Get Shit Done

PRo PRofile: Brand Architects

Brand-Architects {Christina}, North Loop area of Minneapolis

Tell me about Brand Architects and how/why the company got it's start. 
Our PR division originally started under the name Style-Architects but as our business grew I saw a need to separate our B2B offerings from our B2C services. Brand-Architects works with businesses. Style-Architects works with individuals.

How did you get into PR? 
My degree was in Journalism and Mass Communications. Post-college I was a producer in the Target Corporate media center producing PR reels. While I loved videography, I decided to expand my experience and spent a couple years doing creative marketing and public relations at ShopNBC...and then Children's HeartLink. I also spent a few years overseeing public relations at B2B software company, SPS Commerce. During my time there I moonlighted as the Fashion & Beauty editor for Twin Cities Luxury & Fashion Magazine (and freelanced at MSP/St. Paul Magazine). After four years of reviewing media kits/pitches as an editor, I had learned a lot about work worked and didn't work in PR and I started Style-Architects/Brand-Architects.

What is your favorite part of PR? 
I love watching our efforts help a business grow - that is very rewarding. And I love working with other business owners. Their drive and creativity is inspiring.

What is an average day/week like? 
Lots of clients meetings, media calls/email, internal strategy meetings, client events and networking. As the President I also spend a fair amount of my time overseeing Style-Architects. Our team always tries to add a healthy dose of fun with afternoon lattes, Bob Marley, dog or baby visitors and weekly morning yoga. 

What is a project Style/Brand Architects worked on that you are especially proud of?
It is difficult to pick just one. We designed the Style Network booth for Fall 2012 Fashion Week. We also managed all of the public relations for the recent Andy Warhol exhibit that was at Aria. And our team helped develop Lily & Violet (www.lilyandviolet.com) - we love the brand.

What inspires, and motivates, the team at Brand/Style Architects? 
We all love reading blogs, magazines, books...we are research junkies! Our team also collaborates on projects weekly so we are motivated and inspired by each other. Our Nespresso machine also helps provide a little Monday morning motivation!

What are three important qualities a PR pro must have?

Excellent communicator, detail-oriented and a strategic thinker.

How do you balance your work and personal life? 
Very good question...especially when you love what you do! This is something that only recently have I started to figure out. When you are in PR, you are always surrounded my media so it is difficult to turn your "thinking cap" off. I have found that turning my iPhone off in the evenings/weekends and making my life outside of work my #1 priority is helpful. Since everyone is constantly connected through mobile devices, I think it is important to set boundaries.

What stands out most on a resume?
Good = Prior work experience, clean layout

Bad = Poorly written cover letters, spelling errors

Any last thoughts, tips or advice for someone starting out in the PR field? 
The world of PR is constantly evolving and changing so the best advice that I can give is to stay on top of it. And set up informational interviews with PR professionals and the media to learn tips/tricks.

Where can we find you online?

SA Blog

My Twitter / SA Twitter / BA Twitter

SA Facebook  / BA Facebook  / My LinkedIn

PRo PRofile: Shari Myles

Meet Shari Myles - Maryland/Washington, D.C.

 

Tell me about yourself.

I am the owner of Polished Publicity, a boutique PR firm based in the Maryland/Washington, D.C. area. I work primarily with beauty, fashion, and consumer product clients. I love everything beauty and fashion, so that’s why it was so easy to merge my love of communications with these interests. I love films, D.C. in the summer, and trying new restaurants.

How did you get into PR?

I got into PR through an internship opportunity I actually came across on Twitter! I worked for that firm, first as an intern then eventually the Vice Presidnet, for two years before branching out and starting my own firm. Without a doubt, most of what I learned while working for that firm has prepared me for managing my own business and clients.

What is your favorite part of PR?

My favorite part of PR is the relationship building and exceeding clients’ expectations. I also enjoy connecting the dots to make sure that a story goes as far as possible such as getting social media involved and creating partnerships and brand and event ambassadors. PR is a wonderful career option if you love to connect with people!

What is your average day like?

A typical day includes researching, writing, pitching clients, following up, finding new opportunities for clients. I also brainstorm with my team for new story angles and creative client opportunities. I always try to squeeze in a workout and some downtime to just unplug. We PR people know how we love staying glued to our phones for leads, emails or breaking news!

What inspires, and motivates, you?

Excellence and exceeding client expectations inspires and motivates me. I also am inspired by people who have the courage to go after their dreams and find a way to make it work! I know from personal experience how scary it can be to venture out into entrepreneurship. There are many questions and doubts that swim around in your head, but it takes courage to move forward. The payoff is well worth it though when you’re prepared and hopeful!

What are three important qualities a PR pro must have?

Three important qualities a PR pro must have are 1) A positive attitude , 2) motivation,  3) creativity

How do you balance your work and personal life?

I balance my work and personal life by putting myself on a schedule to complete tasks. That way, I never feel guilty about kicking back and enjoying myself, either alone or with friends.

  

Any last thoughts, tips or advice for someone starting out in the PR field? 

Learn as much as you can! Attend webinars and workshops. Many of them are free or are very affordable. Also, I would advise anyone to just go for it!  No one has it all right or all together when they first start out, but the most vital step is the first one. When you put one foot in front of the other, you’ll be surprised at how fear just disappears.

Where can we find you online?

Website: www.polishedpublicity.com
Twitter: @PolishedPub
Facebook: Polished Publicity
Instagram: Polished_Publicity
LinkedIn: Shari Myles

What's New This Week: Pizza Burgers

It  has been quite some time since I have written a "What's New This Week" post. I really like them too because it gives me even more of a reason to try new things - and then share it with all of you!

So, for a while now the boyfriend has been talking about wanting pizza burgers. And not just kind of pizza burger, the kind of pizza burgers that were served back in grade school. Being the pizza fanatic that I am, I did not protest. 

Here is the recipe he found {including our alterations}. They were pretty tasty and super easy and quick. I must say they definitely resembled the pizza burgers that we had when we were younger. 

{If we make these again I'm adding green olives, better cheese and some of my other favorite za toppings. ;) }

Ingredients:

1 med onion chopped

1 tsp cooking oil

1 lb lean ground beef

1 can(s) (10)oz tomato soup {used pizza sauce instead}

1/4 c water {didn't use the water}

1 Tbsp italian seasoning {I added extra the bread since I love this seasoning so much}

3 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp garlic salt {added a little extra of this too - to the bread and beef}

32 slc pepperoni (chopped)

2 c shredded mozzerella {parm would be delicious on top of the mozz!}

Directions:

1. Start by adding the onions and a drizzle of canola or vegetable oil in a large skillet on medium high heat. Heat through. Add the ground beef and cook all the way through,. Once the meat is cooked, add chopped pepperoni, add the tomato soup pizza sauce, water and pizza seasoning. Reduce to low and let simmer.

 

2. While the meat and sauce are simmering, preheat the oven on broil and spread the butter evenly on each English muffin half. Sprinkle with garlic salt {and more Italian seasoning!}. Pop these under the broiler on a cookie sheet for about 2 minutes or until they begin to brown just on the edges.

 

3. Take out of the oven and top each English muffin with about 1/4 cup of the meat and sauce mixture. Top each of those with the cheese. Place back under the broiler for another 2-3 minutes or until the cheese turns golden brown and bubbly. Enjoy!

Recipe courtesy of Just A Pinch

Intern PRofile: Briea Curington

Meet Briea Curington - Nashville

Tell me about yourself.

I am originally from Fort Lauderdale, FL but I am currently a senior Marketing major at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. I became interested in public relations when I saw how intermingled it was with marketing and how I could take a hands-on approach with different brands. In addition to my professional life, I have had an intense love of fashion since I was a little girl. In my spare time, I like researching different trends and celebrity styles and also looking up seasonal runway looks. I do some blogging for my own personal blog as well as write fashion posts for thejasminebrand.com. 

 

Where are you interning?

I currently intern for duGard Ellis Public Relations as an intern-PR assistant.

How did you get your internship?

I saw a post on twitter from one of the partners saying the company was looking for interns. I promptly submitted my résumé, writing samples, and cover letter. I received a response about a week later and had a phone and skype interview. Afterwards, I had a lunch meeting with one of the partners discussing some of the things I hoped to receive from the internship and then received the position. 

What is a typical day like for you?

The internship is very team-oriented. A typical day consists of team meetings with clients and doing discovery with each client trying to figure out where they want their brand to go. I have started putting together media kits and pitching to different organizations. Also, I send a lot of emails inquiring about partnerships for clients as well as media/booking opportunities.

What is your dream job?

Eventually, I would love to become a fashion publicist for a major fashion company, like Michael Kors, Prada, Gucci, etc... I would love to handle the pitching and magazine credits for a client as well as do some fashion event planning. 

What has been your favorite part of your internship so far?

My favorite part of the internship has been coming up with website content for clients. I am not a graphic designer (by any means), but looking at the aesthetics of a website and finding a layout that fits the client's style is really fascinating to me. 

What is a project that you have worked on that you are especially proud of?

I am really proud to be helping a client find great organizations to partner with and provide volunteer/mentoring services to. 

What inspires you?

My biggest inspiration is just imagining how I want my career to be in the future. I know a lot of people dont like to only focus on the future, but forward-thinking really pushes me to do the grunt work now and make sure I reach those goals that I want to see in my lifetime.

What advice would you give to other interns?

I would definitely say the biggest advice I can give is to not be afraid to network. Reach out to people whose jobs you aspire to have in the future, ask for tips on making it in your industry of choice, and always make a lasting impression. You never know who you are walking into an elevator with or who can help you find a new internship. Always look for a chance to build genuine, long-lasting relationships and use them wisely. 

Where can we find you online?

On Twitter @BriCurington and LinkedIn.

You can also check out my fashion blog: Putting the 'Eye' in Fashion.

Travel Essentials for {PR} Gals

Traveling is fun and exciting but {sometimes} the actual traveling part can leave you looking dull and a bit worn out. 

And, if you're anything like me, it can be kind of boring. {I recently visited family and friends in Arizona and even that short 3-3.5 hour plane ride drives me nuts - I just get so stir crazy!}

So, I always make sure I have all the essential items in my carry-on bag to keep me entertained and looking fresh when walking out of the airport.

Kindle/Magazines | Aveeno Moisturizing Lotion | Kashi Bar | {Holly Golightly} Sleep Mask 

Some other things I be sure to include are: 

Chapstick, Laptop/iPad,  Portable Charging Station, a small make-up bag {that includes the must-have items to quick refresh myself - which also makes it easier to get off the plane and be ready for anything}, my Gap City Flats {I adore them so much and want need them in more colors!} and a comfy cardigan or sweater and/or scarf for those chiller moments.

Now I need to start thinking about where my next vacation will take me!

What items do you find are necessary to your carry-on/travel bags??

-R

PRo PRofile: Melissa Hernandez

Meet Melissa - Miami, FL

Tell me about yourself. 
I'm Melissa, the Director of RAW Artists: Miami. RAW Artists is in an indie arts organization that is featured in 80+ cities worldwide. 

In Miami, we hand-select 40 artists of all different kinds: music, film, performing art, visual art, photography, fashion, hair, and makeup. We give these emerging artists in the South Florida region a chance to showcase their work, sell their work, network with other local artists, businesses, and press. With these 40 artists, we have over 500 people that attend our themed events.

I got involved with RAW because I love organizing events and helping people grow. I love to see people go from nothing to something and I love to be a part of that. It motivates me. I essentially come from the fashion industry where I have work in retail, event planning, merchandising, and marketing. When I got the job with RAW, I thought "Yes! I can work with other different types of art besides fashion shows!" 

How did you get into PR? 

I started about 3-4 years ago when I basically turned into an entrepreneur. I had to market myself and write about my own events that I was hosting and organizing. I quickly fell in love with it and decided that no matter what I do, I have to do something with PR. 

What is your favorite part of PR? 

I love the people that you meet in the industry. They end up being great connections in no matter what you do. It's all about networking these days, right? ;) 

What is your average daylike? 

When it comes to RAW Artists, I am constantly updating my artists who have signed on to showcase. With that, I will add them to our press release which launches 2-3 weeks before our event. I am also researching on Facebook, Twitter, internet, etc. for people who will benefit my artists when it comes to growing their career. 

What is a project you worked on that you are especially proud of? 

My first event with RAW, I had over 500+ people come which I didn't expect as that was my first event. 

What inspires, and motivates, you? 

I love helping people grow as a person and within their career. I love that PR can do that!

What are three important qualities a PR pro must have? 

 Organization, time management, and a hard work ethic. It's not an easy job, but it's the best feeling once everything is all said and done. 

How do you balance your work and personal life? 

I work from home so I'm constantly relaxing and working at the same time. I JUST started to take weekends off so that's been helping.

What stands out the most to you on a resume? 

EXPERIENCE! I would rather have someone that has worked in the industry that I'm in, than have a college degree-college is great though, stay in school! Just get a GREAT hands-on internship is all ;) It's all about obstacles in this industry. You have to be able to handle situations in a quick, positive manner which school can't do. 

Any last thoughts, tips or advice for someone starting out in the PR field?  

Hard work pays off! 

Where can we find you online?

Facebook: RAW Artists Mia

Twitter: @RAWartistsMia

Instagram: @RAWartistsMia

RAW Artists: Miami will soon be launching a Blog, so stay tuned. 

Stay Fit at Work

I recently fell in love with Lauren Conrad's website. It seems to have everything within their great posts from recipes, gift guides, book clubs, to advice, tips and ideas about work, life, love, fitness and friendship.

One of the emails I received from the site a couple weeks ago was 5 Tips to Stay Fit at Work. It really couldn't have come at a better time since summer is here and I have been getting a bit annoyed with how much sitting I actually do at work. It definitely doesn't help keep me in shape.

 

Below are three of the five tips the post included:

1. Walk the Block
Whenever I start to feel antsy at my desk, I grab a few of my fellow Team LC ladies and we walk the block. Sometimes we grab coffee and sometimes we walk to pick up our lunch instead of hopping in the car. But we will also go on walks just for the sake of moving around a little. Even if you have to walk the block solo, try to take a quick outdoor stroll at least 3 times a day. And if you’re a working girl with a penchant for sky-high heels, bring a pair of flats in your bag to work so you can walk comfortably (and longer too).

2. Take the Stairs
Swapping the elevator for the stairs is not only a health-conscience decision, it’s also better for the environment. According to Nature.org, taking an elevator might require the mining of uranium or fossil fuel, which isn’t exactly a great way to minimize your carbon footprint. Save electricity and get moving by taking the stairs each day. You might be surprised to see how it tones your legs and buns too!

3. Have a Ball
Desperate times call for desperate measures… When we’re feeling particularly slouched and slumped in the office, we take turns sitting on a big workout ball. Not having a back on your seat forces you to sit up straight with your feet flat on the floor. It also gives you a subtle abs workout, and you might even notice your stomach looking toned after sitting on a ball for a few days in a row. An article from Everyday Health says that sitting on an exercise ball keeps your blood flowing and can improve your circulation as well, so go ahead and give it a try.

Check out the article for the other two tips and, if you haven't already, poke around the rest of the site. 

What are your tips and tricks to get moving, even a little, at work??

-R

Image courtesy of Jersey Girl Sports.

PRo PRofile - Yazmina Cabrera

Meet Yazmina Cabrera - Milan

Tell me about yourself.

Though I currently live in Milan (Italy), I was born in the Canary Islands (Spain) where I studied a bachelors degree in Tourism Business and had my first PR job experience. I have worked in PR & Communications for 5 years (dealing with luxury, beauty, travel and fashion brands and media) and right now it seems that I’m slowly getting interested in becoming an editor myself.

I am also the founder of the fashion blog Girl with a Banjo and the PR blog Banjo PR.

How did you get into PR?

Actually it was by accident that I got into PR. Back then I had no idea of what a PR was, nor that I was becoming one (and honestly, I feel so awkward about it!).
In the beginning I started researching media and creating media lists. Then I found myself pitching editors. All of the sudden I was talking directly to journalists and editors to organize media trips for them, and meeting them for lunch or dinner afterwards. Then I was tracking the publications and creating media reports.

It was crazy that I was in the shoes of a PR Manager for so long before I realized that what I was doing actually had a name. It all made sense when I discovered it and just felt so natural!

What is your favorite part of PR?

The possibility of interacting with so many different people and learning to talk to them depending on which area they are interested in or which publication they write for. It is such a challenge to convince these important guys to do things for you!

I also love the chameleonic PR attitude! It shows that we can wear so many different skins depending on which client or products we are representing in that moment.

What is your average day like? If no average day, what was yesterday like for you?

Right now I am in a transitional process, taking care of Girl with a Banjo and Banjo PR on a daily basis.

My daily routine is very simple but quite stressful as well: I wake up at 8am, my husband prepares a delicious cappuccino for me, then I sit down at my desk and start working in my two blogs, networking and replying to my emails until 7pm.

What is a project you worked on that you are especially proud of?

I think it was in 2010 when I pitched Danish ELLE to come to Gran Canaria to shoot their spring/summer stories there. The Beauty Editor, the Fashion Editor and one of the best Danish photographers ever came to the island and did an amazing job. The cool thing was that I got our clients on ELLE in so many issues that year. I was so proud of it! Especially since nobody believed I could do it, but I did!

What inspires, and motivates, you?

I am truly inspired by the beautiful life I have right now and motivated by my dreams to pursue an extremely successful and satisfying professional career in Fashion PR & Communications. Those things keep me going.

What are three important qualities a PR pro must have?

If we’re talking about personality, I would say 1) humility, 2) optimism/can-do attitude and 3) determination.

If we’re talking about professionalism, I would then say 1) the ability to multitask, 2) creativity and 3) persuasion skills.

How do you balance your work and personal life?

I am a natural workaholic and, if it was for me, I would be working 24/7.

The beautiful people who surrounds me help me to balance work and personal life. They constantly remind me that I am much more than a girl in front of a computer.

What stands out the most to you on a resume

Unfortunately, THE LAYOUT. I have become this cheeky visual junkie!
I remember that, when hiring interns, if I was not impressed about the layout of a resume, I just didn’t even call.

Image matters in PR, and real PR gals are much more than a DIN-A4 written in Times New Roman size 14. After all, if you can’t “sell” yourself on your resume, how are you going to sell your client’s products?

Any last thoughts, tips or advice for someone starting out in the PR field?

Keep the “I will always be learning new things” attitude, even if you have just graduated and never want to see a book again. I lived the transition from traditional PR to digital PR and only the PR gals who adapted themselves to the change survived it.

Where can we find you online?

Girl with a Banjo: girlwithabanjo.com/

Banjo PR: banjopr.com

Personal Twitter Account: @yazminacabrera

Blog Twitter Account: @thebanjogirl

Linkedin: Yazmina Cabrera

Facebook: The Banjo Girl