 Kylee Coles, Chairman 2024-2025 The National Millennial and Gen Z group is a fantastic resource for students looking to gain top-level expertise about their future careers. This group provides a platform for networking, mentorship, and career development tailored to the needs and interests of the group.
On Tuesday, October 1st, I attended a call with Ms. Sony Rutesburg of PwC. Ms. Rutesburg is a partner of PwC and studies things like ai and databases. Before that, she worked in strategy engagement at Deloitte. Making informed decisions. She emphasized the importance of understanding the current landscape of data and how this knowledge can empower students to make more informed decisions. “We are being marketed to and targeted every day.” She said this is a change from her past because data used to be very hard to come by. Supporting others along the career journey. Ms. Rutesburg talked about how she loves helping others discover their journey in life. “If I could do one good thing in this world it would be helping people with What’s out there.” She explained when she first started her career in consulting, it was very different in terms of being a woman. She was once on a work team in Chicago with 40 other men. She explained how every Monday, they planned a meeting for her to present at 6 a.m., and at the time, she lived 45 minutes away with a newborn. Daycare also opened at 6 a.m. “I want to help people in high school and college figure out their path, so they don’t have to stumble where I stumbled." Ms. Rutesburg’s story and advice can help students avoid similar mistakes she made and be successful in their future careers. By learning from her experiences, students can gain valuable insights into the reality of the professional world and receive the support they need. Today, she spends the majority of her day in meetings or with her team working on projects while also trying to fit in mentoring, helping, and guiding people. Click here to learn more.
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 Lara Kilchenmann At the recent PRSA Cleveland event, Susan Oguche (Chief Communications Officer for the Cleveland Cavaliers) shared insights on navigating the rapidly changing landscape of public relations. "We are in a very dynamic time," Oguche noted, referencing how digital disruption—marked by the 24-hour news cycle, clickbait content, and shrinking newsrooms—has significantly changed how PR professionals work.
Oguche highlighted the evolving influencer landscape, where authenticity and brand transparency are paramount. She also emphasized the growing diversity of stakeholders, including community members, cultural moments, social media, and government. In the Cavs’ world, the shift from transactional to relational engagement is key. While LeBron James is often the central focus, Oguche stressed the importance of telling the team’s broader story—highlighting community impact, such as their basketball court initiative in Brazil and partnerships like the Coca-Cola collaboration. Narrative storytelling plays a major role, not just in sports, but in showcasing their championship culture and force for good in the community. A spotlight was also placed on the Cavs' technology advancements, enhancing the fan experience at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse with unique camera angles and interactive apps. Q&A Highlights When asked about the challenge of joining the team, Oguche reflected on the demanding nature of working in communications. "I think comm people are some of the hardest working people under the sun," she said. The biggest challenge, she explained, is adjusting to long hours. "You work from 7-7, and then the game starts at 7:30." While she loves basketball and even had season tickets before joining the team, Oguche emphasized the importance of work-life balance and taking care of staff, despite the high workload. On the topic of DEI, Oguche explained, “We’re here for the love of the land, for the land”. She highlighted how the social unrest of 2021 brought a renewed focus on DEI initiatives, noting, "The team has put work in that space." Overall, this was a great opportunity to gain valuable insights into the evolving role of public relations in sports and the meaningful impact that storytelling and community engagement can have. References: Smith, T., (2016, October 28). Why is Cleveland called the land?. Cleveland.com, https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2016/10/why_is_cleveland_called_the_la.html Oguche, S., (2024, October 8). PRSA Cleveland Beyond the Game: Telling Stories and Inspiring Others [Webinar, Zoom]. PRSA Cleveland. Superhero and film fans should all be in attendance for Cleveland to Krypton: The Superman Film Experience hosted by PRSSA Kent,Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. in Franklin 340. This summer, the city of Cleveland transformed into something out of this world while hosting the Superman film crew as they shot scenes for “Superman: Legacy.” Attendees will hear insight from Bill Garvey, president of The Greater Cleveland Film Commission, about the public relations practices used by the film commission during filming. This event is open to all students, staff and faculty. We hope to see you there!  Bring your laptop to see the benefit of Artificial Intelligence in public relations at PRSSA Kent’s event, Tuesday, Oct. 22 at 5:30 p.m. in Franklin 317.
Students will learn how to ethically use AI in their field from Cathy McPhillips, chief growth officer of the Marketing Artificial Intelligence Institute. McPhillips, with assistance from Kent State Professor Michele Ewing, and Professor Stefanie Moore, will lead a workshop on using AI responsibly, and students will apply what they learn in real-time. Do not miss this amazing opportunity to learn about this rapidly growing technology and how it can positively impact the public relations industry alongside other PR students.  This summer, I interned as a Social Media Intern on the Corporate Communications Team at The Davey Tree Expert Company. I had an incredible experience, thanks to my supportive team. My primary role involved managing and engaging with audiences across platforms like LinkedIn, X, Instagram and Facebook. I also uploaded and organized content to YouTube, tracked sponsorships, created performance reports, and analyzed competitor activity on media channels.
Additionally, I was responsible for developing trend reports to inform strategic decisions and I gained corporate exposure by attending weekly PR meetings. One of my more unique tasks was identifying fraudulent accounts to maintain brand integrity. I enjoyed learning how much data analysis goes into a corporate social media strategy. It was fun to have hands-on experience with audience behavior and trend reporting. While the exposure was incredible, what truly stood out to me was how impactful a positive and caring work environment can be. Every person I collaborated with was more than willing to help further my education in corporate communication. |
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