colleenflynn

Quick update: I included a link to the PDF version of my resume for downloads. You can view it on colleencflynn.com/resume at the top of the page, or DL it directly here. Please share it widely.

I completed my M.S. in public relations at Boston University in early August 2012. Now I can officially declare myself a “Master!” The process was long and grueling, but I found it rewarding. The experience has reinforced my desire to work in public relations, and I am intent on working with an agency to put my skills, education, and experience to work. I am currently seeking employment with an agency, so if you have any leads or would like to learn more about what I can do, please get in touch.

The most rewarding aspect of my program was my graduate work placement with APCO Worldwide’s London office. The internship was short but intense and I learned so much during my time there. As you can see from my resume update, I worked on GE healthcare and tech accounts and had some major wins on those projects. I also performed a variety of PR research, analysis, and client management tasks that covered a diverse array of projects, clients, and industries. I learned alot about working with an agency, and my favorite experience was participating on large research assignments for several new business development pitches for prospective clients. New business development was new to me and very eye-opening, and it pushed my research skills, creativity, and project management skills; I hope to continue working on this aspect of the agency business in future positions.

My coworker/BU classmate Bevin and me with our managing director James. An amazing boss and a great summer.

Both updates have been made to my “Resume” and “About” sections.

I added three additional examples of my Master’s projects and writing samples to my “Portfolio” section. They are all located at the bottom of the page (when WordPress finally installs anchors, it will be easier to link to these on the page). These include:

• My professional project for my degree (CSR’s Role in the Tech Sector): our cumulative project for our Master’s program. This project combined two of my passions– corporate social responsibility and tech innovation– and I learned alot from the background research and am proud of the case study I produced for how Google can use its CSR work to outcompete Apple.
• A media plan for my Media Relations class for a Reebok store launch on Newbury Street: This project demonstrates my ability to research, plan, and get creative for a consumer account working with a small group of collaborators. I enjoyed this project because in our first draft, our professor returned it to us and said that our event idea was not good enough. She knew that we were capable of more creative ideas and she told us to go back to the drawing board. She was right and we rallied together to come up with a better idea. My classmate Stephanie had a fantastic idea for a New Year’s Eve-themed ball drop to kick off the store launch and we brought together ideas for a New Year’s fitness resolutions that incorporated the Reebok store’s in-store and online offerings over a period of four months leading up to the Boston Marathon. It combined both pre-event, day-of, and long lead media opportunities and included a budget, fact sheets, bios, and press releases.
• Writing samples from my Writing for Media Professionals course: I chose my friend Joe Gaetani’s video production company RightSide Productions as a “client” and produced press releases, pitch letters, op-eds, feature pieces and profiles, and a media kit for his business.

Have been busy here in London and unfortunately neglected the website a bit. Check out:

1. My resume update under Work Experience and Technological Literacy and Skills. For my work placement here in London as part of my Master’s program, I’m working with APCO Worldwide’s London office as a research intern. I am loving the experience so far and learning so much. APCO has a variety of powerhouse clients and their needs are diverse, so I’m doing a lot of research, PR, and publications work, and also learning about the tech and healthcare sectors. I never thought I would find either sector interesting, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised and have found that the work they do is critical to how the world operates. I’ve also learned how to use Factiva for media scanning and Gorkana for journalist contacts.
2. An addition to my portfolio under Master’s Projects. For our Global Marketing and Communications class, we had to choose a British or international brand and develop a comprehensive marketing plan for them. I’ve been really interested in the history of popular music in London (especially from the 60s and 70s), and because I was planning my trip to Liverpool, I decided to do the Cavern Club, the legendary music venue where the Beatles had their first set with their official lineup and where other acts from the Rolling Stones, the Yardbirds, Jimmy Page, Amy Winehouse, and Adele have all played. My plan consisted of a branding slogan “Join the Club” to get people interested in visiting the Cavern Club during the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ first performance and for the cool music events and festivals it is hosting this summer.

We visited the Cavern Club on our trip to Liverpool, doing their Magical Mystery Tour with the coolest tour guides ever (Neil and Paul) and going to hear live music at the club later that night. Several beers and joining every member of the audience in a sing/dance-along inside a basement cave was beyond memorable.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Welcome to my personal website. I am a PR and communications professional looking to work at an agency committed to innovation and authenticity- from the people it hires to the clients it works with and the strategies it employs. Click on the links above to learn more about my work and experience, interests, and how to get in touch with me (aka learn more about what I can do for you and why you want to work with me). Click on my RSS feed to see my latest and greatest.