// Getting Started: Justin O. Cooper//

Name: Justin O. Cooper

Company: JOC Media | Marketing | Entertainment

Website: www.JustinOCooper.com

Twitter: @justincooperpr

How did you get started: I got my start in media and entertainment by positively exploiting relationships with people that were in the business that I felt could help me get started. I started out working as an assistant to a national recording artist while working a monotonous day gig simultaneously. My personal mantra is “Get in where you can fit in.”

Daily responsibilities: Project management is king in my professional and personal life. My day consists of answering and sending emails, phone conference calls, face-to-face meetings, event planning and social outings for business.

Describe your style (in 5 words or less): Professional, resilient, persistent, fun & focused.

Work Wardrobe: When I am in the office it can range from a suit or business casual (dress slacks and a button down shirt with no tie or a neatly pressed polo shirt) for dress. If I am on set for a commercial, music video or film it’s a little more relaxed but still coordinated with finesse and style.

Style Advice: Always dress for the position you want to obtain on that level above where you currently are. If you are ever in doubt about something you put on before you leave the house, CHANGE! Less is more and simplicity is always en vogue; always dress to impress, you’ll only get one first impression.

Daily arsenal: I never leave home without my Burt’s Bees lip balm, hand sanitizer, small travel size lotion, my Coach messenger bag, laptop, credit and or debit cards, car keys, cell phone with charger, flash drives and my laptop.

Best part of the job: The diversity of my work, in one day I can be dealing with crises communications, a major Hollywood film project and community relations.

Worst part of the job: There is never enough time to complete tasks and the work never ends.

Blackberry or iPhone? Why: None of the above, I am a Droid user. I think that the playing field is level with any smartphone you opt for with cameras, internet and email capabilities…it’s like having your office in your pocket.

Professional Advice: Education is vital to your success no matter what industry you are pursuing. Although I got my start in the industry before I obtained my college degree, it was important that I went back to finish. A college education is debatable in the current economic climate however, it is both a personal validation and speaks volumes to organizations when it comes down to making a choice in the hiring process. Moreover, always seek knowledge or ways to grow, even in my current level of success I frequently assist or intern to stay sharp in other crafts that work closely with my area of specialty. Finally being professional and kind are the cornerstones of people wanting to help you…no one ever wants to work with or help a jerk, don’t be a jerk.

// Getting Started: Taryn Scher//

Name: Taryn Scher

Company: TK PR

Website: www.tkpublicrelations.com

Twitter: @TarynTKPR

How did you get started: Completely unintentionally- I was working full time for a fashion house- doing the PR in-house and they asked me if I would consider switching to a consultant rather than an employee when I moved out-of-state. I told one person and it all snowballed from there. 

Daily responsibilities: On any given day I’m doing 3,000 different things- from pitching, following up with earlier pitches, sending samples, tracking media placements, meeting with journalists and giving them tours or going on TV myself! 

Describe your style (in 5 words or less): Bright and memorable- trendy yet timeless.

Work Wardrobe: Thank goodness I don’t ever have to wear a suit. My work and personal wardrobe are one and the same.

Style Advice: Find clothes that fit properly and invest in good pieces. Blazers are the single greatest wardrobe staple- throw one over a tshirt and you instantly look put together.

Daily arsenal: Aveda chapstick, 3 notebooks, package of post-it notes, 5 pens.

Best part of the job: Making my own hours.

Worst part of the job: Sometimes I work an 80 hour week.

Blackberry or iPhone? Why: Droid. I can’t use a touch screen.

Professional Advice: Never get too comfortable. Fear is the best thing for business.

// Getting Started: Belyne Vil//

Name: Belyne Vil

Company: BMV Communications 

Website: www.BMVcommunications.com

Twitter: @BMVpr

How did you get started: I worked for PR agencies for years.  I started in hospitality and food & beverage, then consumer brands and technology.  The last agency I worked for was in Atlanta. When I decided to move back to NY, I knew I wanted to begin the process of starting my own agency. 

Daily responsibilities: My daily responsibilities include managing my interns, following up with emails, reading the paper for newsworthy pitch angles, and scrolling through my social timelines. 

Work Wardrobe: My style is chic and versatile. 

Style Advice: My style advice is to make your own statement. There’s no need to follow every trend. The only important thing to remember is to be sharp and comfortable in your appearance. 

Daily arsenal: My daily arsenal is my iPhone and charger, iPad, floss, makeup bag, and an umbrella. 

Best part of the job: The best part of my job is having the freedom to be creative. 

Worst part of the job: The worst part is not having enough time in a day to get things done. 

Blackberry or iPhone? Why: iPhone for sure. I was team blackberry for over 7 years and I do not miss it. The iPhone is much more convenient with the various apps that make your life easier. 

Professional Advice: My advice to anyone starting out is simply to remember your vision. Never lose sight of your vision through the daily hustle and bustle.  Keep a vision board if necessary and do not share your vision with everyone. 

// Kelli Flournoy PR is looking for Summer 2012 Interns//

Kelli Flournoy PR is a boutique firm that specializes in the representation of fashion, beauty and lifestyle brands. The result-driven firm provides initiatives that ensure media exposure and proper brand representation based on the clients’ vision. Kelli Flournoy PR provides a wide array of services including branding, media relations, events, social media and creative services.  The company’s motto: “Fashioning Relationships and Building Brands.”

This internship is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience in various areas of pr and we are looking for interns who can start immediately.

MUST BE

-Reliable

-Organized

-Enthusiastic

-A self-starter

-Hard-working

-Able to multi-task

-Professional and well-groomed

MUST HAVE

-Experience/interest in fashion and beauty

-Excellent written and verbal communication skills

-Very comfortable working with: Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, YouTube (Photoshop skills are a plus)

Responsibilities Include, but are not limited to:

-Social media

-Press Clipping

-Media outreach

-Marketing initiatives

-Managing media databases

-Assisting with event production

-Assisting with daily office duties

-Researching trend and product information

-Assisting with photoshoots (pre, day of and post)

Must be able to commit to a minimum of (3) 6-hour days per week for 4 months.

Please email resume as a WORD DOC attachment ONLY to internship@kelliflournoypr.com

// Getting Started: Jordanna Stephen//

I can remember being a 22yr old aspiring fashionista constantly trolling the internet for articles on my fashion idols, desperately searching for the part where they share how they broke into this crazy fashion world. 

After nearly a decade in the fashion industry, the number one question I get is: How did you get started? So I decided to start this series profiling other pr professionals and creatives who are happy to share how they got their start as well as other valuable tidbits of knowledge. Enjoy!

First up…

Name: Jordanna Stephen

Company: Touch of Pink Public Relations

Website: www.touchofpinkpr.com

Twitter: @TouchofPinkPR @Pink_Prez

How did you get started? It’s such an interesting story. I went to school and majored in Advertising and Marketing Communications. So I was able to take PR classes to see what it was about, but my focus at the time was in Ad Copywriting. I got my first introduction to a PR firm when I briefly interned at People’s Revolution. I was really just getting my start into the whole fashion industry and never heard of that firm a day in my life before then. It also introduced me to a female-owned business. I learned a lot and started to become more interested in fashion PR. When I graduated from FIT, my first clients were referred to me from a previous employer, and I thought why not start my own PR firm? Touch of Pink Public Relations was born in 2008. I did work with a couple of other PR firms along the way, so I could learn the ropes of the industry. They helped mentor me along the way. But I had to come up with the direction of my firm and personalized touches so it felt like me. It’s been a long learning process, and I am still learning as I go along, but it’s rewarding nonetheless.

Daily responsibilities: They really vary from day-day depending on the project. Every day consists of emails and phone calls. It can be emails regarding press hits or for press, sponsors for PR events, follow-ups with editors and/or bloggers, emails to my assistants outlining their responsibilities or answering questions, responding to inquiries, etc. In between emails, I am tweeting, facebooking, pinning, lyst-ing, blogging…you name it and I am on it. Social media is so important. It’s the quickest way to increase awareness of your brand and keep your brand in the forefront of others. When I have some down time, which is rare because my mind is always going, I am looking up trends, other companies that would benefit my clients, brainstorming, getting to know what’s out there, reading articles, bookmarking websites for a later date, looking up events I should attend and events my clients should attend, and emailing myself ideas so that I could remember them. My day can start at 8:30am, and sometimes ends around 2am.

Describe your style (in 5 words or less): Simple, professional, approachable, achievable and sophisticated.

Work Wardrobe: If I am not meeting clients, it’s casual around the office – skinny jeans, top, flats. If I have meetings, then tailored skinny black pants, shirt, pumps; or a black wrap shirt dress. I’m a big believer in comfortable chic.

Style Advice: You have 5 seconds to sell yourself. You are your own walking brand, so make sure your look matches the message you want to give. Never look like you’re trying to hard…and never look like you didn’t try at all (unless you have that natural effortless look going for you). A publicist should always look like they are ready for anything. You never know if you’re going to meet an editor, a potential client or someone that could help you with your business. Dress for your body type. Try to make a style signature for yourself…although I am still working on that one myself. Haha.

Daily arsenal: Blackberry, business cards, pens, bottle of water, snack bar, almonds, gum, mirror, MAC lipsticks (specifically two – “Lady Danger” and “Girl About Town”), EOS lip balm, sunglasses, metro card, flats (if I am wearing heels), hand lotion…and yes, my everyday bag is kind of big.

Best part of the job: Getting results. Whether it’s that press hit my client wanted, or planning a fabulous launch or press preview for my client, the feeling that you get when you did a good job and succeeded…that’s what makes the waiting, frustration, frazzled nerves and the stress all worth it. And knowing that it was my firm that did it, makes it even better.

Worst part of the job? The non-instant gratification. Sometimes I just want editors to respond back right away, or at least respond. It can be discouraging at times when the media doesn’t feel the same way you do about your client.

Blackberry or iPhone? Why: I am still on team Blackberry. I’m like the black Carrie Bradshaw in that regard. In the movie, she didn’t want to change her area code or her phone. That’s kind of me. I loved my Razr and when I started my company I had to embrace and learn the Blackberry. Well, now it just flows with me and I don’t want to change to an iPhone. Plus, I don’t need a whole bunch of apps. I just need to get my emails, have access to twitter and facebook, and keep it moving. I’m sure I’ll make the switch one day…but just not now. I heard Blackberries are for business people and iPhones are for the fun people.

Professional Advice: Network, network, network. Even if you’ve been in the industry for a long time, it’s so important to network because there are always new people to meet. Always carry business cards with you, even if you don’t have a business you should have a contact card and the industry you’re interested in. Keep your personal social media pages separate from your business ones. Pay attention to every detail in your work and for your brand. It really is the little things that count. Be sure to be in communication with your clients and make sure you’re on the same page at all times.

// Basic Survival Skills for the PR World!//

Working to get that corner office? This post can help… I believe in order to succeed the PR World, one must be born with the following 3 things. If you don’t have these talents, you must work hard to gain them. Here are tips from my PR survival guide!

1)   Creativity is a must! Hopefully you were born with this. But if there isn’t a creative bone in your body, the internet is your friend. Search social media, online mags and blogs but try and stay away from too much mainstream media. Be inspired by what others are creating. Key word: inspired…don’t be a copycat!

2)   Got GUMPTION? Having it in your arsenal is the only way you’ll survive! Get ready step outside your comfort zone….and face rejection!  Pack your brain full of clichés and REPEAT them daily (maybe hourly). When one door closes another one opens and when life gives you lemons make lemonade and don’t take no for an answer. Alicia Siliverstone’s character Cher said it best in Clueless, “No is just the jumping off point for negotiations.” 

3)   They say curiosity killed the cat…but don’t cats have 9 lives? My point…in order to be a PR All Star you must be and stay curious. You should say to yourself several times a day, ”I wonder if…” Albert Einstein said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning…Never lose a holy curiosity.”

If you are armed with creativity, gumption and curiosity then you’re already leading the pack. But you’ll need more. What it is it you ask? I promise to share more later…I can’t give all my secrets away in one day

// Spring Clean//

Here’s what we’ve got our eye on for Spring…clean lines and pastel patterns…what about you