Browsing Tag

role models

Behind the Brand: Western University

It’s one thing to “Like” a brand on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

 

It’s quite another to learn about who responds to the brand’s media inquiries.

 

Name: Keith Marnoch (@kmarnoch)

Position: Director, Media and Community Relations

Employer: Western University

Education: B.A.A. – Journalism (Broadcast) Ryerson

Favourite blog: Touchdowns and Fumbles

Favourite mobile app: Voxer (Walkie Talkie) / Scanner911

Professional role model: David Gergen, CNN political pundit, former Presidential Adviser

Most memorable on the job experience at Western:

While I have only been here for just over a year, I think being a part of the announcement that one of our leading researchers, Dr. Chil Yong Kang is moving to human clinical trials with his HIV/AIDS vaccine is memorable due to the overwhelming international response that the story received.

In 140 characters or less, describe the atmosphere at work when Western’s name change and re-branding was announced to the public:

Excited about the change, realized some would need convincing, rationale when explained gets positive reaction.

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March 22, 2012 by

Behind the Brand: Canadian Diabetes Association

It’s one thing to “Like” a brand on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

 

 It’s quite another to learn about who organizes those updates.

 

Name: Pilar Iglesias (@pilariglesias)

Position: Manager, Strategic Communications

Employer: Canadian Diabetes Association

Education: Anthropology, York University; Public Relations, Ryerson University

Favourite blog:

My favourite non-work related blog has to be Design Sponge. My secret obsession/hobby is design and furniture, so I’ve been visiting since its inception. I suppose it’s not so secret anymore… 😉

Favourite mobile app:

This one’s easy – Shazam. I use it constantly and thankfully was able to chuck my “Songs to buy” notepad document.

Professional role model:

This one is also easy-Gini Dietrich. I met Gini on Twitter a few years back and have been in awe ever since. Not only is she a social media maven, she’s the founder and chief executive officer of Arment Dietrich, Inc.—a Chicago-based PR firm, the author of a work-related blog I follow religiously, Spin Sucks (the 2010 and 2011 Readers Choice Blog of the Year), and she’s the co-author of the book Marketing in the Round: Multichannel Approaches in the Post-Social Media Era.

Wait, I’m not finished.

She also writes for Crain’s Chicago Business, AllBusiness, and Franchise Times, and participates in workshops, is a keynote speaker, one of the hosts of the podcast, Inside PR….and these are just some of the things she does.

All of this is in addition to being witty, lovely, helpful and just a complete pleasure. I don’t talk to her as much as I probably would like, but she is definitely a role model. Oh, and one more thing, she can cook! Honestly, when does she have the time?

Most memorable on the job experience at Canadian Diabetes Association:

I was writing an article for our health and wellness magazine, and interviewed a woman who received a pancreas-kidney transplant after suffering many diabetes-related complications. Her appreciation for life was so incredibly inspiring to me but, at the same time, frightening as well since I have type 1 diabetes myself. It made me think of my own journey with the disease and how I manage it, and what it means if I don’t manage it to the best of my ability. It’s a conversation and feeling I won’t forget.

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February 27, 2012 by

Behind the Brand: Mirage Resort and Casino

It’s one thing to “Like” a brand on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

It’s quite another to learn about who writes those updates.

 

To debut the Behind the Brand series, Danielle Deremo shares advice about social media marketing.

Danielle Deremo

Name: Danielle Deremo (@SuperDaniYell)

Position: Social Media Specialist

Employer: Mirage Resort and Casino (MGM Resorts), Las Vegas, Nevada

Education: Hospitality Administration, Northern Illinois University

Professional role model:

It would have to be Kristalina Steininger, (@kristalinas) she took me under her wing when I was an intern at MGM Grand and she was Assistant Manager of Food & Beverage Marketing. She introduced me to social media from a brand’s perspective and taught me the rules of the road when it comes to representing a business in the Web 2.0 arena. Since I’ve moved on from my internship and began working at The Mirage, she has been a close friend and mentor of mine.

Favourite Blog:

As a big foodie, I really appreciate My Drunk Kitchen and The Kitchn. I get all my entertainment from MDK and all my recipes from reading The Kitchn!

Favourite mobile app:

Besides the regulars of foursquare, Facebook & Seesmic for my Twitter accounts, I am a big fan of Reddit Is Fun, SoundHound, and Path. And although it’s not an App, I’m becoming severely addicted to Pinterest.

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January 23, 2012 by

That’s What I Am

Year after year, beauty pageant contestants respond that their goal is to achieve world peace, but none of them summarize how to accomplish it quite like Mr. Simon (Ed Harris) in That’s What I Am (2011). “Human Dignity + Compassion = Peace” is a formula for everyone to take note of, not just Mr. Simon’s middle school students.

In this coming of age story, director Michael Pavone reminds audiences that the so-called strange individuals singled out by cruel bullies are not monstrous creatures who deserve inconsiderate treatment. Kind souls like Stanley (Alexander Walters) and Andy (Chase Ellison) make us wish that ruthless people would become more tolerant of others, without leaving nerds or exceptionally tall students to suffer for superficial reasons.

Some kids isolate themselves in washroom stalls to avoid bullies’ harsh comments, but according to the cool kids’ seating plan at this school, Stanley and his fellow tormented classmates, such as a headgear-wearing girl, must spend their lunch breaks in the dreaded ‘geek corner’. This is the closest thing they have to a safe haven on campus because it is unthinkable for any student concerned with social status to set food in this area of the quad. Given how much people develop at a young age, it is especially problematic when academically-inclined students who should be role models are routinely ridiculed.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn16X0A3avY’]

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May 15, 2011 by

MTV Drops Lauren Conrad’s Reality Show

The fact that MTV has decided not to pick up Lauren Conrad’s documentary reality show about working in the fashion industry because it is supposedly too “high brow” for MTV viewers says a great deal about the network.

After discovering Lauren and her friends during their high school years in Laguna Beach, MTV transformed a blonde girl from California into a Hollywood starlet. Lauren was for The Hills what Carrie Bradshaw was for Sex and the City – the girl that every girl either wants to be or wants as their best friend.

Since her television debut, Lauren has become a role model for millions of youth and inspired fans to pursue their dreams. The Hills co-star Stephanie Pratt shares this sentiment and acknowledged the potential of Lauren’s now cancelled show, adding that she “was really shocked [after hearing the news] and thought it would have been great for kids to watch.”

Without Lauren returning to reality TV as planned, who does MTV want their viewers to emulate instead – Ke$ha? Lindsay Lohan?

In her statement to the press, Lauren reiterates that it’s a shame that MTV doesn’t think their viewers are “savvy enough to appreciate” her show. I suppose that means MTV viewers can expect to see renewals of current MTV reality shows such as Teen Mom and I Used To Be Fat instead, as they don’t require much critical thinking. After all, how savvy must one be to sit on a couch and watch as a fashion designer selects fabrics, makes sketches, or sells dresses?

February 11, 2011 by