By Kara Planey

Join PRSSA Kent for our upcoming workshop: A Guide to Becoming a PR Professional. It will be on Thursday, Oct. 29, at 5:30 p.m. in Franklin Hall 314. Kate Forster, culture manager, and Jenn Boyd, account executive, from Caliber Corporate Advisers will guide the workshop.

This is the perfect opportunity to learn more about writing cover letters, creating resumes, utilizing LinkedIn and networking. Attendees will have the chance to have their cover letter, resume and LinkedIn profile reviewed.

A RSVP form will be on our website and social media channels soon.

We hope to see you at the workshop

By Kara Planey 

PRSSA Kent held The Value of Entertainment PR, their very first event of the year, on Sept. 17. The event focused on entertainment PR and featured guest speakers from Playhouse Square. TheirDirector of Communications, Cindi Szymanski, and their Director of Publicity & Communications, Stephanie Keefer both spoke at the event.

The event aimed to introduce new members to the types of socials PRSSA holds, while also putting a spotlight on a very interesting but busy part of PR.
As things kicked off, PRSSA Kent’s VP of Public Relations, Amber Trares, began asking the two panelists questions about their careers, starting with what a day in the life looked like for them. Keefer had excitement over “Death Becomes Her” and “Tommy,” coming to Playhouse in the next few weeks. Szymanski spoke about how no day is ever the same for her, a sentiment Keefer shared.
According to both speakers,Covid-19 had a huge effect on the industry. Both panelists discussed how daunting the challenges were, especially after things opened back up and every arts center wanted a show when there was not enough support to go around.

They later talked about their favorite shows and the importance of staying organized. Szymanski shared a heartwarming story of how Playhouse Square rose from the ashes in the 60s, a time when many theaters risked being torn down and turned into parking lots, and how the community within the theater has been a key reason for why she loves her job.

Throughout the event, the panelists often repeated how time consuming their jobs are, but reassured that they could never imagine working in another environment that offers as many opportunities and exciting moments as Playhouse Square.
After Amber Trares finished her questions, the floor was opened to the audience where the panelists were given the opportunity to connect with the attendees on a more personal level. The event was a great kick-off for the school year.

By Kara Planey
​NMGZ hosted a Community Alumni Career Advice Session for NMGZ members on Sept. 10. They brought together alumni from vastly different industries to share lessons, advice, and experiences in their fields.


Throughout the meeting, the Alumni panelists answered questions and emphasized the most important takeaways from their careers.
To start the meeting, the panelists answered a question about facts and information that they weren’t aware of in their industry before they started working in it.


The panelist explained that the communication industry is very broad and more unpredictable than their expectations. They believe that professionals in their field shouldn’t only complete assigned tasks, and they should always be on the lookout for ways to improve and think ahead. They advised to always be prepared, open-minded, adaptable and willing to take on different responsibilities even if it’s something that is arbitrary to their job. They also strongly believe that being a great leader isn’t about strategy but about bringing people together around a shared vision.


A dilemma that many college students and people everywhere have is the decision between money or growth opportunities. The panelists were asked about whether people should be choosing between the two. Many panelists encouraged the audience to consider both current and future goals. They said salary is important, but students should be aware if a company invests in their employees and creates teachable moments in real life situations.


As students prepare for interviews for internships and jobs, they should have set skills to help them stand out in competitive fields against fellow applicants. The panel was asked what are important skills or habits that have helped your career grow the most.
They said several important habits including:
● Listening before responding
● Asking thoughtful questions
● Being prepared
● Showing up early
● Adapting to different audiences
● Understanding the business you're working in
● Staying calm when things become uncertain
A common theme in the panelists answers wasn’t necessarily advice but a desire that students should approach their careers with a thirst for knowledge and willingness to learn and adapt.

The NMGZ alumni panelists urged the students to remember that every career is a different process, and there will always be ups and downs in any industry. Staying prepared, creating and maintaining positive relationships and being open to opportunities, hard or easy, can help navigate where you will go next.

By Kaylee Britt 

Working at Destination Cleveland for the past eight months has been one of my most rewarding experiences as a student. As the content intern, I work closely with the social media and website team.

In this role, I write blogs, make website updates, attend weekly marketing and digital meetings and assist with team needs. Throughout my internship, I have built professional relationships with industry professionals in Cleveland, including my supervisor, John Lutern, and the rest of the Destination Cleveland staff.

I have truly enjoyed working with everyone at the organization. It is one of the most positive, motivating and supportive work environments I have experienced. As my first in-office internship, it helped me gain confidence in a professional setting while teaching me the value of a collaborative team.

What I Learned
One of the most valuable lessons I learned is that making mistakes at a new job is normal. Everyone is constantly learning: what matters most is taking responsibility and working to correct those mistakes.

I also learned the importance of time management while balancing professional and student roles. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by classes, internships and commitments, but I found success by focusing on one responsibility at a time. When at work, I dedicated my full attention to my role.

Another key takeaway was the value of talking to colleagues. Chatting and listening to others share their professional and personal experiences shifted my perspective on my own career possibilities. There is so much to learn through curiosity and openness to conversation.

Looking Ahead
In the future, I hope to land a creative role. Storytelling has always been a passion of mine, and this internship introduced a new outlet for it; writing blogs quickly became my favorite part of the experience.

Through these blogs, I told stories for visitors while learning more about Cleveland myself. Not being from the area made writing a bit of a challenge at first, since I grew up in Toledo, but I grew to love Downtown Cleveland. I spent weekdays and weekends exploring the city, which strengthened both my writing and my connection to the content.
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Commuting from Kent to Cleveland was the most difficult part of the job, but I would not change the experience. It was a privilege to work in a professional environment alongside such an incredible staff and supervisor. I would encourage any Kent State student to apply if given the opportunity. The personal, professional and writing growth I experienced during this internship has been invaluable.

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