Hospitality Leaders discuss the "State of the City"

I attended the “State of the City: See What’s Developed” presentation/panel discussion on Tuesday, April 26, expecting to find out what new developments are happening in the city (i.e. new hotels, restaurants, attractions, etc.) While I did learn about those, I learned something else, just as, if not more important. I learned what these new developments in the hospitality industry mean to the region’s economy by creating jobs for its residents and generating billions of dollars in economic impact.

The program was presented by the Center City Proprietors Association (CCPA) and Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB). It was sponsored by these two organizations, as well as the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, PPRA, and the Philadelphia Business Journal and was held in the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

More than 200 people attended the panel discussion, which was moderated by Craig Ey, editor of the Philadelphia Business Journal. The panel consisted of Jack Ferguson, president & CEO of PCVB; Meryl Levitz, president & CEO of Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC); Ahmeenah Young, president & CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA); and Alan Greenberger, FAIA, deputy mayor for planning and economic development and director of commerce, City of Philadelphia.

Some of the things that I took away from the presentation were:

• The Convention Center and its expansion is a major catalyst for generating economic impact to the city and creating jobs.
• A dozen city organizations are in discussions about developing a collaborative “Hospitality University”  to train the next generation of frontline hospitality workers.
• Hospitality and tourism has replaced manufacturing as one of the dominant “industries” in the region.
• Give people a reason to come to Philadelphia (new attractions, more meeting space) and they will come. Philadelphia is an affordable destination and an attractive place to live, work, and play.
• Philadelphia has 30 jobs for every 100 residents as compared to San Francisco, with more than 70 jobs for every 100 residents, and Washington has 115 jobs for every 100 people.

The moral of the story? Hospitality means jobs: whether its entry level, mid-level or executive; from cab drivers, to hotel staff, to those of us PR types who help promote Philadelphia as a world-class destination.

The presentation was followed by a tour of the newly expanded center. All I can say is WOW! It’s “ginormous!” Looking out of the windows over Broad Street, I can just imagine what it will be like once the Lenfest Plaza is completed!

This blog post was written by PPRA member, Ellen  Kornfield.  Ellen is a former communications manager for the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. She is currently a communications/PR consultant and can be reached at ekornfield@gmail.com. 

Student Spotlight: Nick Stackhouse

Philadelphia is a city filled with some of the best universities in the nation, and we have the students to show for it.  In the PPRA Student Spotlight, we’ll introduce you to the PR-pros-in-training from across the city.  

    

I’m pleased to be a part of this new series with one of my former Tierney interns, Nicholas Stackhouse, a Temple communications major graduating this May.  I had the good fortune to work with Nicholas this past fall. Over those three and a half months, he proved hard-working, enthusiastic, creative, and a tremendous asset to our team...not to mention he had an arsenal of fun facts to throw at us every day!   

Nicholas first became interested in PR as a high school student, managing and promoting local band shows in his hometown of Aston, PA.  He utilized social media such as Facebook and Twitter to reach the young target demographic, gathering an impressive 533 people for one of the many shows.

“I enjoyed what I was doing and felt like I had a knack for it,” said Nicholas. “So when I entered Temple, I decided to explore the field more as a communications major.”

To further dive into PR, Nicholas joined Temple’s Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and PRowl, Temple’s first and only student-run PR firm.  He also interned with a variety of organizations, including Relief Communications, WXPN & World Café, and Nexus PR in London.  If his hands-on experience wasn’t enough, this semester Nicholas became a research assistant for his professor, Dr. Pompper, on a study that hit close to home:  the opinions of males in communications.  

“The field of public relations is 70 percent women, according to the PRSA salary survey.  For this study, I conduct interviews and focus groups with male professionals to find out what it’s really like to work in a female-dominated industry.” 

While we’ll have to wait to find out just what the men amongst us are saying on that topic, Nicholas was happy to share some final advice for students interested in PR.

“It’s very beneficial for students of my generation to become familiar with multiple elements of promotion, aside from traditional press.  Media is still very influential in delivering a message, but professionals need to know more about things like social networking, photo/video editing and HTML.” 

Nicholas doesn’t just get the Philly PR scene; he lives and breathes it. He possesses the creativity and work ethic that are at the core of our business.  I have no doubt we’ll be running into him at PPRA events or seeing his placements in the news in the near future. If you want to connect with Nick now, consider following him on Twitter (@NickStackhouse).   

If you know a student we should showcase in our next PPRA Student Spotlight, please leave a comment!

This blog post was written by Christine Guerrini. Christine Guerrini is a member of the public relations team at Tierney agency in Center City Philadelphia. A Villanova grad, Christine specializes in media relations, social media and research. She has worked with clients in a variety of fields, including consumer, non-profit, and B2B. Outside of work, Christine is an avid fan of the Arts, whether exploring museums or sitting down with a novel. Connect with Christine on Twitter (@CMGuerrini) or at http://www.linkedin.com/in/christineguerrini . 

How I Took Advantage Of Networking

As I was reading one of my favorite PR blogs, PRowl Public Relations, written by the talented staff of Temple University's first and only student-run PR firm, I came across this awesome post written by student Evan Galusha. Evan recently attended PPRA and PRSA's joint event Careers 101 and made an extremely valuable connection...one that led to an internship!

Enjoy Evan's story below. This blog post originally appeared on PRowl Public Relations' blog on April 24.

Coming into this semester, I knew I needed to find an internship for the summer. Having never had an internship, or anything resembling a “white collar” job, I found myself very apprehensive and was unsure of how to separate myself from other applicants. How could I, an inexperienced student with limited exposure to the profession of public relations, distinguish myself as a viable candidate who possessed the characteristics and personality that potential employers were seeking? After sending my resume to nearly half a dozen employers and not hearing back from one, I decided simply sending a list of what I had done did not accurately reflect the potential which existed within me. I needed to not just put my name out there, I needed to put a face to my name and make an impression based on an actual meeting.

One afternoon a friend of mine sent me an email containing the details of an upcoming PPRA networking event and suggested I attend. This is exactly what I was looking for: a chance to sit down and meet public relations professionals in the Philadelphia area. So I paid the small registration fee and when the date arrived I put on a suit for the first time in my life. At the event, I learned how to properly position myself to obtain an internship or a job, and how to make myself stand out among the masses. Upon the conclusion of the event, using the advice I had just learned, I approached several employers who had expressed a need for an intern at their place of work. Again, using the advice I had learned from the PPRA event, I followed up with those who I had met and established a relationship by beginning an email correspondence. The next thing I knew, I had an interview scheduled. I prepared myself adequately for the interview by using the suggestions of the professionals I had spoken with at the networking event and was able to provide my interviewer with practical suggestions that fit the organization’s message. Two days later, I was informed that I had received the position.

Thanks to networking, and my friend’s suggestion to attend this particular event, I now have a summer internship. Had I not gone, anxiety would have probably continued to grow as my chances to find a summer internship diminished. The lessons from the professionals at the PPRA event, along with the chance to meet prospective employers face-to-face, allowed me to display my personality beyond a simple resume and cover letter and led to my eventual hire.

Thanks to Evan for agreeing to let us re-post his story!

Student Spotlight : PPRA Associate Member Joe Rapczynski

Joe Rapczynski is a new PPRA Associate Member who is about to embark on his first internship in public relations.  He is a junior at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa., where he is co-captain of the men’s basketball team and a student worker in the sports information department.  I sat down with Joe (who also happens to be my brother!) to learn a little more about what it is like to be a student gearing up to trade in his basketball uniform for the working-world staple of business casual attire. 

What made you join PPRA?
I joined for the opportunities to learn from and network with public relations representatives in the area.  As a student who is close to graduating and moving on to the “real world,” my professors and mentors stress that we should take any chances we may get to learn.  As a member of PPRA, I have access to events such as “Careers 101” that have given me an advantage coming out of college.

What was your Careers 101 experience?
I picked up small, but useful, pieces of information from recent college graduates now working in the field, such as how to get started with an internship, advantages and disadvantages of a small agency versus a corporate atmosphere and the importance of social media.  It was also great to meet other students pursuing careers in PR. 

What made you choose Communications as a major?
Communications is a broad major that covers a wide variety of industries.  Coming out of high school, I wasn’t too sure what I wanted to study.  My friends and family always said I was a good writer, so I figured, “why not”?  As I took the Communication courses, I enjoyed the course material and class discussions and gained a passion for the field.  After a few more focused courses, I realized I wanted to go into public relations. 

How do you balance school work with working in the sports information office and being on the basketball team? 
It is tough at times, but my coach and the sports information director stress school work first and always understand the life of a student-athlete.  My coach gives us the practice schedule months in advance, which helps me manage my time efficiently.  Luckily, the SID allows me to come in during my free time in between school and basketball to finish my writing.  However, my coach, SID and professors never let me forget that school comes first.

This blog post was written by PPRA President Beth Archer.  Beth is a Senior Account Manager at Anne Klein Communications Group in Mount Laurel, N.J., where she works with clients in the utility, healthcare and higher education industries.  She had her first internship when clips where still clipped out of a newspaper. Connect with Beth on Twitter or LinkedIn.

Graduating in May? Some advice from Ike Richman, Vice President of PR at Comcast-Spectacor

With the end of spring semester quickly approaching and only about three weeks to go until graduation, I and many other seniors are anxiously awaiting and anticipating our entrances into the “real world.”  Given the opportunity to interview Ike Richman, who spoke at “Public Relations Careers 101” and currently serves as Vice President of Public Relations at Comcast-Spectacor, I decided to seek out his advice to students who will soon be setting foot in the industry.  Here is what I learned from Mr. Richman.   

Public relations is all about relationships.  Everything comes back to the relationships you’ve established.  It’s important to build strong relationships with the media you will be working with the most and to know who to approach with what story.   This will also help build your personal network, which is critical in the field.  Take advantage of projects, speaking opportunities, informational interviews, social media, friends, professors, learning opportunities and events – any venture where you can make new connections and expand your network.  Work hard to cultivate and develop these relationships and you will reap the rewards down the line.

While forming positive lasting relationships, make sure you take the time to understand and know each person in your network.  Mr. Richman keeps a book where he jots down the names of people in his network and details about them.  This is even more important for your relationships with the media.  Make sure you know what kinds of stories each of your contacts cover and that your pitches are well thought out and targeted.  In addition to knowing who to pitch, make sure you know the product you are pitching!  Mr. Richman advises getting excited about what you are pitching because once you’re excited about it, it’s more likely others will become excited about it too.

It’s our job, as PR practitioners to get people excited and on board.  Mr. Richman explains how public relations can be the convincing factor that helps a consumer make the right decision when making a purchase.  He feels this is also the most rewarding part of the job – when his efforts can convince someone to do something, such as attend an event.   He adds it is the ultimate compliment when someone says, “I saw this on the news.  Or I heard about this on the radio.  Or I read this in the paper.”

To better understand all the effort that goes into successfully getting people on board and excited about what you are advocating, Mr. Richman recommends getting an internship.  He stresses to make sure you’re actually writing pitches, contacting media and doing the follow-up work.  This is also another opportunity to build your network and garner relationships.

This blog post was written by Temple University senior, Trish Wyatt. Trish Wyatt is a graduating senior Strategic Communication - PR concentration major and Sociology minor at Temple University. She serves as Account Executive for PRowl Public Relations, Temple University's first and only student-run PR and is a member of PRSSA and NSCS. For fun, Trish enjoys being active outdoors, volunteering and following Philly sports. Connect with her @trishwyatt.

2011 Award Nominations

Want to recognize our region's future and up-and-coming public relations professionals? PPRA presents two annual awards for students and young professionals, respectively - The Dr. Jean Brodey Student Achievement Award and The President's Fast Track Award.

The Dr. Jean Brodey Student Achievement Award is awarded to a college junior or senior who has exhibited outstanding professional promise in the field of public relations, has an excellent academic track record and contributes to his or her community.  Any PPRA member or internship supervisor in the Philadelphia region may submit nominations for the award.  The winner receives a commemorative plaque and a $250 cash prize. Past winners include:


2010 - Jessica Lawlor (Temple University)
2009 - Kwan Morrow (Penn State Abington)
2008 - Robert Johnson (Temple University)
2007 - Rosie Braude (Rowan University)
2006 - Meredith Avakian (Temple University)
2005 - Arianna Stefanoni (Rowan University)
2004 - Chris Lukach (Rowan University)
2002 - Susan Stahl (Temple University)

The President's Fast Track Award recognizes an up-and-coming professional who has contributed greatly to the organization, the profession and the community. This professional exemplifies PPRA's vision for the future and has been in the field for 5-8 years.  The winning nominee will receive a commemorative plaque presented by PPRA's president and the person who nominated the award winner.  Any PPRA member may submit nominations for the award. Past winners include:


2010 - Ashley Berke
2009 - Meredith Avakian
2008 - Kera Walter
2007 - Christopher Lukach
2006 - Elizabeth Rapczynski
2005 - Paige Wolf
2004 - Mark Tarasiewicz
2003 - Jeff Guaracino
2002 - Danielle Cohn

The award winners will be chosen by the PPRA Awards Selection Sub-Committee. The awards will be presented on June 15 at the PPRA Annual Meeting at the Stotesbury Mansion.

Click here to download the nomination forms for both the Dr. Jean Brodey Student Achievement and President's Fast Track awards.  The deadline for receipt of completed nomination forms is May 27, 2011. Supporting materials that show the nominee's professional promise, community service and commitment to the profession must accompany each nomination form.  All materials should be faxed to the Philadelphia Public Relations Association at 856-727-9504 or mailed to:

PPRA
P.O. Box 579
Moorestown, NJ08057

If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments.

The Rewarding Life at Philabundance

After almost three years of college and public relations courses, I still am not positive on what I want to do with the rest of my life. It was only recently that I became interested in non-profit organizations, like Philabundance.

Philabunance is a non-profit organization in Philadelphia whose mission is ending hunger and helping the less fortunate in the Delaware Valley. I was given the opportunity to interview Marlo DelSordo, the Director of Communications and Marketing at Philabundance. Since this is an area I am interested in, I was eager to hear what Ms. DelSordo had to say about her work at Philabundance.

For me, the idea of a non-profit organization is intriguing because you are working for a cause that impacts real lives. Ms. DelSordo agreed, saying that she was drawn to Philabundance because of its mission of ending hunger and the positive impact they make across the Delaware Valley. The work is more meaningful and fulfilling when you know that your role has allowed families to have food on their table.

As with any job, there will always be challenges. For Ms. DelSordo, there are fewer resources in the non-profit sector, so messages must be constructed creatively and with a smaller budget. Just from these two questions, it appears that non-profit work, like Philabundance is both extremely rewarding and challenging.

As a young professional, I have seen that school and an internship can be a tricky balancing act. I was curious as to what a professional’s opinion on this idea was. Ms. DelSordo said this was something she still struggles with. She is technically on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but during family time she does not answer any emails. She is committed to her job and the Philabundance cause, but realizes that her family life is a priority too. Her passion for her job is what drives her dedication to the position and organization.

When a PR student has the opportunity to talk with a current PR professional, he or she is always curious about how to find a job in today’s competitive market. Ms. DelSordo had helpful tips for job searching while still in college. She recommended identifying organizations you’d like to work for and completing informational interviews with them. It is great practice and can foster new relationships. Additionally, she said to get involved in organizations like PRSA and PPRA. Her advice has proven true, considering I was given the opportunity to interview her through PPRA and PRSA's event, Careers 101. My interview with Ms. DelSordo has reaffirmed the idea of working in a non-profit environment and has helped me better understand the skills necessary for success.


This blog post was written by Temple University student, Alex Crispino. Alex is a junior Strategic Communications major at Temple University, with minors in Spanish and Psychology. She is a member of PRowl Public Relations, Temple's student-run PR firm, PRSSA and is a Resistant Assistant at Temple. In her free time, Alex likes to blog and is an avid baseball and football fan. Connect with Alex on Twitter.