WVU Marketing Communications Today

  Did your career and professional development take a back seat to the many demands and evolving priorities in 2020? What does the future of work look like for marcom professionals, and how can you adapt – and thrive – in this new environment? Whether you’re trying to land your next gig, expand your network or get serious about professional development in the New Year – join industry veteran and career enthusiast, Bridgette Borst Ombres for a discussion on personal branding and how to get refocused on your career goals.   About Amy's Guest:  Bridgette Borst Ombres is a former TV news reporter turned PR and marketing professional with nearly 15 years’ experience working in communications across agency, corporate and nonprofit. Bridgette has media trained more than 350 spokespeople for organizations around the country and has consulted for brands such as Google, Angry Birds, Vestas, Boy Scouts of America and Earth Day Network. Bridgette owns The Commsultant, a boutique PR agency specializing in communications planning, thought leadership and media strategy.  Through the years, Bridgette has worked to place hundreds of students and young professionals in internships and jobs. She is passionate about mentoring and professional development.   Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bridgette lives with her husband, David and three-year-old daughter, Brielle.    WVU Marketing Communications Today is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.  

  The holidays are here and it’s a time of giving. How do marketers plan for this season as they work on fundraising? Leandra Clovis joins us to discuss how she is navigating the giving season in her work as Senior Director, Walk to End Alzheimer’s at the Alzheimer’s Association, Central and North Florida where she manages the development and implementation of peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns.   About Cyndi's Guest: Leandra Clovis has nearly a decade of experience working with national nonprofit organizations, which she brings to her current role as Senior Director of Walk to End Alzheimer’s for the Alzheimer’s Association in Central and North Florida.  In her current role, she manages the development and implementation of the Central and North Florida Chapter’s peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, including Walk to End Alzheimer's, The Longest Day (DIY) and RivAlz football games. As the strategic lead for the team, she manages the overall plan to achieve revenue goals by developing communication plans, creating best practices, and coaching staff. She works cross-departmentally to ensure that goals are met collaboratively. Annually, these three fundraising programs are responsible for nearly $2 million dollars in revenue for the Association. Since 2018, her strategies have helped to increase fundraising revenue for the chapter Walk to End Alzheimer’s program by 14%. She currently sits on the Walk National Leadership Council for the Association helping to draft materials and best practices to guide walks nationwide   WVU Marketing Communications Today is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.  

  The use of digital advertising has been on the rise and has seen continuous growth despite these unprecedented times. How do you stand out in a crowded digital space? Storytelling. Join Sukhi Sahni, head of corporate communications at Capital One as she discusses how to sell stories in a digital world.   About Amy's Guest: Sukhi is passionate about reframing relationships between brands and their customers and consumers, prizing purpose, authenticity, poignancy, and connected conversation above all things. She believes that powerful storytelling is at the heart of good communication and draws on her training as a broadcast journalist to extract truths, push boundaries and challenge the status quo. Sukhi deeply values the relationships she’s built and cultivated over the years with journalists, bloggers and influencers - relationships that are core to the storytelling process. Sukhi brings the energy of new practitioner with the finesse and fearlessness of a veteran to her daily practice. She currently holds the position of Senior Director of Communications at Capital One and was recently recognized by The Holmes Report a global communications leader through the “Global Innovator 25 Award” and a top woman in PR through the “Top Women in PR Award”.   WVU Marketing Communications Today is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.  

Amanda Sains is the head of marketing at Joolies Organic Medjool Dates in Venice, CA. She was part of the brand launch at the trade show Natural Products Expo West in 2019 with only packaging prototypes and a stand-out booth design. Now, about a year and a half later this July, the brand is distributed nationally in over 1,500 doors with many different products including Dates and Date Syrups and flavors. Join Amanda as she discusses brand management and her experiences in launching a brand. About Karen's guest: Amanda Sains is the Head of Marketing at Joolies Organic Medjool Dates, an organic snack that's changing the date-ing game as we know it, based in sunny Venice, CA.   Amanda took part in the launch of the Joolies brand at the trade show Natural Products Expo West in 2019 with only packaging prototypes and a stand-out booth design. Now, about a year and a half later this July, Joolies is distributed nationally in over 1,500 doors with many different products including Dates and Date Syrups and flavors.    Prior to Joolies, Amanda worked as the director of marketing and business development at B’more Organic. She received her B.S. in Journalism and her M.S. IMC from WVU.   WVU Marketing Communications Today is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.      

As COVID-19 propels society into a new digital revolution, the entire world is seeking new ways to create connections and innovate at a distance. The future of a "touchless" or "low-touch" world is becoming increasingly more necessary as we settle into the "new normal." Rodney Williams, COO of LISNR, provides insight into how technology is empowering connection, safeguarding society, and creating new opportunities for business managers and marketers.   WVU Marketing Communications Today is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.  

  What is a product insight? How do we find insights? In today’s conversation, Hannah Gordon, product insights analyst for Airbnb, will dive into why product insights matter, how to find insights and when to use them. Hannah will share tips on how she uses insights in her day-to-day at Airbnb to influence stakeholders and build products to delight users and meet business goals.   About Cyndi's Guest: Hannah Gordon is a mixed methods researcher and a ‘14 graduate from WVU’s IMC program. She is also a graduate from WVU’s Reed College of Media. Hannah has a passion for combining qualitative and quantitative research methods to recognize trends, develop strategies to achieve business goals, influence stakeholders and build products users love. Hannah is currently a product insights analyst at Airbnb, where her research is focused on driving product and policy improvements. Prior to joining Airbnb, she was a research analyst at JustAnswer, where she took a data-driven approach to solving user problems and reducing overhead business costs. Hannah lives in San Francisco with her husband, who is also a WVU graduate.   WVU Marketing Communications Today is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.  

How do we move forward with in-person meetings safely? During this conversation, we will delve into ways to plan and execute events during the COVID pandemic. What questions should we be asking and what are some things we can all do to ensure safe meetings. Join Heidi Nizowitz, Director of Convention Services at Mandalay Bay, to learn how event planners are overcoming obstacles in today’s environment.   WVU Marketing Communications Today is presented by the West Virginia University Reed College of Media, which offers renowned online master’s degree programs in Marketing Communications.  

  Paula Scher is one of the most influential graphic designers in the world. Described as the “master conjurer of the instantly familiar,” Scher straddles the line between pop culture and fine art in her work. Iconic, smart, and accessible, her images have entered into the American vernacular. Scher has developed identity and branding systems, promotional materials, environmental graphics, packaging and publication designs for a broad range of clients. In this session, Scher reflects on career-defining moments, shares her design process and explores the relationship between design and marketing. Scher has been a partner in the New York office of Pentagram since 1991. She began her career as an art director in the 1970s and early 80s, when her eclectic approach to typography became highly influential. In the mid-1990s her landmark identity for The Public Theater fused high and low into a wholly new symbology for cultural institutions, and her recent architectural collaborations have re-imagined the urban landscape as a dynamic environment of dimensional graphic design. Her graphic identities for Citibank and Tiffany & Co. have become case studies for the contemporary regeneration of American brands.     WVU Marketing Communications Today is hosted by Whitney Drake from West Virginia University which is a program on the Funnel Radio Channel.     

  Deciding to shift your career can be challenging. Joining us today, David Hovis, marketing and communications manager for Team Penske, went from being a history major to changing his focus on PR. David will share what brought him to racing public relations, how his role has evolved and advice on how you can switch or start your career in PR.   About Michael's Guest:  David manages day-to-day public relations efforts for the No. 6 and No. 7 Acura Team Penske ARX-05 DPi entries competing full-time in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. David also manages the Team Penske eSports team, content and maintenance of teams' official website, as well as assists with media guides, driver appearances, and is a designated at-track public relations and sponsor relations manager at all IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship events for Helio Castroneves, Juan Pablo Montoya, Dane Cameron, and Ricky Taylor.     WVU Marketing Communications Today is hosted by Michael Lynch from West Virginia University which is a program on the Funnel Radio Channel.     

  With the changes in digital consumption behaviors and the rise in social justice, how do marketers reach a younger audience while also bringing light to what needs addressed in this critical time? Join Eric SanInocencio, Associate Commissioner of Strategic Digital Media, as he discusses successful tactics used by the ACC and how the industry is addressing social justice in 2020.   About Amy's Guest: Eric SanInocencio joins the Reed College of Media team with over 12 years of social and digital experience, having worked at both the professional and collegiate sporting ranks during his career. He currently serves as the Associate Commissioner for Strategic Digital Media for the Atlantic Coast Conference, where he oversees the league’s digital and social platform, and serves as a liaison to the conference’s members institutions and the ACC Network. Working with the league’s digital teams, the ACC has created numerous long form digital projects that have aired on the linear ACC Network. Prior to joining the ACC, SanInocencio served as the Senior Director of Digital for the NFL’s Houston Texans, where his team was awarded several honors. The Texans became the first team in the NFL to ever win a Shorty For Social Good Award, as they were recognized for their groundbreaking #TexansCare campaign, which encouraged fans of the team to volunteer their time in the Houston community. Upon taking over the Texans’ media channels, the website vaulted from the bottom third of the NFL in major metric categories to the top twenty-five percent.     WVU Marketing Communications Today is hosted by Cyndi Greenglass from West Virginia University which is a program on the Funnel Radio Channel.