, projects, etc. They will remember you. Networking can really take you a long way. Figure out what you are interested in. When you sound confident it can really impress potential employers.

I think students should know that: Graduate school isn’t as scary as it sounds (at least it sounded scary to me). Once you get involved, you realize that everyone else has similar goals to you and is in the same situation. The professors use a lot of in-class discussion instead of lecturing, so the students are actually forming most classes and you have a lot of freedom.

Resume advice: Don’t try too hard. Just lay out what experience you have and what your goals are.

Links:

www.uta.edu/msmr

www.dms-research.com

LinkedIn address:

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/6/411/60a

Advice from a Copywriter...

Kristy Andersen

Job title and company work for: Copywriter, Lawrence & Schiller

Primary job duties: I get paid to think all day! Partnered with my team’s art director, I come up with ad campaign concepts and am then responsible for writing the headlines, tag lines and ad copy that go with them. I am also responsible for naming and branding new products, helping with the production and direction of TV and radio spots, proofing and editing copy, writing long and short format videos and writing for the web, including search engine optimization, keyword research, pay per click and web analytics.

Year graduated: 2006

Internship while in college: SDN Communications; I also worked at Daktronics.

Other industry activities: SDAF – education committee, Sioux Empire United Way, volunteer at Sioux Falls Area Humane Society

Favorite part of my job: I love the feeling you get when you know you’ve just had a great idea...and the satisfaction you get from seeing it carried through to real life! The agency environment is also different from that of any other job; it’s much more relaxed, flexible and fun and I love the teamwork and collaboration we have. Everyone is committed to the same goals, and you know everyone is working as hard as they can to achieve them. With that much determination, you get great things done!

Most challenging aspect of my job: Aside from attempting to be creative and original every day, sometimes working with clients can be a challenge; you can have a wonderful idea, but getting the client to buy into it can be difficult. That’s why every idea we come up with has to be backed with research and aimed at achieving the client’s exact strategic goals. It’s sometimes a tough compromise between what we think is great creative and what they’re willing to do.

Favorite music: It’s hard to name just one: Rufus Wainwright, Ben Folds, Foo Fighters, Rilo Kiley, The New Amsterdams, Justin Timberlake

Favorite TV show: Heroes, The Daily Show, Grey’s Anatomy, filthy reality television

Hobbies: Reading, music, disc golf, exercising (it’s a great way to blow off some steam or clear your head when you’re searching for concepts and ideas)

Advice: Go to SDAF functions! It’s a good chance to meet people who could be interviewing you some day. Also, keep in touch with your advertising classmates; they’re often good sources for new job openings and can be one of your best allies if you’re interviewing.

Resume advice: Proofread, proofread, proofread. Also, keep your resume simple, but give it some punch at the same time. Since I wanted a copywriting position where I would need to brand products, I gave myself a positioning line on my resume and carried it through to my portfolio, letterhead, etc. Two years later, people at work still call me “The Full Circle Copywriter,” so apparently it stuck! Also, don’t underestimate the importance of sending a prompt, handwritten thank you note after every interview.

Company web address: www.l-s.com

Company Blog: http://www.ls-unscripted.com/

LinkedIn address: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/7/616/a72.

Networking is Key!

Alumni Profile:  Kyle Sydow

Job title and company work for: Regional Development Director, Great Lakes Region, Daktronics Sports Marketing

Primary job duties: Develop sports marketing platforms for colleges and high schools to fund new scoring and video equipment for their stadiums and arenas.

Year graduated: Dec. 06

Internship while in college: DSM (Daktronics Sports Marketing)

Favorite part of my job:  Working with businesses to create a sports marketing campaign to meet their goals.

Favorite quote: “Personal satisfaction, I believe, must come in a day-to-day feeling that one has earned his or her pay.”- Leo Burnett

Favorite movie:  Wedding Crashers

Favorite TV show: The Office

Favorite ad campaign and why: Budweiser- I must be in their target audience because I can relate to most all of their ads.

Favorite class at college: MCOM 442 Integrated Marketing Communications Campaigns

Most important class I took in college: MCOM 314 Sales, Promotion and Marketing

Book I recommend: The Exceptional Presenter

Interests: Hiking, camping, Cubs baseball, and hunting.

Advice: Keep up to date with what is going on in the industry; it will impress people the most. Follow industry websites, check blogs, and watch the news. Don’t go through college treating it like high school; your homework and class work is only half of the value. The other half is networking, thinking outside the box and building confidence in your skills. If you can do that by the time you graduate you will be extremely valuable to any business.

Email: ksydow@daktronics.com

Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kylesydow

Company Web Address: http://www.daktronics.com/dsm

Alum Encourages Informational Interviews

Sarah Biggerstaff

Account Executive at Campbell Mithun, Minneapolis, MN

Primary job duties: Any day to day client requests; scheduling, planning and running meetings with clients and internal teams; managing budgets; strategy development; reviewing of creative executions; relaying client requests to internal teams and making sure they are addressed; briefing creative teams for new assignments.

Year graduated: 2005 graduate in Advertising Specialization within the Dept. of Journalism & Mass Comm

Internship while in college: USA Volleyball, Marketing.

Other industry activities: Ad2 (AdFed for people under 32), AAAAs, AAAAs team competition (same idea as NSAC but teammates are people from other agencies in the city).

Most challenging aspect of my job: Making sure the clients get what they need while also making sure the best creative ends up in the market.

What people don’t know about my job: It’s not as glamorous as it is on TV.

Most important class I took in college: Campaigns. It’s the closest thing to real work experience you get in college. It taught me how necessary it is for media, creative, strategy, etc. to work well together in order to create a cohesive campaign.

Advice: Go on informational interviews. As much as you hear it, it really does work–the people who were impressive at their informational interviews are often the first people to get called when a job opens up.

What I didn’t know about the work world when I left college: There are many more jobs in advertising than I learned about at SDSU. I had no idea what type of opportunities there were until I started at CM. If you aren’t sure what you want to do, talk to an HR person at an agency you’re interested in and set up short informational interviews with a variety of positions the agency offers.

Resume advice: If you don’t have agency experience, do everything you can to show how the experience you DO have is relevant to an agency. Things like time management, leadership, working in teams, presenting to groups of people, and being self motivated are key.

Company web address: http://www.campbellmithun.com/

LinkedIn address:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahbiggerstaff  

Why attend SDAF meetings?

Every month marketing communications and advertising professionals come together for a South Dakota Advertising Federation lunch featuring a professional speaker. Professionals often tell me how much they enjoyed attending meetings as a student and how important it is for today’s students to attend these meetings. They know it. I know it. Do you know it?

Laura Daugaard, a recent graduate and account coordinator at Lawrence and Schiller, shared her thoughts about SDAF meetings in a recent email interview.

Question: Why you think it is important to attend SDAF meetings as a student?

Laura:  “SDAF meetings offer networking opportunities to meet area professionals. Student day is especially important…I know several SDSU grads who received internships because of the people they met at SDAF meetings.”

Question: What did you like about attending SDAF meetings as a student?

Laura: “It’s nice to get out of the classroom, and observe first hand what other people in the advertising and marketing industry are learning. You may be surprised to hear some of the same things you’re learning in school.”

Question:  What did attending an SDAF meeting as a student do for you?

Laura: “Attending the SDAF meetings really gave me a foot in the door with area businesses. I met many people that I would later recognize at agency tours. The Student Day round table discussions especially helped me figure out what I wanted to do within advertising.  Now, as an advertising and marketing professional (if I can call myself that), it’s great to see other students at SDAF functions.”

There you have it! The $20 cost is worth it. You may meet someone from this year’s scholarship committee. Or, you might run into someone looking for an intern just like you. Join us!