HPRA Partner with CSULB PRSSA and Sprint to Present “Preparing for the Communications Job Market”

    Hispanic Public Relations Association (HPRA) partners with California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and Sprint to present the “Preparing for the Communications Job Market” career development panel discussion on Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. in Alamitos Bay I and II Room 253 on the CSULB campus.

     Public relations professionals on the panel will answer questions regarding topics including the following, “maximizing your internship experience to get hired, networking now, PR/Communications jobs in today’s market, [and ] ethics and what is expected of all PR professionals, from interns to corporate partners,” the event flyer explains.

     The professionals participating in the panel discussion will be Hector Galvan, Hispanic Communications Manager, Sprint; Armando Azarloza, Senior Vice President, Axis Agency; Nadia Gonzalez, Senior Manager, Community Relations, Chivas USA; and Eddie Martinez, Director, Media Relations, State Farm.

     Registration to attend this event is free and will begin at 6:30 p.m. outside of Alamitos Bay I and II Room 253, where El Torito will provide drinks and appetizers. The panel discussion will begin at 7 p.m. and HPRA will also present its annual scholarship program. When discussion has concluded there will be time to network with the professionals until 8:30 p.m.

Chis Overholser Speaks at PRSSA Meeting

     Chris Overholser, senior communication manager of Vans, spoke at the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), California State University, Long Beach(CSULB) chapter  meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15 to share the story of Vans and how he got started in public relations.

     This meeting showcased the third public relations professional to guest speak at a PRSSA meeting this semester. As new members join and others get closer to graduation, a major emphasis is placed on internships and the availability of local opportunities in each meeting. Overholser expanded on this idea while sharing his real-life experiences during an open discussion with the members.

     Overholser’s career path was filled with many useful experiences that led him to Vans. His background consists of bachelor’s degrees in history and political science. He then went on to earn a master’s in sports management. During this time, he also worked at several internships that helped him secure a marketing position after graduation.

     The first job Overholser had out of college was overseeing marketing for two professional sports teams, Minor League Baseball’s Wichita Wranglers and professional indoor soccer’s the Wichita Wings, in Kansas. He explained that working in a small market allowed him the opportunity to experience the job from many different angles and to learn skills that he still draws on to this day.

     After Kansas, he worked at Fleishman-Hillard International Communications agency. Overholser recommends working at an agency at the beginning of a public relations or marketing career. The agency life teaches professionals to respect deadlines and to be efficient with their time as the client often pays per hour. The exposure to different industries, management styles, and public relations and marketing tactics enhances a professional’s abilities.

     In 2001, Overholser began working for Vans, a shoe manufacturing company that was founded by the Van Doren brothers in Anaheim, Calif. during the 1960s, where he oversees marketing and public relations efforts that sell the Vans’ lifestyle not just its product.

     The Van Doren brothers’ deck shoes quickly became a part of the Southern California skater’s wardrobe. Aware of this trend, the owners of Vans realized their key public and began creating shoes for all types of action sports ranging from skateboarding to wakeboarding.

     With a company dedicated to action sports, Overholser manages a staff that focuses on getting the word out to the right mix of media outlets all the while constantly educating themselves on the several thousand products Vans puts out each season.

     “There is no such thing as a typical day,” Overholser said. “One minute I’ll be talking to the editor of some skate magazine and the next I’ll be on the phone with Vogue trying to convince them I know what the fall trends are.”

     Vans prides itself on not paying for product placement but allowing for the process to occur organically. Its shoes can be seen on a wide range of public figures ranging from “Twilight Saga” actor Kirsten Stewart to athletes like surfer Nathan Fletcher. Vans even has a line of Hello Kitty brand products, which further extend its reach to a diverse public. “It’s fun to work for a company that can mean different things to different people,” Overholser said.

     Members of PRSSA mingled after the meeting and expressed their renewed excitement for public relations. “Overholser was informative and didn’t talk about the same things you always hear about public relations,” said Sasha Filipovich, a member of PRSSA and journalism student. “He gave a realistic view of brand awareness that actually triggered some creative ideas that’ll help me with my school projects.”

PRSSA 2012 Bateman Case Study Competition Announces Partnership

     Public Relations Student Society of America announces its partnership with General Mills and United Way Worldwide for the 2012 Bateman Case Study Competition.

     The Bateman Competition dates back to 1973 when it was first called the National Case Study and later renamed in honor of the late Carroll J. Bateman. The PRSSA website explains how this competition gives students real-world experience as they research, plan, implement, and evaluate a public relations campaign for a real client. Teams from all over the country enter, and three finalists are chosen to present their ideas to the company. Students can add this experience to their resumes as portfolio pieces and job experience.

     The 2012 competition will focus on childhood obesity, an issue that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say is affecting one in three children in the United States. United Way Worldwide, an organization focused on improving lives in communities around the world, is the client-of-record for the 2012 competition.

     United Way Worldwide mobilizes good will in communities by inspiring local volunteers, connecting with local businesses and other non-profit organizations to stimulate social change, and fundraising for and investing in out-reach programs. United Way calls people to “Live United”, a promise to actively be a part of positive change.

     “United Way Worldwide is grateful for this opportunity…to assist in our efforts to bring awareness and impact to the issue of youth health and wellness,” stated Del Galloway, vice president of communication at United Way Worldwide, and 2004 president and CEO of PRSA, to PRSA online. Galloway encourages the students to focus their campaigns on promoting healthy diets and exercise while educating children on their healthy body weight.

     Joni Ramirez, a vice president in the Los Angeles Health Practice of Edelman and a part-time lecturer at California State University, Long Beach, is eager to learn more about the involvement of United Way from PRSSA. “United Way has a tremendous reach, and I am hopeful that the local affiliate will be an active partner in our campaign,” Ramirez shared through email. Ramirez is the Long Beach student team advisor for the Bateman Competition.

     Students will partner with a local United Way to create a campaign aimed at implementing different tactics to advocate healthy lifestyles. The goal is to reach parents and their children of all ages and educate them on the steps to take in order to secure a healthy future. 

SPJ Showing "Shattered Glass"

     Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) of California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) will be showing the film “Shattered Glass” during the meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. in SSPA Room 006.

     “Shattered Glass” is based on Stephen Glass’s journalistic career at “The New Republic” magazine where the editor eventually finds him out for falsifying the majority of his stories. The movie will allow for students to understand the importance of ethical practices when they become journalists themselves.

     “I decided to show ‘Shattered Glass’ at the last SPJ meeting because I think it has a valuable lesson for all journalists,” said SPJ of CSULB President Erin Spandorf. “Lying and fabrication, the heart of the movie, is basically suicide in the journalism industry.”

     The film outlines the rise and fall of Stephen Glass’s journalism career. At the beginning, his articles are seen as highly imaginative but amusing. But after a series of events that cause his editor to question the reliability of his sources and to the surprise of his coworkers, Glass is found out for fabricating many critical details in his stories. The film is based on true events that occurred during the mid-1990s.

Upcoming PRSSA Meeting

     The Public Relations Student Society of America will have Chris Overholser, the senior communications of Vans, speak at the meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011 at 7 p.m. in SSPA 104.

Shana Frahm and Chris Overholser during Group Y’s panel discussion “How to Maximize PR Opportunities & Expand Brand Awareness”

     As the senior of communications, Overholser oversees Van’s public relations and lifestyle marketing efforts through product and event publicity, product integration and product seeding in its art, music, and street culture programs, explains his Group Y biography. Before working at Vans, Overholser also worked for Fleishman-Hillard, an international public relations firm, where he specialized in youth marketing programs. And prior to Fleishman-Hillard, he managed the marketing of two professional sports teams, Minor League Baseball’s Wichita Wranglers and professional indoor soccer’s the Wichita Wings.

     The purposed topic of the meeting will be brand management. Brand management has no simple definition as it varies across the world of consumer products. Businessdictionary.com states that brand management is considered a marketing function that its goal is to maintain, improve and uphold a brand so the consumer will connect the name to a positive result.

     The meeting is an opportunity to learn more about the public relations as well as socialize with PRSSA members and network with an industry professional. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

PRSSA Announces Local Internship Opportunities

     Public Relations Student Society of America, Long Beach Chapter announces through email to all student members the available internship opportunities at Chunk-N-Chip food truck and ThomasARTS Marketing Communications.
          Several internship opportunities have become available in October through PRSSA. Chunk-N-Chip food truck and ThomasARTS are looking for a public relations intern.    

  “Chunk-n-Chip is an artisanal cookie ice cream sandwich roaming boutique,” states this food truck’s website. Chunk-N-Chip food truck is looking for a public relations intern to send pitches and press releases to local media, develop relationships with local media and bloggers to increase interest in food truck, and create a press kit for distribution. Those interested can send a resume to jobs@chunknchip.com.

    

ThomasARTS Marketing Communications provides a variety of services for their clients such as brand development, social media and mobile marketing, and public relations. The duties and responsibilities of a paid internship with ThomasARTS includes work like creating strategic public relations plans, securing positive press opportunities, and performing media research and outreach. Those interested can send a resume along with writing samples to Jamie.stum@thomasarts.com.

     Public Relations Student Society of America is the leading organization for students studying and having a career in public relations and communications. PRSSA “advocate[s] rigorous academic standards for public relations education, the highest ethical principles and diversity in the profession.” The Long Beach chapter does just that through monthly chapter meetings and emails correspondence of available internships, PRSSA events, and fundraisers.