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Day 30: A Day as a Public Relations Specialist for a Construction Firm

We made it! 30 Days of Blogging! Now we'll check our rankings and see how we did.

30 Days of Blogging is a social media initiative of the Central West Coast Chapter's Emerging Communications Group. We asked diverse public relations professionals and affiliate members in our professional network to contribute a day in their life. We published one every day for ...30 days. Here is our final post in this series. 

Name: Yen Reed
Position: Public Relations Specialist
Company:Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc.
Type: Corporate

My Day on Thurs, July 31

8:30 am - Check & reply emails, read online newspaper, e-newsletters, and happenings in the world of construction

9:00 am - Set priority for the day

9:10 am - Wrote a letter to go with our political support check.  I wrote another letter to the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, stating that we would be honored to be the Lead Sponsor of their Donor Appreciation Reception.

9:30 am - Drove out to Ringling College to give a tour of the New Academic Building to their public relations Manager.  The project manager and superintendent of this project accompanied us on the tour and explained the various components of the construction.  Also took some construction photos while on the tour.  After the tour, the PR Manager and I brainstormed pr plans for the project.

10:15 am - I love setting my appointments strategically (especially with the way gas prices are these days).  So while I was already on Ringling campus, I stopped by the college’s Alumni office, to drop off some shirt samples and discussed more details about the shirts designs.  Willis Smith Construction is the golf shirt sponsor for their 8th Annual Golf Tournament in November. 

10:50 am - Reviewed a press release from the public relations manager at Ringling Museum, with regards to a project we are doing.  I checked the press release and then emailed it to the project manager to double check it.  I also emailed the PR manager to let her know that it might take a day or two to get back to her

11:15 am - I am already planning my replacement for when I am on maternity leave.  So I met our first candidate and she interviewed our vice president and CMO.  I later gave her a tour of the office and we chatted a little about the company and what I do

12:00 pm - Editor of the Gulf Coast Business Review called to request additional information of two projects that I had submitted for their special focus issue on August 22, Construction Guide, Top 30 Gulf Coast Projects.  He said that both projects probably made it onto the list.  I emailed him the information he needed. 

12:25 pm - Hunger hits and I am starving.  My husband ate everything I cooked last night, and that is why I am eating ramen noodles for lunch today. 

12:55pm - Contacted my shirt supplier about ordering t-shirts for the superintendents.  Confirmed shirts details and pricing.  I told him to proceed with the shirts.

1:05 pm - Spent a good chunk of time putting together and filling in an application for the Tampa Bay CEO of the Year 2008 award.  These awards are always a lengthy project of answering all kinds of questions.  Today was the first draft and the application is due August 22, so I still have time to relook this another day. 

2:30 pm - There are days in public relations when all you is write, write and write some more.  I am submitting two of our projects for the Southeast Construction Journal Best of ’08.  I am nominating the Sarasota Opera House and Southside Elementary School.  I have all gathered all the information from the project managers and will now sit and start putting this application together. 

4:00 pm - Went off to a Leadership Sarasota County meeting to discuss about an upcoming day for the class of 2009, Health & Human Services Day.  I am on the committee for that day.

5.10 pm - Stopped by the chamber to drop off a check for the golf tournament.  On my way home!   

Willis A. Smith Construction, Inc. is a Sarasota based construction firm primarily serving Southwest Florida since 1972.  As the oldest construction company in Sarasota, the corporation enjoys an excellent reputation with a solid background in commercial, industrial, educational, healthcare, museum specialty work and sustainable construction.  The company is also an advocate and a leader in ‘green’ construction and has nine LEED Accredited Professionals (green building experts) on staff.  They have also started construction on an innovative and inspiring sustainable headquarters in Lakewood Ranch that will be completed by end of 2008.

Day 29: A Day in the Life As A COO for a Non-Profit

30 Days of Blogging is a social media initiative of the Central West Coast Chapter's Emerging Communications Group. Read about a day in the life of diverse public relations professionals and affiliate members in our professional network every day for four weeks.

Erin McLeod

Chief Operating Officer

Senior Friendship Centers

Non Profit

There's no such thing as a typical day for me anymore. Bouncing back and forth between PR, operations, community work in multiple counties, I'm doing well to keep most of it straight. This isn't too thrilling, but it's certainly "a day in the life of..."

Here was my day:

6:20 brew cup of Earl Gray, stretch and meditate for a few minutes...best to start from a place of peace and try to hold on to that feeling.

6:45 Shower

7:00 drink tea and go through email so inbox is taken care of before I hit the chair

7:30 get ready for the day... Check RSS feeds for leading news, industry news, regional headlines in the counties where Senior Friendship Centers sites are located

8:00 out the door for a quick breakfast meeting with Girls Inc and author of Hurricane Season, Sonja Zant. We're planning a collaborative mentoring program to span three generations – sounds like fun!

9:00 check in with receptionist/volunteers at welcome desk

Hit the chair: review the to-do list leftover from yesterday...skip the stuff I avoided yesterday...so much for to-do lists!

9:15 A/C unit in nutrition department is down and our facilities manager is on vacation. Delegate scheduling for repair to a team member since I'll be on the road in the next 30 minutes.

9:25 Take call from family member concerned about parents looking for direction – refer to Caregiver Resource Center

9:40 Finishing touches on the informational packet I'll need a visitor for later today. Pull data from email about recent Tech Boot Camp for 10am interview.

9:50 Leave for the Education Channel where the next in the Healthy Aging Series will be about seniors and technology. This is where I'll need to rattle off some stats and trends...so glad my teammate did her homework.

10:00 Sit in front of the camera – ask the cameraman to try and make me look 15 pounds lighter and 15 years younger. Not likely.

10:45 40 minute drive our campus in Venice where I'm meeting a potential Partnership Council member for a tour of our operations. Make some calls during the drive to management team members in Naples and Arcadia.

11: 10 Get the call the A/C repairman has found a burst hot water heater pipe and has turned off the water source and is doing his best to help get rid of the flood which happens to be upstairs. Delegate coordination to a colleague who is researching our plumber of choice in the absence of the facilities manager. I know he is on a well-deserved vacation from all of this, but man, he is missed!

11:45 After the tour of our Venice campus, send that nice person on their way with an armful of print material, all about SFC. Meet with staff from fiscal to review a program budget; meet with new Center manager to talk about fall programming, computer lab renovation and volunteer needs.

1:50 Leave for Sarasota – anothere 40 minutes in the car. Return calls to management staff in Fort Myers to discuss funding challenges. Call Jeff Nall to see when he plans on arriving in Orlando for the FPRA Annual Conference. We plan to connect sometime to talk aging business and PR scoop.

2:40 Arrive just in time to set up 3pm conference call for SFC Board and staff members who would like to participate in the review meeting of our recent rebranding retreat with Art Mahoney. Art guides us skillfully through the process and lays out a draft of the brand statement prepared by our executive team.

As soon as this meeting wraps, I'll re-draft the draft inserting Board comments and get the final report ready to present to AdFed committee who is taking on our rebranding efforts as their community service project.

4:35 Back to the office to see what piled up during the day. Not bad – thank God for that Blackberry I curse every day. I take it all back.

4:55 Pull up the PowerPoint presentation I'll need to finish for a mid-August workshop I'm conducting at FCOA (FL Council on Aging) conference in Orlando. Drop in photos from Tech Boot Camp and pull in the data to support successes as well as lessons learned. I know I love to hear the good, bad and ugly of a case study, so I will try to include without making it too awkward.

5:30 Review final draft of four SFC posters to go in the new food court of Sarasota International Airport right next to the new Dunkin Donuts. They're great – simple message, emotional photos and call to action. I'll have to finish the post card takeaways that will be displayed for each one. Pull that file out to take home and complete edits tonight. Jot down a few things from the ToDo list I just never got to...left from yesterday, so I'm wondering if I'll ever get to them.

6:00 Out the door to a United Way Women's Initiative networking function at Flemings. Take some extra cards to have handy.

7:50 Arrive home to whip up something light – not very hungry since they had some pretty delicious noshies at the event...but hubby is just getting home, too and he's starved. Cook, eat a little and feet up to read a little more in my Randy Wayne White book, Black Widow.

9:30 One last peek at the email barrage. All's quiet on that front for now – only a few junk emails have snuck in. Sometimes I wonder about the effectiveness of all that email! I send a few quick follow up emails to folks I met tonight at the event. I know – I'm just adding to the chaos of someone else's inbox. Sorry ‘bout that, chief!

10:15 Eyes won't focus, so that file with airport takeaways will have to wait for tomorrow morning. The mattress calls my name...the one thing I can count on: tomorrow will be just as much fun.

Senior Friendship Centers, Inc., established in 1973, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping older adults live with dignity and independence in Sarasota, Desoto, Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties. Funded in part by State and Federal agencies, and support from private foundations and individuals, Senior Friendship Centers serves more than 10,000 older adults annually. Visit www.seniorfriendship.comfor more information.

Day 28: First Days of the 2008 FPRA Conference in Orlando

30 Days of Blogging is a social media initiative of the Central West Coast Chapter's Emerging Communications Group. Read about a day in the life of diverse public relations professionals and affiliate members in our professional network every day for four weeks.

Lynn Hobeck Bates
Public Relations Manager
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art

Sunday, August 3, 2008

1:30 p.m. Arrive at the Gaylord Palms Hotel for the Florida Public Relations Conference. After figuring out my way around, with help from the bellman, I got to my room, grabbed an apple and headed off to the incoming board session.

2-5 p.m.  I attend a session for thhe incoming local boards. It was great to see so many CWC folks there. It looks like we've been doing a great job and I learned some new ideas for my second year as V.P. of Media Relations

5 p.m.  I am exhausted so I head back up to my room. It is too late for the pool so I take a cat nap and read a magazine.

5:30 p.m.  My roommate checks in and we chat and catch up.

6:15 p.m. Head off to dinner with my roommate and fellow chapter members to have dinner on the "boat"--a fake ship at Sunset Sam's, the Key-West themed restaurant in the resort's atrium. This hotel has everything so you really don't need to leave.

8:00 p.m.  Head over to the meet and greet reception. Good thing I saved room for desserts because this event is a sweet-tooth's dream and dentist's nightmare. It is great catching up with CWC members who I don't get a chance to chat with much at the luncheons.

9:15 p.m.  The president-elect invites me to go shopping in the store.  What fun, except I'm still exhausted, but I'm not one to pass up "window" shopping.

10:00 p.m.  Head up to the room. Time for bed. Read a little and then chat with my roommate for awhile about work, life. She and I find that we have a lot in common.

Monday, August 4, 2008

5:45 a.m.  My alarm goes off. I didn't sleep well so this is not a welcome song.  I hit the snooze and lay there for another half hour.

6:15 a.m. Finally get out of bed, put on my work-out clothes and groggily try to master the maze to the gym. I don't see anyone else on my walk and wonder if  someone is trying to give me a hint that I should be treating this more like a vacation than work. Nonsense—I continue my mission to the gym.

7:15 a.m.  Finish a four mile run on the treadmill. I usually run with a group on Monday mornings outside, but pushed myself through the duel drudgery of running and a lack of changing scenery.  The local TV station helps.  The news is covered with the story of a missing child from Orlando that has made it to national news. I'm convinced that the mom of missing Caylee is hiding something.

8:15 a.m.  Dressed and ready to go, Jessica, my roommate and I head out for the meetings.  I actually like getting in business attire. I feel more empowered.  Walking in heels around 66-acres at the Museum isn't exactly practical though.

8:30 a.m.  Enjoyed a continental breakfast and more catching up with CWC members. I'm excited that we have a great turnout to this year's conference.

8:45 a.m. Head into the first speaker.  He is inspirational and I took home some good notes.

10:10 a.m.  Hot tea in hand- I'm always freezing at conferences despite being dressed like an Eskimo- I head to the crisis communication's session led by a gentleman from Baton Rouge.  I need this one as I am the alternate team leader in a crisis and I don't want to screw it up.  The other session sounds great too, but I can always read the blog.

This session is great. The speaker was the most engaging speaker I've seen at the conference in awhile, albeit a bit irreverent, nonetheless, I am able to take back helpful tools and tactics.

11:15 a.m.  Break. I put a call into work to see how everything is going. All is well. I've great co-workers so I knew they would be fine.

11:20 a.m.  Lunch. Great, I'm hungry.    It is long.  Our chapter won the communications Award for our media relations, newsletter, email campaigns and the blog (Suzanne Dameron deserves most of the credit here--she has done a great job managing the blog and roping us all in to write.)

Much to everyone's astonishment the CWC won the coveted "Chapter of the Year" award.  Yeah CWC!  Hard work and dedication does pay off.

1:50 p.m.  Call back to the office to share news about the award.   

2:00 p.m.  Attend afternoon session on grassroots campaigning.  This didn't really apply to me much at the Museum, but I still learned some good tips to take back to the office.

3:00 p.m.  Ahh, finally free time and the long-anticipated lounge by the pool is in order.  The blog will have to wait.  Grab a drink and sit by the pool and a hop in the hot tub is exactly what I've been craving.

5:00 p.m. It is back to room, shower, and finally begin to write the blog from my day. The fund raiser.  I have a shirt that marginally passes for 70's--I don't dream that I'll fool anyone.

6:30 p.m.  Funk-tion Fund raiser.  I don my modern-day version of “70's inspired clothing- pink tie-dyed shirt, jeans and wedges and head back over to the convention center.

The food was amazing. I can feel my cholesterol rising with every succulent morsel, but who care's how often do I get shrimp the size of my hand alongside lobster tails and stone crab?  Pretty much never.  I'll take it, thank you.  The crowning jewel:  we made lots of money for education. Way to go FPRA!

10:00 p.m. Our future president invites me over to her room for pizza along with her roommate and other chapter members and I stay up girl talking, laughing and eating.  I haven't done in years—mental note—have a girls weekend with friends soon.

1:00 a.m. Don't realize it is this late. I go back to my room and crash. The gym will have to wait tomorrow.  

Day 27: A Day as President of the CWC Chapter

30 Days of Blogging is a social media initiative of the Central West Coast Chapter's Emerging Communications Group. Read about a day in the life of diverse public relations professionals and affiliate members in our professional network every day for the next four weeks.

Dee Zulauf, APR

President, Central West Coast Chapter of FPRA
Partner, EnviZage Public Relations & Project Management
Thirty-one year public relations professional, electronic & print producer, IT coach and website developer for SCTI, Sarasota County Public Schools

70th Anniversary FPRA State Conference at The Gaylord in Kissimmee

7:45a
Yikes! I should have used the wake-up call system. As I rush around and get ready, I think about all of the long days I’ve been putting in and what great timing for a break at The Gaylord. This is a big transitional year for me as I leave a 31-year career and transition into my 4-year old PR business on a semi-permanent basis. (There are financial benefits to dedicating and committing “a-lot-of-years” to a career with a retirement system.)

But, I am also figuring out how to “squeeze in time” to work on the new Central West Coast chapter website while I am here. After several years of struggling with a proprietary website, we are about to launch a brand-new one! There is still content to write and upload, but it is a wonderful feeling to know that the new CWC board and webmaster will have fewer technical challenges and a well-designed website to work with.

As I walk across the huge atrium to the convention center, I also think about my husband and how supportive and proud he is of my pursuits and accomplishments… AND how ready he is to have this chapter year end. No one knows better than he does just how much time I’ve devoted to being the president of the Central West Coast chapter, and here I am, at a culminating activity for all chapters… the annual conference!

8:30a
Wow… did I really make it down to the convention center on time? And there’s part of the team from CWC! It is amazing to have 30 people from the chapter here! It is also exciting to see familiar faces from around the state! This conference is always a great motivator for me and, as usual, everything is so well organized, professional, and exciting!

8:50a
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Jim Tsokanos, President of North America & Managing Director of MS&L, New York
Can’t believe he is under 40 and has accomplished soooooo much! His presentation? “How to Build a Successful PR Career in the Multilogue” What is a multilogue? Think dialogue…. wait, no need for me to explain. Just click on this link and go straight to Jim’s summary on the FPRA/BLOG….
http://www.fprablog.com/2008/08/fpra_annual_conference_general_4.php
Be sure to look for his Ten Ways to Get Ahead in the Multilogue.

10:10a
As a Counselor’s Network member (click here for info… https://www.fpra.org/secure/cn_appform.asp), I participate in the breakout session with Jim Tsokanos. It is a less formal Q&A, where you can ask specific questions and learn! Name any topic and Jim provides an insider’s perspective!

11:20a
PRESIDENTS’ LUNCHEON!
Okay, I admit that I did think about the state president’s recognitions that are awarded during the Monday, Presidents’ Luncheon! The CWC Board & committee members and I worked very hard this year to build a strong chapter that is in tune with our evolving profession. But, the competition will be tough since the state is full of very active and impressive chapters.

Chapter Award: “Communications”
Suzanne Sparling, APR and FPRA State President, states that this was a very hard selection. (My thoughts are that the Central West Coast Chapter has earned this recognition before and it is a very important one for us. Our theme this year was “Rethinking Communications,” so not only were we striving to interact with current and prospective members, we were trying new communication tools. It would be awesome to receive this recognition again!)

“It is a tie,” continues Suzanne, “the Space Coast Chapter, Linda Herridge, President, and the CENTRAL WEST COAST CHAPTER, Dee Zulauf, APR, President!”

Yeah! We worked hard for this recognition and I am very proud to be selected!

But, I never anticipated the next award… okay never is a big word, but I would rather be surprised than disappointed! Suzanne begins to site the accomplishments of the “2008 Outstanding Chapter of the Year” and the words sound familiar. FYI, each chapter president submits a chapter report in early June. It is a daunting task…. eleven sections, each with up to a dozen questions to respond to. The report must reflect the chapter’s achievements well, as this is the basis for the state president’s selections. It is an important challenge and I spent untold hours collecting materials, accumulating and comparing data, identifying board members for their responsibilities and acknowledging their attainments, preparing images & designing in PhotoShop, and writing, writing, writing.

Guess what… Suzanne announced the “Outstanding Chapter of the Year” is the Central West Coast Chapter, Dee Zulauf, APR, President!

What did I feel? Shock…. joy…. An extreme sense of pride and accomplishment! It is a moment I will always remember and was so pleased to share it with an outstanding board: Debby Steele, Tom Nunan, APR, Coleen Miller, Emily Sperling, Lynn Hobeck Bates, Amanda Eyer, Suzanne Dameron, Jake Keiser, Peg Palmer, Kerry Conboy, Susan Blake, Susie Bowie, Jessica Moats, Julie Platt, APR, and Yen Reed… chapter past-presidents: Erin McLeod, Jennifer Moss, APR, Colleen Thayer, ARP, Terri Behling, APR, Chris Carroll, APR, CPRC, Cheray Keyes-Shima, APR, CPRC, and Ginya Carnahan, APR, CPRC…. and the great members of our chapter!

The rest of the luncheon was very moving and fun... The past-president’s comments, installation of 2008-09 officers, incoming president’s acceptance speech, and out-going president’s closing remarks. But, my mind was still trying to comprehend that the Central West Coast Chapter is the OUTSTANDING CHAPTER OF THE YEAR!!!

1:50p
Wow! with Carrie Zimmerman was a stimulating presentation on what creative ideas and public relations can accomplishment for very few dollars! Read about her fast-paced presentation on “Polarize to Magnetize” at http://www.fprablog.com/2008/08/fpra_annual_conference_breakou_8.php.

4:05pm
The last state board meeting of the year. The group of executive board members and chapter presidents and president-elects have provided a wonderful opportunity to learn and share and grow. I will miss seeing everyone!

6:30p
The Education Foundation Funk-tion with a 70’s flare!
The event raises dollars for scholarships for college students majoring in public relations.

9:30p
Enjoyed relaxing in the state president’s penthouse! It was a super opportunity to share and toast the fabulous day and year with a little champagne!

11:30p
What a great day! It has been a remarkable year working with a great team of board and chapter members. I’m looking forward to seeing the incoming board take the reigns and continue building a strong chapter with great member benefits… one of which is knowing that they are part of the 2008 Outstanding Chapter of the Year!

SPECIAL NOTE: Thanks to all of you who have contributed to this blog. It is very enlightening to learn how diverse and yet similar so many of our daily responsibilities are. Thank you for sharing a little bit of your life as part of the “CWC 30-days of Blogging!”

Dee

Day 26: A Day as a Blogger for the 2008 FPRA Annual Conference

30 Days of Blogging is a social media initiative of the Central West Coast Chapter's Emerging Communications Group. Read about a day in the life of diverse public relations professionals and affiliate members in our professional network; runs through early August. 

Suzanne Dameron
Director, Emerging Communications
Central West Coast Chapter
Florida Public Relations Association

August 3, 2008

I volunteered to be a member of the Blog Team for the 2008 Florida Public Relations Annual Conference. We will have our first meeting at 5pm today as a group.

10:15 am. Incoming CWC President Debby Steele meets me in the parking lot of Sugar and Spice off the I-75 exit at Bee Ridge in Sarasota. She just returned from another conference and due to bad weather and cancelled flights, didn’t get back home until 4am. She snatched about 3 hours of sleep and got up to drive us to the 2008 FPRA conference. She’s apologetic that she is a few minutes late!

We chat about the upcoming year in our chapter. Recently, several people have moved and transferred, left jobs and taken new ones. We have several new faces in our chapter and new members on the board. Debby has given a lot of thought to the upcoming year - we already have a guest speaker at the board retreat – one of the FPRA state executive committee will talk to our group about what’s going to be happening at the state level this year.

1:00 pm. We arrive at the Gaylord Hotel in Kissimmee, Florida, just outside Orlando. “Spectacular”, the Gaylord’s website description, could be an understatement. It’s a 1500-room hotel with 4 ½ acres of lush gardens under a covered atrium. Orchids, ferns, caladiums, palms and other tropical flora and fauna cover the area in cascading tiers. Pools with carp and koi wind around the area. The transparent roof keeps all the natural light in and the heat and bugs out. It’s hard to believe this is August in Florida.

1: 30 pm. We’ve checked into our rooms and are now in the Key West, one of several dining areas tucked in and around the gardens. The food is exquisite.

2:00 pm. Debby heads off for a meeting and I return to the room to do some work before the conference starts. A client had some great news and we spent Friday afternoon crafting an e blast and news release; I did not get a chance to finish some things I needed to do before leaving town. The bed is very soft.

5:00 pm. I head down for the blogger’s meeting.

We meet at the Java Coast, a coffee and sandwich shop with a wireless connection. Chris Gent, the team leader, introduces everyone. Paul Ramey, APR, Dr. Alan Moore, Amanda Forbes, graduate communications student Kelly Donovan and I are the team.

Chris briefly talks about how blogging developed at the conference. Initially, there was resistance; like other organizations, the FPRA wondered about “giving away” information that attending members had paid to hear. When attendance at conference increased the following year, they found out it was because of the blog – it had better conveyed than any brochure the valuable opportunities available by attending conference – in addition to the professional development, networking with professionals from all over the state can't be beat. The FPRA blog has raised the profile of the conference – blog traffic now comes from all over the world. Last year they had 7000 page views.

We are all given our passwords to find out they aren’t working. The darkside of technology! While we wait for the snafu to get fixed, Chris walks us through the FPRA blogsite. It’s very similar to Typepad, our chapter’s bloghost  - but then, they are both based on the Movable Type word processing software. Chris has arranged the schedule so that each of us is only scheduled to blog once or twice a day – however, we are encouraged to post as much as we would like. 

We will be blogging in “real time.” In theory, real time would be blogging during the session and having it post at the same time. But with wireless, if you lose the signal, you lose your work. From an early experience in losing a session by blogging in real time, I have learned to blog in Word, do a quick edit and post asap to the blogsite. That is what our blog team will do as well. Apparently we have all had that happen and learned from it.

The password is fixed and we’re all on. In five minutes, we’ve all mastered what we need to do to post session notes.  I am scheduled to do one of the breakout sessions tomorrow morning. I am also scheduled to cover one of the chocolate breaks. That will be fun.

6:30 pm. Debby and I head over The Hickory Steakhouse. We sit “outside” in this area of the covered atrium. Florida without bugs. Still marvelous. Another great meal; colleagues join us.

8:30 pm. It’s the incoming president’s reception. They have roped off a large section of the atrium and we’re mingling in front of a waterfall under the stars. We catch up with people we haven’t seen since last year and a few of us decide that before the end of the conference, we will try to find a good answer to: How many PR professionals does it take to change a light bulb? It’s time public relations had an answer to this definitive industry question. Colleen and I review the fitness room schedule. We decide to attend the Pilates class tomorrow at 4pm.

Why not check out the FPRABLOG now? 

Suzanne Dameron

Day 25: A Day as the VP of Marketing Communications of the Council on Aging

30 Days of Blogging is a social media initiative of the Central West Coast Chapter's Emerging Communications Group. Read about a day in the life of diverse public relations professionals and affiliate members in our professional network every day for the next four weeks.

Name: Jeff Nall, APR, CPRC
Position: VP, Marketing Communications
Company: Council on Aging of West Florida
Type: Not-for-profit

A day in the life of ……… an interesting concept. With no two days alike, the word “a” is certainly key. Though I am very proud to say I am a public relations practitioner, I have been known to jokingly reply “juggler” or “plate spinner” when asked about my occupation. Though there are a few days every so often that make me wish for a job in an assembly line screwing nuts on bolts not talking to anyone, I know myself well enough to know I wouldn’t last a full week. I love my job and all the craziness it entails!

Tuesday, July 29

8:00 am – Heading out to the TV studio to tape our weekly television program, Coming of Age, Lifestyle Television for Seniors. As executive producer and host of the program, my responsibilities include booking guests, creating questions, writing the teleprompter intro and gathering guest information for the supers.

10:00 am – Arrived back to the office. The show went well. Both guests did a great job, which is good because I will run this show for two weeks while I go to the FPRA Annual Conference. Wouldn’t miss it! Hope to see you there. However, if you can’t make it, don’t forget to participate via www.fprablog.com.

10:30 am – Turning on the computer while listening to voice mails. Skimming through the emails, I quickly prioritize which I need to review first.

11:00 a.m. - After returning a few emails and phone calls, including a call from the media regarding information for a story on the heat and what we are doing to help seniors, I’m off to run AV for our President/CEO’s presentation to a Lions Club. I hope I put the agency DVD in the bag. 

1:15 p.m. – Yes, the DVD was in the bag, and all went well. I seem to have gotten the hang of the whole unpack, set up laptop and projector, connect sound system, break down and repack thing.

1:30 p.m. Squeezing in some FPRA work and exchange emails with President Suzanne Sparling, APR and Paul Ramey, APR, Vice President of Technology, regarding an item to present to the executive committee and board at conference.

1:45 p.m. Going downtown with the president of a local civic organization to meet with a Web design firm about a new site for the club. Seems I have agreed to handle communications, as a volunteer, for yet another group. Where is Nancy Reagan when we need her?........Just say NO!

2:45 p.m. The reporter calls back while I’m in route back to the office regarding the heat story. She wants to talk to one of the seniors who received an A/C from us after our annual Senior Chill Out, a one day event held to collect donations of A/Cs, fans and funds to be used to help seniors beat the heat, held earlier this summer. Oh,….. and it is for tomorrow’s paper. 

3:00 p.m. - Return to the office and go right into a fundraising committee meeting while on the cell phone with a A/C recipient asking if she will talk to the press. She says yes, and after a quick call to the reporter, I join the others in front of the computer to review photos.We are once again doing our Perfectly Aged Calendar. You know, like the movie The Calendar Girls. I have to admit that selecting the photos is pretty fun. There are a couple of photos that push the envelope, but hey, that’s what makes it fun. Just not sure what we will do with the lady whose white hair “disappeared” in the photo, leaving basically a nude mannequin. Sorry, they are not nude……. we use the term “properly propped and posed.”

4:00 p.m. – Finally……..getting to sit down in my own office.  Settling down to spend the rest of the day reviewing and proofing articles for the September issue of our magazine, Coming of Age, Lifestyle Magazine for Seniors. As editor-in-chief, my responsibilities include leading the editorial team on content and working with the ad sales team to insure that we come in under budget for each issue.

5:30 p.m. - I’m out of here. Headed to the house to finish a painting I am doing to donate to the FRPEF Scholarship fundraiser at FPRA Annual Conference. Hope to see everyone there!

Council on Aging of West Florida is a local, independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that has served seniors and their families since 1972. Council on Aging of West Florida helps seniors in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties live healthy, safe and independent lives in their own familiar surroundings by providing community based, in-home programs and services such as Meals on Wheels and Alzheimer's respite care. For more information, visit www.coawfla.org.

Day 24: A Day As the Owner of a Capital City PR Firm

30 Days of Blogging is a social media initiative of the Central West Coast Chapter's Emerging Communications Group. Read about a day in the life of diverse public relations professionals and affiliate members in our professional network every day for the next four weeks.

A Day As the Owner of a Capital City PR Firm
Rick Oppenheim, APR, CPRC
CEO/Senior Counselor, RB Oppenheim Associates
Tallahassee, Florida
Independent PR Firm

July 22, 2008

7:20 a.m.
Depart home for Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce Leads 5 Group meeting.

7:30 a.m.
Attend Leads 5 Group meeting (invited to join Chamber-affiliated networking group; attended three consecutive weekly meetings as a guest; agreed to join; brought check for dues; this is my first meeting as a member.  Talked with several members about possibilities of doing business together.  Best, I found people to potentially meet a few personal needs (auto detail service, architect/builder for roof repair, mortgage broker for office building refinance due in October).

8:45 a.m.
Depart Leads 5 meeting; travel to client, Big Bend Hospice, for presentation.

9:00 a.m.
Arrive Big Bend Hospice; meet staff member and research subcontractor; set up laptop and projector, distribute handouts, review notes and prep for presentation.

10:00 a.m.
Presentation to CEO and staff of marketing, development and outreach departments on 8-county marketing research survey and resulting SWOT observations in advance of messaging and marketing activities; answer questions and participate in discussion/counseling.

11:30 a.m.
Conclude meeting; break down equipment, pack and load car.  Sit in car reviewing and responding to emails on Blackberry; counsel client (Florida Council on Community Mental Health) on suggestion for media push regarding Medicaid Reform issue.

Noon
Depart for lunch meeting.

12:15 p.m.
Arrive at house of chairman of The Florida Center for the Performing Arts & Education for a lunch meeting with other volunteers regarding community presentations and development of a PowerPoint to explain need and build support for performing arts center.

1:45 p.m.
Depart lunch meeting; run a couple of personal errands en route to RBOA  office.

2:30 p.m.
Arrive at office for first time today.  Read/reply to emails (including conference-related questions from FPRA colleague and regarding meeting with other FPRA colleagues to plan creative strategies for next round of pro bono PR help for International Rhino Foundation).

3:30 p.m.
Edit four client radio scripts (political advertising for a candidate for Florida House of Representatives, District 8) written by RBOA staff.

3:45 p.m.
Begin work on a press release to announce lane closures and the imminent completion of work (after 3½ years) on the I-10 bridges over Escambia Bay (that were damaged during Hurricane Ivan four years ago).

4:00 p.m.
House 8 client drops by to discuss status of campaign efforts.

4:15 p.m.
Resume and complete work on I-10 bridge press release; send to bridge construction contractor for approval; secure approval and send (with completed “Plain Language Initiative” checklist form) to Dept. of Transportation Communication Director for approval; emails with minor revisions and discussion of whether to do one final “wrap up” release next week.

6:15 p.m.
Do final edits (about the fourth round over past few days) to copy for five direct-mail postcards for House 8 client; leave marked up copy on desk of my senior account manager, Erin Glover, to work with artist on production tomorrow.

6:30 p.m.
Pay my home phone and cable bills online (due today).

6:45 p.m.
Review and print out Kathy Giery’s brochure for the Florida Public Relations Education Foundation’s fundraising auction at Annual Conference on August 4 (to bring home to see if my wife wants me to bid on anything).

7:15 p.m.
Done.  Go home.  Have 2-3 martinis (shaken, not stirred).

RB Oppenheim Associates is a Tallahassee-based, full-service, integrated marketing, advertising and public relations counseling firm with particular expertise in the areas of healthcare, environment, corporate, associations, education, technology and issue management.  RBOA was founded in 1985 by Rick Oppenheim, APR, CPRC.  Rick has a long history of involvement with the Florida Public Relations Association, including serving as president of the Capital Chapter in 1988, as state president in 2000 and as chairman of the FPRA’s Counselors Network in 2004.  RBOA won the Dick Pope All-Florida Grand Golden Image Award for best PR program in the state in 2005, the same year Rick was bestowed FPRA’s highest honor – the John Dillin Award, named for the association’s founder and recognizing professional contributions to FPRA.  Contact Rick at (850) 386-9100 or roppenheim@rboa.com, or visit RBOA’s web site at www.rboa.com.

Day 23: A Day As the Marketing Director for a Web Agency

30 Days of Blogging is a social media initiative of the Central West Coast Chapter's Emerging Communications Group. Read about a day in the life of diverse public relations professionals and affiliate members in our professional network every day for the next four weeks.

Jessica Moats, Marketing Director
GravityFree Web Agency
Independent Agency

I wear many hats and things are always shifting, so I approach my day in an organic way.  Aside from pre-set meetings and pre-determined deadlines and priorities, I take things as they come and change gears many times during the day.  I love the diversity/variety in my job; it always keeps me on my toes.

9:00-10:00:  Read and respond to e-mails/voice-mails.

10:00-10:20:  Meet with Web Producer to discuss a client’s site launch in preparation to write a press release about it.  This discussion entails the Web Producer telling me about the new website, its special features and functions, how it meets the client’s needs and what the new website will mean to the user experience.  All of this helps me in writing a press about launching a new website.

10:20 – 10:45: Research the said client and their new website by spending some time clicking through and reading about them and getting a feel for the user’s experience on their new site.  This helps me in the writing process also.

10:45 – 11:45: Write the release and send to the client for approval. 

11:45 – 12:00: Read and answer new e-mails that have come in.  These range from internal communication to communicating with clients, vendors, community interests who want sponsorships, solicitors, ad reps, job inquiries, GravityFree blog comments…you name it.  I am the communications person in the company and probably have the least structure to my day than anybody else in terms of having a pre-set “to do” list or a narrow job description.

12 – 1:00: Lunch

1:00 – 1:30: Meeting with a recruitment agency to see if they might be able to help us hire a Web Designer.  I also wear an HR hat at times and we looking to hire new talent.  I am the contact person and coordinator of communication between prospects and our staff. 

1:30 – 2:00: Research job boards to post Web Designer position.

2:00 – 2:45: Research information to prepare for copywriting for a client’s website. Part of my job is copywriting and proof-reading for websites as well as for letters and internal documents and all internal marketing materials and mass e-mails.

2:45 – 3:45:  Copywriting for a client’s website.  They need a page about Sarasota/about the area - that includes SEO, using keywords and phrases within the text.  Send in for their approval.

3:45 – 4:15: Prepare a client e-mail list to send out an invitation to the August 13th TechFast Breakfast Summer Series put on by The Sarasota Chamber, which we are speaking at on the topic of "The New Rules For Email Marketing Success." Give e-mailer to graphic designer to make final revisions.

4:15 – 4:25:  Receive approval/changes from client on the aforementioned press release – make any necessary revisions.

4:25 – 4:45: Distribute press release via e-mail, fax and online.

4:45 – 5:30: FPRA stuff – update job bank, read over content for the new website that GravityFree is building.

5:30 – 6:00:  Work on concepts for new GravityFree ads.

About GravityFree

GravityFree is an award-winning, Sarasota, Florida-based Website and Internet Marketing Agency with a diverse portfolio of over 11 years in Web site, e-Commerce and software development. GravityFree continues to perfect its acclaimed methodology, product offering, and respected professionalism to meet the strategic goals of its clients by offering multi-dimensional Web solutions that garner results. For more information about GravityFree, please visit them on the Web at www.gravityfree.com or call 941-927-7674.  Visit the GravityFree blog at www.gravityfreedom.com.

Day 22: A Day as the Marketing Director at Venice Theatre

30 Days of Blogging is a social media initiative of the Central West Coast Chapter's Emerging Communications Group. Read about a day in the life of diverse public relations professionals and affiliate members in our professional network every day for the next four weeks.

Laurie Colton, Director of Marketing
Venice Theatre, Venice, FL - Non-profit arts organization

As others have said in previous blogs, there is no “typical” day in my job. That said, today went approximately as follows:

8:30
Check Blackberry for messages.

9:35
Arrive at Venice Theatre for scheduled weekly meeting to touch base with marketing associate. Before meeting begins, we are interrupted by several things, including a visit to our office from our Executive Artistic Director to discuss his letter-to-the-editor that appeared in today’s Herald-Tribune. Other colleagues stop by as well. Scheduled meeting does not happen today. (Note: This two-person office has been the hub of the theatre for many years – well before my arrival a short seven weeks ago. I enjoy this and am glad the tradition is continuing after my predecessor’s retirement, but must somehow figure out how to temper the interruptions by using those oh-so-difficult-to-master time management skills.)

9:40 – 12:45
Check voice mail. Listen to reminder about placing ad in Sarasota Magazine Charity Register.

Check email. Read reminders about Sarasota Magazine Charity Register and several other advertising opportunities.

Read SRQ’s Page 1, updates from other theatres such as Florida Studio Theater and The Banyan, and other messages.

Receive email at 10:38 asking if I’d be interested in writing today’s FPRA blog.

Answer call from a person who wants to rent space from the theatre. Make note to send information. (Remind myself to add “define job descriptions and staff responsibilities” to list of suggestions for staff retreat topics.)

Answer call from Herald-Tribune theatre critic asking whether Venice Theatre has issues with audience members text-messaging during shows – a trend that he is writing about. I say I will find out by asking colleagues at 1:00 staff meeting. I myself have not noticed this problem at the theatre, but did sit next to a teenager at the Batman movie who was texting during most of the film.

Theatre critic then asks me to tell Executive Artistic Director that he (theatre critic) enjoyed his (director’s) letter-to-the-editor in response to his (theatre critic’s) recent column about our organization’s name-change. I transfer the call to the Executive Artistic Director so the two of them can discuss.
11:36
Write back to say, “Yes, I will try to write today’s blog.”

Take call from Creative Loafing ad rep to discuss advertising with them this season.

Executive Artistic Director pokes head into office to report that conversation with theatre critic went well.

Take call from Gulf Coast Living ad rep. Think - once again - about how much money I could spend on advertising costs versus how much I have budgeted for the year. Remember that generating lots and lots of PR is one way to save on advertising expenses.

Take call from actor down in Naples interested in coming to Venice to audition for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Nice conversation about how he thinks changing our name was a good idea and that the community theatre he works with down in Naples has a lot of respect for Venice Theatre as one of the best community theatres in the area. Upon further discussion, we realize that the dates listed on our website for Virginia Woolf auditions are incorrect. While on this phone call, I hear a page asking me to pick up line one. I ignore page and finish conversation with actor.

Business manager calls my extension to tell me that while I was on the other line, Venice Gondolier editor called to ask whether the Venice Little Theatre Guild (a group of theatre supporters who help raise money for theatre programs) has taken the “little” out of their name and/or whether guild members are in support of our name-change from Venice Little Theatre to Venice Theatre. I do know that the guild has changed their name to the Venice Theatre Guild, but check with Executive Artistic Director to confirm that the majority of the guild’s members are supportive of the name-change. They are. We suggest editor call Venice Theatre Guild president directly for a quote.

Inform business manager about the correction that needs to be made to audition section of website. She will then inform our out-of-state webmaster who only makes changes and corrections to the site once a week. I am just thankful that our new website will be up and running soon and that we will be able to make changes to the site ourselves.

Write up notes from last week’s brainstorming session about how to increase season subscription sales. Email notes to colleagues.

12:45 – 1:00
Discuss with associate the content of upcoming radio commercial. We quickly write draft that we can share with our sound designer after staff meeting.

1:00 – 1:40
Participate in weekly staff meeting. Share information about recent and upcoming press coverage, especially as it relates to OKLAHOMA! which opens this Thursday. Make note to send out blast e-mail to volunteer actors reminding them about this weekend’s auditions for Steel Magnolias and The Producers.

1:40-1:50
Talk with sound designer about radio ad.  Although busy with OKLAHOMA!, he agrees to help us record commercial in-house.

1:50-2:00
Work way back up to office; heat up frozen dinner to eat at desk.

2:00-5:00
Production Manager stops by to return a script from last season. I learn where we keep extra scripts from previous seasons.

OKLAHOMA! stage manager stops by to ask when archival photo shoot will be. Slight conflict as to who will be taking the photos.  Conflict is resolved.

Visual artist who will be featured in the theatre’s Mitzi Voelkner Gallery stops by to confirm details of her artist’s reception scheduled for this Thursday.

Review, sign and fax advertising contracts for Sarasota Magazine and Venice Chamber of Commerce Visitor’s Guide.

Send email to associate about schedule for upcoming print ads.

Talk with associate to determine ad design for Chamber Visitor Guide and try to figure out which one of us needs to revise last year’s ad – associate with the better graphic-design skills than me, our contracted graphic designer who created the original ad, or me. Note to self: sign up for Adobe Photoshop and Quark classes.

Executive Artistic Director shares good news that Venice Theatre will most likely get the rights to produce the Florida premiere of a much-coveted Broadway musical in November 2009.  Also, that delayed grant funds should be distributed in a matter of days.

6:00 – 7:00
Executive Artistic Director pokes head in my office again to let me know more good news: Venice Theatre’s new website will be ready to go live on Friday. Realize that I have not spent any time at all today gathering and writing information for the website.

Begin writing this blog, thankful that blogs can be written in an informal style.

Heat dinner.

7 – 9 p.m.
Take off marketing director hat. Replace with volunteer actor hat. Rehearse for Summer Rep staged reading of Regrets Only.

On drive home think about how to prioritize tasks for tomorrow.
 

Day 21: A Day as a Partner in a Green PR Firm

30 Days of Blogging is a social media initiative of the Central West Coast Chapter's Emerging Communications Group. Read about a day in the life of diverse public relations professionals and affiliate members in our professional network every day for the next four weeks.

Suzanne Dameron, Partner
Aspire Green Branding & Social Marketing
Independent PR Agency

7:30 am: – I have a seminar this morning. I dash into the office to quickly review e-mails and assign a few tasks. I approve a release for our PR co-coordinator to distribute. One client has had large feature stories in two national publications and we are sending out news briefs on both. I set up a couple of appointments for later this week.

8:30: The seminar is on using the website for fund-raising. However, we spend more time on what the website needs to have in order to do the fund-raising. We have one slide on ideas for raising funds – and very few case studies.

The other people in the class are very interesting and we ave representation from several existing non-profits in the area as well as a couple of new organizations. I share a table with two staff members of SE Guide Dogs in Palmetto. They seem to be on the move and growing.

The best ideas for fund-raising come from the participants and the discussions they initiate. The conversation stimulates some fresh thoughts about fundraising for one of our clients and the seminar is not a loss. 

11:30 am. I leave a few minutes early for a noon meeting. I am working with our new financial asst. and winding up our budget. She is a CPA who has decided to be a stay-at-home while her kids are young. So we are able to get CPA advice for a fraction of the customary fees. And she is so nice! We feel very fortunate to have found her. The meeting runs long and we finish the budget for the next six months and loosely project the next twelve.

2 PM: A local magazine wants to do a feature on the environmental features of 3M films and one of our clients is a major distributor in the USA. 3M has been committed to environmental responsibility for a long time. Our client has carried their products for many years and has contracted with Aspire to help them leverage the green features of this product more effectively in their marketing plans. The client and I identify who needs to talk to the publication and what features we want to highlight with the 3M films.

The publication calls me again. They want to interview the client separately from the article and make sure they are green. It’s the “green washing” question. Our advice to our clients and anyone who asks is not to suggest that you are greener than you are. Green Washing attempts to pull the “green wool” over consumers’ eyes in the hopes of increased sales and profits. Presenting your company or products differently that what they are is deception in any color. You would ultimately damage your reputation in the marketplace.

This particular client has a great environmental product and is just starting to examine how to become greener as a company. We are helping them create a sustainability statement and they are making the internal changes necessary to meet the Green Business Partnership of Sarasota County certification. These are good beginnings and positive steps that any company can take to become greener and save money by more efficiently using their internal resources.

The publication is satisfied that we are straight with them about where our client is along the green spectrum.

1:45: Update the marketing and media plan for another client. 

2:45: Final revisions of a donor letter for major gifts. We have written three drafts and are in the final tweaks. Three signatures go on this letter and each of the three individuals stops by to give their final input. We get their signatures on file so the letter can be sent digitally as well as in hard copy.

3:45: I leave to attend The Summit for Environmental Action water re-use committee meeting. It’s held in the Federal Building on Orange in the Sarasota Bay Estuary offices. Aspire helped market The Summit and we continue to serve on the steering committee. Several of the people on the water re-use committee are very knowledgable. We have participation from the city and county environmental departments, several LEED AP's and Nick Gladding, an environmental attorney. Tim Rumage, an environmental professor at Ringling College of Art & Design is leading the group. He is an expert on green roofs as well as water systems.

We are going to conduct two case studies to see if we can find better ways to re-use water. One will be a new building and one will be a retro fit. We are looking at Pelican Cove for the latter case study. They are doing some work on the property and are open to ideas that help them conserve water. 

We examine aerial maps today and locate the existing wells and the watershed Pelican Cove is connected to – Clower Creek. When Pelican Cove was developed, the thinking was to drive storm water to the streets and let it run off into the bay. It’s a big property and 1 inch of water produces 1 million gallons of storm water run-off whichh changes the balance of the Bay composition in this area.

We discuss alternatives and Rob Wright from the county tells about options – one of them is perforated piping. Storm water run-off would be driven to a retention pond connected to perforated piping which would funnel the rainwater to the soil. This would decrease the amount of water to the Bay and water the landscaping more effectively. Because Pelican Cove is an existing development, each option has limitations. Some of their plumbing is completely encased in concrete! No changes there. Pelican Cove also has a long history of being a leader in environmental initiatives and they are eager to see if something can be done.

6PM: Green Drinks. We’re meeting at Rustic Grill tonight. Green Drinks is a national wave of people across the country meeting once a month to talk about environmental issues. Chicago, LA, New York City and other places are hosting green drinks and in Sarasota, Carlson Studio Architecture has taken on organizing the get togethers. TGreen Drinks is open to anyone interested in talking about green things.

I find Michael Carlson, a leading sustainable design architect, and tell him our Water Re-use group needs a green building that hasn’t started the construction phase yet - he thinks he has one that might work for us.

I have a tonic water and lime and head home. It’s been a long day and fruitful day.

Aspire Green Branding & Social Marketing is a full-service public relations and marketing firm with a unique niche: companies and organizations providing green products and services. Partners Grace Carlson, APR and Suzanne Dameron bring a combined 40 years of experience in running successful public relations and marketing campaigns to the creation of Aspire. Aspire clients are changing the marketplace; Aspire is dedicated to marketing that change.