I'm so proud!

Met today with Carly Jarosz, an alum of the Newhouse Masters Program in PR.
Carly started her career following her SU graduation at FD, Financial Dynamics, an investor relations firm in Chicago.
In December 2009 she took a new position with Moody Bible Institute as a Communications Specialist in Public Relations.
She loves her new job and has even been asked to teach a writing course!
Carly and I had lunch today to catch up and I must say she impressed me with her confidence, poise and enthusiasm for her career.
This is one of the most gratifying things about working as a professor. You have a chance to shape young professionals and watch them launch very successful careers.
Carly's putting me in touch with some other alums from her class and I look forward to catching up on what they're doing, too.

It's all about research

This morning I met with Jennifer Doyle, SVP, Management Supervisor, for KRC Research.
I was particularly looking forward to this meeting because of my love of research and the strong emphasis on research in all of the Newhouse Public Relations programs, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Jen gave me a terrific overview of how the firm works with agencies and clients to conduct opinion research.
The key is to solve a client's problem. It is not to push a particular method on clients, but rather to listen to the client and his or her needs and then suggest the right research strategy. Good to hear, as this is what we teach our students. The most important thing is, "What do you want to know?"
KRC Research is part of the IPG group so it works with Insidedge to partner on projects.
Clients love the fact that a team can work with them and communicate with one another quickly to address their needs. It saves the clients valuable time.
KRC has offices in Boston, Washington, D.C., and London, Increasingly, the firm is doing global research and Jen reports that work has been particularly interesting.
Those who work in the firm have varying backgrounds. The firm does both qualitative and quantitative work.
The key to working in this type of firm? An analytical mind and curiosity! Great attributes for anyone in Public Relations, too!
Reputation research is a big part of the practice.
Measurement is king these days, says Jen.
I couldn't agree more!

City Life

My walk to work in Chicago is not the walk I make every day at SU.
First off, there are no hills!
Second, there are just a few more people on the sidewalks here.
I head out of the InterContinental Hotel and make my way up Michigan Avenue and across the Chicago River to Wacker.
Our building at 111 E. Wacker is full of offices and security requires you to check in before entering.
I can see why people in the city are more fit than some of the rest of us. They walk!

A Night at Wrigley Field

As promised, I'll share my photos from our trip to Wrigley Field.
Insidedge President Keith Burton has amazing seats at Wrigley, and we decided to take a walk around the stadium before entering so I could get the full effect.
You'll see that the rooftop seats are still primo, and the vintage neon sign still shines brightly.
The concourse was abuzz with fans as we entered and purchased our bison dogs. Yes, bison. The taste is different, and delicious.
All the usual warm-up activities made for fun spectacle and even watching the groundskeepers turned out to be a surprise as they wheeled out the batting cage and fit it into a space that seemed impossibly small. Their efforts defied the laws of physics!
As evening fell, the stadium and its natural turf, ivy walls and gentle breezes made the Cubs' loss seem a little less painful. We did see some home runs (and some of them were actually made by the Cubs!).
The Old Time band came around and was two rows behind us when it regaled us with peppy music to keep the crowd enthused.
My Orangemen shirt (it's an older shirt, so it says Orangemen and not Orange!) attracted a shout of "Go Orange" and I met an SU student who will be a returning student in VPA this fall. He was excited to see his school represented at Wrigley BY a Wrigley!
The evening ended with a quiet walk back to the car and ride back to the hotel.
Thanks, Keith, for an unforgettable night at the ballpark...MY ballpark, at that!

Day Two...and the Cubs still couldn't win...

Day One ended with a special treat. Insidedge President Keith Burton took me to a Cubs game at my stadium, Wrigley Field.
We scoped out Wrigleyville (seriously, that's what they call it) and took lots of great pictures, which I will post tomorrow. (I have to tease tomorrow's posting to make you come visit again!)
I experienced my first Bison Dog which I pronounced delicious and the night was perfect for baseball, 79 degrees and a gentle breeze.
Outside my office window, as we speak, they're shooting off explosives. It's not the competition trying to blow us out of the water; it's the filming of the movie "Transformers III" down on Wacker. On Sunday when I arrived, the bridge was up and they were setting off explosives and filming on Michigan Avenue. Quite exciting!
Today I met some great team members and saw two I'd met yesterday. This afternoon I'll be talking with Allen Putman from the New York office and then with Kirstin Hinchcliff to discuss a case study.
I have my own office here, and my laptop is humming with activity.
Also trying to keep Newhouse masters students moving on their Executive Education projects while I'm gone.
Two now have IRB approval from the May class and the third is closing in on finishing her proposal and doing her IRB form. Go, Aimee!
Keith Burton loaned me a book I'm reading entitled, "The cult of the amateur: How today's internet is killing our culture." I plan to finish it tonight.
Lunch tomorrow with former SU masters student and Newhouse alum Carly Jarosz, who now works here in Chicago for the Moody Bible Institute, and dinner tomorrow night with Sumalya Sundaram, who works in the burbs in marketing and PR. She's taking the train in to meet me and have dinner. I saw both former students two years ago during a visit to Chicago for the AEJMC (Association for Educators in Journalism and Mass Communication) conference held here.
This year's conference starts Aug. 4 in Denver and I'll be there the week following my two-week Insidedge internship.
In closing, it's been really fun being back in the so-called "real world" as opposed to the unreal world of the academy (and I use the word "unreal" with great affection).
BTW, stay tuned for more information on an exciting website I learned about today...created by one of the Insidedge interns from Boston University...that rates internships!

Life in the Big City

Day One of the Insidedge Internship!
I've had the cook's tour, met lots of smart people, and enjoyed lunch at the Art Institute's restaurant. First class!
Have my own office, computer and phone and feel just like one of the team.
Host Keith Burton, President of Insidedge, has been very generous with his time.
Had a fun chat with Al Golin himself. Will be spending some more time with him this week. He's every bit as fun and entertaining as billed.
Tonight it's off to Wrigleyville for a Cubs game.
Back at you tomorrow!

Chicago!

This is the first post as I prepare to depart for my internship (yes, professors can do internships, too!) at Insidedge in Chicago.
I'll be there for two weeks working with the team and learning what's happening in the agency business.
This experience, sponsored by the Plank Center at the University of Alabama, helps connect me with the practice and bring back real-world experience to my students.
In addition, I'll be checking on my building and my baseball field. Just want to be sure they're taking good care of them...