Portfolio 2012
Content
Portfolio
Chris Glenn
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Table of Contents
Resume …………………………………………………………………………………………. 3 Published Feature Stories ……………………………………………………………………... 4 Feature Article ………………………………………………………………………………... 12 Issues Tracking Executive Summary ………………………………………………………... 14 Position Paper Speech ………………………………………………………………………… 17 Applied Research Project …………………………………………………………………….. 21 Proposal ……………………………………………………………………………….. 22 Background Research ………………………………………………………………… 23 Survey Plan …………………………………………………………………………..... 25 Focus Group ……………………………………………………………..……………. 26 Advertising Sample CS4 ……………………………………………………………………… 27 Creative Resume ……………………………………………………………………… 28 Published Photography ………………………………………………………………………. 29
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Chris Glenn
http://www.scribd.com/chris_glenn
55 7th St, Shalimar, FL, 32550 8 5 0 . 2 9 3 . 0 6 5 6 ∙ [email protected]
_______________________________________________________________________________ Objective Education
To obtain a position in public relations that utilizes my knowledge in marketing, management, and communications. Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts University of West Florida ∙ Pensacola, FL Major ∙ Public Relations Operating Systems ∙ Windows 2000, XP, NT, Vista ∙ Macintosh OSX Productivity Software ∙ Microsoft Office Suite ∙ Word, Excel, PowerPoint ∙ Adobe Creative Suite 5 ∙ InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator Social Media ∙ YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, PROpenMic, Twitter ∙ Dean’s list last 2 semesters ∙ Maintained full course load while working multiple jobs 40 hours a week ∙ Received Bright Futures Scholarship General Manager of Aqua Surf Shop Jan 2012 - Present Worked 6 & 7 days a week for the entire season ∙ Control all internal and external accounts ∙ Staffing, purchasing, sales, merchandising, accounting, housekeeping and security ∙ Increase sales 20% from previous year ∙ Maintained and established customer relations to maximize service satisfaction Intern for the University of West Florida in Sports Communication Worked over 300 hours my last semester at UWF Accomplishments: ∙ Wrote press releases & feature stories for web and print ∙ Photographer and editor for media releases & feature stories online ∙ Built archives containing UWF team records covering 50+ years ∙ Created numerous student-athlete biographies and uploaded to online database ∙ Edited and posted social media videos of events and games ∙ Videographer of athletics for online database April 2011
Computer Skills
Honors &
Achievements
Professional Experience
Work Experience
Northeast Pensacola Ballpark ∙ N E P ∙ Umpire for T-ball Pine Forest United Methodist Church ∙ P F U M C ∙ Sound & Multimedia Technician Community Life Center of Gulf Breeze ∙ C L C ∙ Maintenance ∙ Front Desk ∙ Activities ∙ Coached 3-5 year old soccer at YMCA Ft. Walton Beach, FL ∙ Volunteer for Vacation Bible School at PFUMC ∙ Coached 3rd grade basketball at the Community Life Center
2006-2011 2006-2010 2000-2004
Community Involvement
2010 2007-2009 2004
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The following articles are published feature stories written during my internship for the Sports Communications Department at the University of West Florida. Every feature story involved research on the subject(s), along with an interview either face to face or through email. After the interview, I was responsible for the content as well as uploading and posting to the school’s website. The five stories are all available in online archives at goargos.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA SPORTS INFORMATION Friday, January 21, 2011 ASSISTANT COACHES HAVE ROOTS PLANTED AT UWF By Chris Glenn, Sports Information Student Intern PENSACOLA, Fla. – The University of West Florida women’s basketball team has a unique set of assistant coaches. Laura Davis, Jessie Ivey and Tiffany Williams are UWF alumni who previously played for Head Coach Shannan Bergen, and all three are now on the coaching staff. The experience of having played for Coach Bergen brings a variety of advantages to the players as well as the coaches themselves. Knowing what is expected from the players and being familiar with the program allows the three assistant coaches more time to focus on individual aspects of the team. Each member of the trio has individual responsibilities for the team, giving Bergen the opportunity to focus on the team as a whole. Graduate Assistant Coach Jessie Ivey aids Bergen in many ways on and off the court. A former forward for UWF, Ivey specializes in working one-on-one with the current team’s post players. She also coaches the players academically, helping to maintain the team’s cumulative 3.0 GPA by monitoring study hall for the players. “I'm still in school finishing up my master's degree, so I understand the student-athletes work load,” said Ivey. “Sometimes, all you need is someone to listen to you so you can get it off of your chest. I try to be that person for them; all of us do.” “Despite it being on a professional level now as an assistant, our relationship has stayed the same,” said Ivey, referring to her work with Coach Bergen. “She is very open and easy to talk to as a player and as an assistant.” The trio of assistants was all starters while playing for UWF. Ivey started every game as a senior and played all but one game each season of her freshmen and sophomore year. Davis, meanwhile, led the Gulf South Conference in three-point shooting in her junior season. Williams played in all 28 games her senior year and was named to 2nd team All-Gulf South Conference on top of winning Most Valuable Player honors at the UWF Tip-Off Classic. The women’s basketball team hopes to snap a five-game losing streak next Thursday night, when they face off with GSC East Division rival Valdosta State. UWF’s next home game is February 3, when they host West Georgia. Without a doubt, the experience that Davis, Ivey and Williams shared with Bergen gives an insightful advantage to each of them, strengthening the team as a whole. -- www.GoArgos.com --
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA SPORTS INFORMATION Thursday, February 3, 2011 ARGONAUTS COME HOME TO UWF By Chris Glenn, UWF Sports Information Intern PENSACOLA, Fla. -- University of West Florida men’s basketball sophomores Terrance Beasley and Keldric White came home to Pensacola to join UWF after successful careers at Pensacola High School. Both Beasley and White played under Head Coach Bob Stinnet during their senior year at PHS. After graduating from PHS, White went on to Louisiana to play quarterback for the Ragin’ Cajuns football team while Beasley headed to Tulane University to begin his collegiate basketball career. There were different reasons for each of the Argonauts to come home to Pensacola and play for UWF. They each agreed on being closer to family as the best part about coming home. Already knowing Coach Stinnet’s coaching styles and expectations, and being familiar with each other aided in their transition to UWF. “Coach Stinnet hasn’t changed at all since high school,” Beasley and White said. Coach Stinnet has instilled something in both of the player’s minds they say is the number one thing learned through their high school and college years from their coach, “No excuses.” They take this to the court every game they play. Beasley comments on what he has learned over the years from Coach Stinnet, “The harder you work, the more you get out.” The team is going to have to work hard to have a chance to get into this year’s Gulf South Conference Tournament in Southaven, Miss. on March 4-6. The last time the Argonauts advanced to the conference tournament was back in 2003-04 season. January was a challenging month for the basketball team losing six games in a row after having a solid month in December at 5-1. The Argonauts look to kick off February with some wins beginning at home tonight against West Georgia then going on the road to take on AlabamaHuntsville on Saturday and North Alabama on Monday. For all other information on UWF basketball, visit goargos.com. -- www.GoArgos.com --
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA SPORTS INFORMATION Friday, February 25, 2011 BEARDEN, YOUNG PROVIDE LOW POST DOMINANCE By Chris Glenn, UWF Sports Information Intern PENSACOLA, Fla. – University of West Florida women’s basketball forwards Octavia Bearden and Jessica Young are extremely valuable to the Argonauts. They are post players who hold up their entire team. All players impact the game, but no other position can change the game like a post player. Octavia Bearden, a junior from Tylertown, Miss., and Jessica Young, a senior from Hillsboro, Ala., are game changers. Young and Bearden currently lead the team in rebounds. Bearden also leads the team in steals, while Young is the leading free throw shooter. They are second and third on the team in points scored. Their aggressiveness is accompanied by their pure talent. The forwards’ skills are matched with the determination they bring to every game. Whether they are exploding off the floor for rebounds or shooting back shots off of rebounds, they are always in the action and constantly pressuring their opponents. After playing at Pensacola Junior College, now known as Pensacola State College, and Wallace State Community College-Hanceville, Jessica Young came to UWF in 2008. In her first season as an Argonaut, she made her presence known, as she became one of the top rebounders in the country. Young averaged 10.6 rebounds per game, which ranked first on the team, first in the GSC and 16th in NCAA Division II. After redshirting during the 2009-2010 season, Young returned to the court for the 2010-11 season. The senior earned the tournament MVP honors at the UWF Tip-off Classic and the Highpointe Hotel Corporation Classic. She was also an all-tournament selection at the UWF Holiday Classic. She continues to lead the GSC in rebounding, averaging 9.9 rebounds per game. Her 511 career rebounds rank seventh all-time in UWF history. Young will finish her collegiate basketball career at UWF this season. In April, she will graduate from UWF with a degree in Psychology. Octavia Bearden played two seasons at Southwest Mississippi Community College before transferring to UWF for her junior season. In her first season as an Argonaut, she has made a huge impact. During non-conference play, she was selected to the all-tournament teams at the UWF Tip-off Classic, the UWF Thanksgiving Classic and the Florida Tech/Carmax Holiday Classic. Bearden is currently pursuing her degree in elementary education at UWF. Last night, the Argos defeated Valdosta State, 60-55, in the final home game of the season. Young finished strong, netting 12 points and eight rebounds. Bearden contributed 13 points and four steals. The Argonauts will face West Georgia on Saturday in UWF’s final game of the 2011 regular season. For information on all UWF Athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com. -- www.GoArgos.com -7
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA SPORTS INFORMATION Wednesday, March 2, 2011 CYR REFLECTS ON 900TH CAREER WIN By Chris Glenn Sports Information Intern PENSACOLA, Fla. -- University of West Florida Head Softball Coach Tami Cyr recorded her 900th career victory last Friday over Lynn University. The Argonauts scored runs each inning until run-ruling Lynn’s team 15-0 in the fifth inning. Cyr has made UWF history as the first coach ever to win 900 career games. 2011 is Cyr’s 20th year at UWF and she has been the head softball coach for the last 18. Under her guidance, Cyr has consistently put the Argonauts on the map each year as one of the most dominant teams in the conference. UWF joined the Gulf South Conference and the South Region of NCAA Division II in 1995. Since then, Cyr has led the Argonauts to the GSC tournament every year and has brought three Gulf South Conference championships. Cyr comments on her achievements at UWF, “The one thing that has allowed me to get to this milestone is the fact that during my tenure at UWF my goals and expectations have and always will remain the same. I believe and instill in my teams that each and every time we compete we are going to win.” That mentality has been passed onto the players each year. The passion and love the players already have for the game of softball is heightened to new levels with Coach Cyr’s influence on each and every player that comes through the program. Cyr gives her teams the same goal every year, “To be the last team standing, to win the last game of the Division II National Championship and to have the distinction of being the best team in the nation.” There is a very long list of achievements Cyr has made in her two decades at UWF, but she has received much more from her teams than titles and records. “The University of West Florida and particularly the softball program have been among the greatest gifts in my life,” said Cyr. “I have been here for going on two decades, and I am so very grateful for having had the honor of being part of such a wonderful institution.” Cyr has been fortunate in having such a supportive administrative staff while coaching at UWF. Former Athletic Director Richard Berg was a huge influence on Cyr’s coaching talent as well as being a role model to her life. Cyr talks about the current administrative staff, “It’s absolutely fantastic with Dave Scott now at the helm. There is an electric current buzzing in the athletic department that is exhilarating.” With a solid athletic department and an outstanding staff on hand, Cyr has been able to achieve great things at UWF. During her 18 years as head coach, Cyr has earned the most victories of any coach in GSC history at 773. She does not view the records and achievements as the biggest
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impact UWF has had on her life, but instead it is the relationships she has had with the studentathletes that filter through the softball program each year. Cyr reflects upon her relationship with the players, “I have been blessed to coach them during their tenure and then become their friend for life. My life has been enriched by their undying love for the softball program, for the devotion they exhibit, for the sacrifices they so unforgivably accepted and for believing in me enough to be their coach. My expectations, as their coach were very high. I pushed them past their limits in most cases, but then seeing in their eyes, and feeling the contentment in their heart when they achieved what they thought was unattainable is the greatest reward a coach can be blessed with.” The next step for Cyr is not to continue doing what she has been for the past two decades, but to do more. Cyr’s goals and expectation’s for her teams have been proven achievable and successful throughout her career and she does not plan to change anything. “I will always play to win, and I will always put the wellbeing of my players first and foremost,” noted Cyr. “For me to have an influence in their lives, to be the platform for them getting their degree and to prepare them for the real world will continue to be my driving force.” The next game for the Argonauts is at home Saturday afternoon against Valdosta State at 4:00. For all other information on UWF Athletics visit goargos.com. -- www.GoArgos.com --
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA SPORTS INFORMATION Thursday, March 31, 2011 CULTURE CLASH By: Chris Glenn, UWF Sports Information Intern PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The University of West Florida men’s tennis team is one of the most culturally diverse of any sport at the college. The team consists of players from seven different countries - Brazil, France, Sweden, Russia, Venezuela, Peru and the United States. The studentathletes come from a variety of different backgrounds and nationalities to form one team, the UWF Argonauts. There are many obstacles that the student-athletes have to face by being in a new country and at a new university. Language barriers, separation from family and friends and adapting to a different culture are a few of the many adjustments faced upon transferring to UWF. It seems a hard enough task to come to a new school in a different country and adjust to the culture and people who are there, but for the men’s tennis team, the players had to do a little more than that. They had to take on all of the differences that would normally come with the change and learn to work together with players from seven different nationalities. The strongest doubles pair on the team is a combination of Leandro Ferreira from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Andrey Pozhidaev from Sochi, Russia. The two came from completely different backgrounds. Together, they make up the No. 1 doubles duo for the Argonauts and the No. 5 doubles tandem in the South Region. Ferreira, who is the No. 15 player in the nation in singles, came to America for the experience of living in a different country and for the education he would receive at UWF. The transition for Ferreira was a completely different change in every way from his home country, but he has enjoyed the transition. “Everything is different. The food, language, and people are all different, but it was not a hard transition for me,” Ferreira explained. “I really like new things in my life, so it was not a problem at all.” Playing with such a diverse group of teammates has made the experience more enjoyable for Ferreira. In regards to the cultural differences on the team, Ferreira noted, “I think it is an opportunity to know more about different cultures. It is very interesting how everyone react in different situations in the matches or even in our trips. Also, we know everyone is from a different a place, and it makes us more united as a team because everyone is here for the same reason.” His doubles partner Andrey Pozhidaev feels similar about the diverse team. “I think it is great. For me it is very interesting to learn something new about a different culture,” stated Pozhidaev. “The most important thing is that we all know that we are a team, and we support each other on and off the court.”
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The support and camaraderie of the teammates has strengthened the group as one body working together for the same cause. In addition to winning matches, putting the Argonauts on the map as top 10 in the nation in singles and doubles are the goals for the pair this season. Both Ferreira and Pozhidaev made the same point of tennis being a very individualistic sport, but at UWF they have each learned to be part of a team that they belong to. The cultural differences have not been anything but strength for the team. With the UWF team listed as No. 8 in the nation and second in the Gulf South Conference East Division, it is very likely the Argonauts will qualify for regional play. The team has only three matches left for the regular season before heading to the Gulf South Conference and NCAA South Regional tournaments. With just under three weeks left to practice, and a month to prepare for the regional tournament, the pair will train their hardest to bring their very best to the court for the tournaments. For information on all UWF Athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com. -- www.GoArgos.com --
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This feature story was written for my Writing for Public Relations class during my junior year at the University of West Florida. I interviewed the subject of the piece and gained extraordinary insight and knowledge on his personal perspectives about the public relations field. This was my first feature story ever written.
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FEATURE STORY Making Your Dream Job Real By Chris Glenn July 27, 2010 – How can I involve my passions in life into a career? This was a question Ryan Marks had to figure out. He already knew what he loved to do in life, but getting paid for it was a different story. Learning constantly along the way, Marks took all the steps to making this dream a reality. Ryan Marks grew up surfing the Virginia beaches with his father and brother. He kept this activity a big part of his life, and allowed surfing to shape himself into the professional that he is today. Marks graduated the College of Charleston, in Charleston, S.C., in 2001. After getting a real-world education he ended up running political and small-scale hospitality campaigns in Wilmington, N.C. Marks received an opportunity to work for an investment relations firm out of Orlando in 2006 and took a risk. Three years later he was the head of a hospitality technology public relations firm named Plan A PR. During this time he began to position his own private firm, Lionize PR, as the East Coast’s most credible PR firm. “I chose public relations because I found it intertwined my love to write and communicate with philosophy, politics, and entrepreneurship. Along the way I read… a lot,” Marks says. Marks based Lionize PR around what he is most passionate about in his life, surfing. He prides his company as the only PR firm on the East-Coast in the surfing industry. Marks talks about his firm, “I began this firm because I have two passions: public relations and surfing. Talking with people; writing about events, people and companies; and being involved in the matrix that is PR is my professional passion.” He predicts in the future that PR firms will specialize. He has positioned two firms as specialists in specific markets and they both have grown, even as other agencies folded. “I believe in threes; I believe that specific brands translate into three words in the mind of the consumer; and I believe that PR firms must find a way to directly connect and act on those perceptions, ones you may create or exploit,” Marks says. While large firms will always collect large retainers based on broad networks and leveraging the advertising dollar, he believes that having a relationship with the trade press will always lead to new opportunities. Those relationships are credibility gold and something large firms struggle with if they are the “everything to everyone” shop. He believes PR is about results, and that should be the most devout focus. It’s always been about carrying the right tools to the right job for Marks. He figured out a way to build a career that directly involves his passions in life, and he continues to find success in his professional endeavors. The most important advice Marks could give someone who is looking into PR as a career is to “Look for opportunities and take risks if need be. Don’t be a stuck up PR person. Personal relationships are gold, but they’re golden when you have them in a database.” Marks shows how possible it is to make your dream job a reality, you just have to make it happen.
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This next piece is the executive summary to an issues tracking project from my Current Issues and Trends class taken my senior year. I did thorough research and detailed data findings for this project. I interviewed every surf shop owner in the Florida panhandle as well as the lower Alabama region. I gained great experience through the interviews that attributed my class studies with real-world interaction. This was my most enjoyable project I have ever done because it involves what I am most passionate about in life which is surfing.
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Executive Summary
Overview The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, more commonly referred to as the BP oil spill, is the largest natural disaster the United States has ever encountered. The oil spill resulted from an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig on April 20, 2010. There were 11 deaths on the rig alone with 17 injuries. The oil flowed continuously for three months until it was successfully capped on July 15, 2010. In those three months, an estimated 53,000 barrels of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico each day. The total amount of oil spilled into the gulf was estimated at 5 million barrels, or 185 million gallons of crude oil. The effects of this spill have been felt heavily by the environment and the economy throughout the Gulf Coast region. Through numerous interviews with local business owners in the water sports industry, I have found out how the BP oil spill has impacted each business in different ways.
Summary of Findings When focusing on how the BP oil spill impacted the water sports industry in the gulf coast region, I thought the best way to retrieve this information was by interviewing store owners who specialize in the sales of water sports products. There are a total of six shops from Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, to Gulf Shores, Alabama, who participated in my research. These shops include: Fluid Surf Shop, Innerlight Surf Shop, Waterboyz Surf and Skate, Islanders Surf and Sport, Blonde Johns Surf Shop, and a Parasailing company out of Gulf Shores, Alabama, named Chute-Em-Up parasailing. Some of these businesses have more than one location, but all were impacted by the oil spill. I will provide individual sales and income percentages from 2009 and 2010 for these businesses in the water sports industry on both Florida and Alabama’s coasts. The average for all of these businesses was around 30% loss in revenues from 2009 to 2010. The comparison of this data alone shows the vastness of the oil spill’s effect on these businesses. With the majority of business each year coming from tourism throughout the summer months, the oil spill could not have come at a worse time for the local economy. Each business was impacted differently, because each provides different services from online sales to summer long surf camps. The difference the oil spill made to local businesses in dollar amounts is in the millions in this industry alone. Even with the loss these business owners have faced, they all have managed to survive this catastrophic disaster. To aid in their survival, BP has made compensation to the majority of the businesses I interviewed. Although no owner that I interviewed was happy with the events that happened over the past six months, not one complained about how BP has dealt with compensating their losses. The interviews have given me insight on the problems the local water sports industry has faced, and the different ways each has overcome the issue at hand.
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Summary of Recommendations Harry White, PIO in charge of operations at NAS Pensacola, said, “The best time to start planning for a crisis is right after it happens.” When asking local business owners how they would plan for a disaster like the BP oil spill, almost all of them responded with the question, “How could you plan for it?” Events like this are more uncommon to Florida and Alabama’s coasts than the disastrous hurricanes that present themselves every few years. Islanders Surf Shop relied heavily on its online sales to keep its local shops running. I would recommend the shops that do not have online stores set up to do so, not only to bring extra income, but to have another income to supplement the store in case of a disaster. Blonde Johns Surf Shop’s home page has links to its Facebook, Twitter, Flicker, MySpace and YouTube social media outlets. These links provide customers an additional way of attaining information about the oil spill and the stores business opportunities such as sales and events. Most companies had a Facebook account, but none had the social media options Blonde Johns provided. I would encourage all of the local businesses to acquire these social media services for their publics to have the option of using. The more social media outlets that are available, the more opportunity businesses have to connect with the public. Innerlight was the only business I interviewed that provided daily oil spill updates on their website that kept their customers visiting their site every day to stay informed. This was a great way to stay in touch with the public, and other companies should use this tactic of providing information to its customers in a time of crisis. Also, make sure to get the claims to BP as quick and precise as possible. Chute-Em’-Up Parasailing owner Chris Eberly had to hire a lawyer to receive the loss funds his company faced. Whatever means necessary, BP has an obligation to pay for the local economies losses and it is the responsibility of the owners to get compensation filed. A last recommendation I would have is to do what Waterboyz Surf and Skate did by promoting events at the shop to get customers in. Focus on what the shop can do, water sports product sales may be down but focus your promotions on clothes, skateboarding, and other areas that customers can be active in.
Conclusion The devastation of the BP oil spill will be something the Gulf Coast region will continue to deal with for years to come. From loss of sales locally and tourists nationally, business owners have been faced with something they have never experienced before. The survival of these businesses has been accompanied with BP compensation and the determination of the owners themselves. As oil continues to wash upon shore, tourism in the winter months, also known as “The snowbird season,” is threatened. The effects on the environment remain unknown, but as for local business owners in the water sports industry, they look forward to next year’s season with hope of returning to previous year’s profits.
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The position paper I presented to my Writing for Public Relations class is the following item. I was responsible for choosing a position applicable to college students and articulate my personal insight on the chosen subject. I chose ‘How to be Successful in College’ because I felt I could relate the information best to my fellow classmates. The project opened up my eyes more too successful practices by college students and the following semesters I had a noticeable difference in my academic standing including making the Dean’s list.
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Mr. Scott’s Intro: Ladies and gentlemen, tonight your guest speaker is one of your fellow students, and she's here to share her tips on how to succeed in college. While both working and attending school full-time she has learned various techniques to help her navigate through a hectic schedule. Please join me in welcoming Elena Reyes. Acknowledgment: Thank you Mr. Scott, and thank you class for being here this evening, I hope you can take away something tonight from what I have learned as a student that helps you in your college careers.
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How to be Successful in College Would it surprise you if I told you that only half of all the students who enroll in UWF actually graduate? This statistic alone exemplifies the importance of the preparation and the steps that are necessary to ensure success in your college degree. College success consists of many different challenges that a student must learn to overcome. The majority of students do not live with their parents while they’re in college, and it’s the first time they experience independence and responsibility for the decisions they make. College students are taking that next step in life, and the importance of being successful is great. College can be stressful because it’s a time in life when a student’s decisions drastically affect his or her future. There are, however, different approaches that can be taken to be successful. Learning how to balance elements of a hectic daily schedule with school, being proactive with school assignments and activities, and not letting academic setbacks make you lose motivation all directly affect a student's success in their college experience. First let’s look at what a student must do to manage the daily tasks of a demanding college schedule. The successful college experience starts before a student ever arrives at their first class. Choosing where to live, what job to work, and every other daily decision made plays a role in the success of that student. A job is important for many financially independent students because they have obligations to pay their bills. While working 40 hours a week as a secretary at the health department, and attending school full-time, my schedule requires detailed prioritization. I have to keep up with due dates for assignments and test while juggling work duties. If I know something is due Tuesday, I don’t wait until Monday to work on it because I know I will be at work all day. This doesn’t leave much room for procrastination. Time management is a priority for a student to stay on track with their studies. It’s also important for a student to not let their job get in the way of doing well in school and completing their degree. I make it a top priority of mine to work out a school schedule with my supervisor well before the start of the new semester. If I have a day class that interferes with regular business hours, my supervisor is very willing to work with me because I have given him advance notice. Students should set up their class schedules as soon as possible as it will help avoid scheduling conflicts. Also, utilizing a planner, scheduling book, or calendar helps with keeping track of upcoming
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classes, assignments, and tests. Don’t commit yourself to too many people or things, as it can interfere with school. Prioritizing time for studying is important to success in any college setting. Keeping healthy can help alleviate the stress of daily life as well. Exercising and getting plenty of sleep helps students keep a healthy mindset, and in turn more likely to succeed in school. The more rested and healthy a student is the more they can focus on school and truly retain what they’re learning. Next, it is vital that students are proactive with school assignments and activities. One of the easiest ways to do better in school is by simply going to class. Many students miss class from time to time, but if you’re not in class it’s hard to get all the information (even if a fellow student provides his or her notes to supplement what you missed). Learning what method of note-taking works best can also help a student do well. Some prefer typing notes on their laptops while others prefer handwritten notes, and some rely heavily on notes through a recorder. Find what works best for you, and stick with that method. Make sure that your notes contain all the main points the instructor covered, highlighting what was heavily emphasized. Get involved in class discussions as much as possible, and ask questions if a topic is not clear. Not asking a simple question could be the difference between missing a test question and getting it right. Getting involved in class discussions, study groups, and school organizations is very beneficial to all students. I am currently a member of FPRA, and I have seen how it can be a great networking tool. You get a chance to meet people from many different areas within the PR field. They are all willing to share their knowledge and help students who are just starting out in the PR business. Being involved with school organizations can help a student meet more people and open more doors that can aid in their success. Socialize with people and get involved in study groups. Studying with others helps students reinforce what was learned in class, and learn new study methods from their peers. You might even find that you study particularly well with a certain student, and you can study with that person throughout other classes. Networking with fellow students also helps you learn what classes and instructors to sign up for, and even which to avoid. Also, be personable with your instructors. Professors are there to help students learn and are often very willing to help. Building a good working relationship with your professor will make it easier to ask for extra help when needed, and you’ll feel more comfortable about asking questions when necessary. The final approach is how important it is to not let academic setbacks make students lose motivation in the ultimate goal of being successful in college. I strive to make the highest grade possible on all my tests and assignments that I am given. It can be very frustrating after working hard at an assignment, or studying hard for a test, only to receive a grade that doesn't reflect all the effort that was put into it. Students must remember that college isn't always easy, and sometimes setbacks happen, but motivation must be kept in order to achieve success. Tutors and labs on campus can also aid in a student’s success in college. If a class is difficult, don’t give up; instead utilize the various campus resources. Set goals and stay focused on them through the ups and downs of your studies, remember you are here to learn. There are also many decisions a
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student must make in their personal lives in order to be successful. Enjoying college is very important, but it is even more important to prioritize school with whatever else life brings your way. I often get caught up in other things going on in my life, whether its family, friends, or leisurely activities, and I sometimes procrastinate on my studies. There is nothing worse than waiting until the last minute, or cramming a few days’ worth of studying into the night before a big test. Most students don’t do their best work when they’re rushing, so it’s crucial they stay on top of due dates for assignments and plan accordingly. Make sure you surround yourself with people who support your goals with school. A student chooses who they are friends with, and this can have a huge effect on his or her success. Anyone you surround yourself with will have an influence on you, and every angle that plays a role in your life should be taken into consideration. College success helps ensure a smooth ride on the road to a bright future. Learning how to balance elements of a daily hectic schedule, being proactive with school responsibilities, and not letting academic setbacks make you lose motivation are all important factors of being successful. For many, responsibility is learned in college for the first time. It’s possible to have some of your best years in college, but it’s ultimately up to the student to make the right decisions during this time. Remember the things that work for you, put them to use, work hard, and success can be attained. Always keep your goals in mind, push forward every day, and enjoy the countless life-shaping experiences that college offers.
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The next item is my applied research project from my Integrated Communications Research class. The topic was chosen due to its familiarity to me and to fellow students who have dealt with spring break in many different forms. I researched the effects of spring break through a large venue of sources, and gained a great deal of knowledge on the effects spring break has on our local economy and publics. It includes a proposal, summary of background research, focus group and survey plans.
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Proposal Public Attitude Towards Spring Breakers Effects Hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the beaches of the panhandle in Florida each year to celebrate their time off of school for spring break. There are many positive and negative effects from these visitors each year, but is it all worth it? This project looks at the public’s view of the tradeoff between spring breaks negative effects, as well as its positive effects on our area locally and the panhandle as a whole. Every year we have to deal with the traffic on the highways, the crowds at our stores, and the aftermath of variables left when the crowds of spring break leave. I surf every time there are waves, so I always seem to get directly affected during the two months of spring break in March and April by the traffic and crowds on the way to our beaches. Every year that passes I ask myself if the economic boost we get each year during these two months is worth all the hassle, so this project has a personable approach to me, because I have always wanted to know how much spring breakers bring to our area financially and to the local economy as a whole. Since the early 1990’s spring breakers have flocked to Panama City beach, Florida. With the rise of MTV coverage, and the targeted market of bars and clubs opening just for the spring break time period, our little town of Panama City has been put on the map as one the biggest party spots in the country. This town is like a ghost town most of the year compared to the two thriving months of March and April, where spring breaker come from all over the country to celebrate their time off from school and work. Over the past decade, I have lived and worked on the beaches of Navarre, and Pensacola during these months. What once was the singled out town of Panama City as the spring break destination now has spread to all of our major beach towns. Mainly Pensacola, Destin, and Panama City beaches are targeted for the vacations of thousands during spring break each year. Unfortunately, there comes a lot of negative effects from all of the partying that spring break brings. An increase of law’s and guidelines, as well as higher staffed law enforcement and hotel employees have arose due to the increase in visitors each year. The results of this research would be of interest to any local hotel and store owners, and to the general public as a whole in understanding how much our area benefits economically from the spring break visitors each year since it originated. Specific Research questions would include: • • • How does the local public view the economic advantages that spring breaks visitors bring to our businesses each year? To what extent do individuals understand the tradeoff of negative to positive effects that spring break has on our area as a whole? How do individuals view the spring break visitor’s disadvantages that are brought to our beaches each year?
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Summary of Background Research Public Attitude Towards Spring Breakers Effects Spring break in the United States dates as far back as the 1930s, when a tradition was born from college swimmers traveling to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, every year to train. Throughout the years the tradition held, and by 1954, 20,000 college students were making their way to Ft. Lauderdale beach to celebrate spring break. With the Great Depression, spring break didn’t really take off until the late 1950s into the 1960s. The 1960s and 1970s brought the visitors into the hundred-thousands. This number continued to grow until Ft. Lauderdale reached its peak in 1985 of 350,000 college students. This brought increased problems with crime and strain on the city. The city that had started it all in the United States had found its way into spring break history. With the help of MTV’s first broadcast in 1986 from Daytona Beach, Florida, the early 1990s made the shift towards Daytona Beach as the spring break destination of choice. By the late 1990s, spring break was firmly planted within the college culture. On top of being just a break for college students, high school students looked for spring break destinations too. Young professionals looking to relive their college days also joined in the 1990s. This resulted in spring break destinations becoming more varied and exotic expanding outside of the United States borders. Several of the most popular hot spots that had made a name for themselves in the United States included Panama City, Florida, which hosted over a halfmillion spring breakers in 1997; and South Padre Island, Texas, which hosted 130,000 visitors during spring break the same year. With all of these young adults congregating in one city, problems arose for the visitors as well as the cities local businesses and residents. Hundreds of thousands of college and high school students flood the panhandle of Florida each year to celebrate their week of vacation from school. They come to relax, party, and enjoy the beautiful beaches our gulf coast has to offer. There is a lot of evidence that spring breakers leave behind on our beaches and hotels. Most local business and hotel owners welcome the wave of students knowing the economic boost that the thousands bring to the area, but still at the same time know what is to come. Underage and excessive drinking, DUIs, sexual assaults, illegal drug use, public nudity, excessive littering, and property damage are just a few of the undesirable activities that take place every year. The local residents have gotten used to what is to come each year, though they don’t enjoy the negative side that always shows itself. Spring break does promote a trash problem. Many spring break visitors have portrayed more negligence in the use of trash bins than other tourist groups. Some local beach businesses that assist to the spring break tourists seem to be accepting responsibility for the beach they profit from with staffs that keep the beach clean all day. There are however many spring break businesses that seem to accept no responsibility for the trash that their guests leave behind. This is shown by the condition of those businesses beaches at the end of each day. This problem creates resentment against the businesses who promote spring break, and to the spring break visitors. Panama City Beach has become the ultimate spring break destination with the help of MTV and video productions like “Girls Gone Wild” promoting the beach towns’ wild side
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during the months of March and April each year. It is a known fact that the police are more lenient and that more is allowed this time of year than any. Hotel managers know that there is a lot to face with all of the craziness that takes place, but the economic boost that takes place really is beneficial to the areas businesses who take part in aiding to the spring breakers. It is a proven fact that spring break forces winter residents out early. A significant portion of winter residents surveyed by the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2007, stated spring break as a reason why they do not stay longer. This does take away from the tourists of the winter season, but the financial difference that spring breakers bring makes the issue easy to overlook. Spring breakers pay higher room rates than winter residents, but not all properties visited each year by winter residents seek spring break tourists. Spring break does however bring an average of 35 percent of annual revenues to the Panama City Beach area from 2006 to 2007. In 2006 the total revenue for Panama City Beach was more than $60 million with marketing expenses more than $2 million. In 2008, visitors to Panama City Beach during March or April spent an average of $65 per day per person. In addition to hotel and travel fares, spring break gets a lot of money circulating that might otherwise be saved. Who benefits the most from the spring break visitors? The local businesses who take part in the spring break season. The local residents and businesses who aren’t involved in the money making opportunities during this time of year, just get to deal with the traffic and negative effects that spring breakers bring. It turns out that college spring break is of great financial importance to a minority group of tourist related businesses. It is clear that the economic impact of college spring break for the entire tourism community is not as substantial as it portrayed for all local businesses. The obvious benefits are to those businesses who take part in the spring break activities. So the tradeoff of negative to positive effects of spring break is worth it to those who benefit financially from the spring break season.
Source List “A Brief Spring Break History.” World Wide Website (http://www.coolestspringbreak.com/spring-break-history.html) accessed February 3, 2010. Bohn, Lauren. “A Brief History of Spring Break.” Time Magazine, March 30, 2009. Calhoun, Brady. “Spring Break Brings Crime Spike.” News Herald, April 20, 2008. Gant, Andrew. “Flier Blames City For Unsafe Spring Break.” News Herald, January 1. 2010. Lawson, Jim. “College Spring Break Marketing Considerations.” PCB Convention & Visitors Bureau, April 27, 2007. “Spring Break Splinters.” News Herald, November 11, 2009. “2008 Spring Break Statistics for Panama City Beach.” World Wide Website (http://www.panhandleparade.com) accessed on February 5, 2010.
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Focus Group Plan Public Attitude Towards Spring Breakers Effects I will focus on the local hotel businesses for my participant selection for my focus group. I will mainly look at hotels directly involved, or affected by the spring break visitors. These participants will include local hotel owners and managers. Their incentives for participating will receive a $25.00 gift card to a local chain of restaurants. There will also be a drawing held to win a free weekend stay at a local resort, this will take place after their participation in my focus group Warm-up Questions 1. 2. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words “spring break?” By show of hands, how many people here are affected positively by spring break?
Detail questions 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. To what extent do individuals understand the positive effects spring break has on our area? To what extent do individuals understand the negative effects of spring break on our area? What do you estimate is the percent of annual income spring break brings to our area? What is your biggest issue with spring break? When you visit another city on vacation, what economic impact do you bring?
Wrap-up questions 8. 9. 10. If you could make one suggestion on the best way to improve outcomes of spring break for our area, what would it be? What do you think will happen differently this spring break than previous years? Is there anything else anyone wants to add?
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Survey Plan Public Attitude Towards Spring-Breakers Effects I will recruit my survey participants at the local Pier Park outlet mall. My survey will be administered to college-age adults and older. I will use cross-tabulations to help examine the different views of participants. Their incentives will receive a free weekend stay at a local resort awarded through a drawing taking place after their participation. Every participant will receive a $10 gift card to Wal-Mart in addition to the drawing. Demographic questions 1. Please mark your gender o male o female o no answer 2. Please mark your age o 17-24 o 25-30 o 31-40 o 41-50 o 51-60 o 60+ 3. What is your race? o white o African American o Latino o Asian o no answer Psychographic questions 4. What is the highest level of education you have completed? o high school o some college o college graduate o graduate degree
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I have included an example of my graphic design abilities I attained through Professional Publication Design classes. The following item is a creative resume assignment I used Adobe Creative Suite 4 to design.
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The following photographs are two pictures that were published on the website of the University of West Florida. I took hundreds of photos throughout my internship at UWF. I also did all of the editing and online posting of the photography I took.
All Sports Day at UWF
Bill Bond Baseball Clinic
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Chris Glenn
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Table of Contents
Resume …………………………………………………………………………………………. 3 Published Feature Stories ……………………………………………………………………... 4 Feature Article ………………………………………………………………………………... 12 Issues Tracking Executive Summary ………………………………………………………... 14 Position Paper Speech ………………………………………………………………………… 17 Applied Research Project …………………………………………………………………….. 21 Proposal ……………………………………………………………………………….. 22 Background Research ………………………………………………………………… 23 Survey Plan …………………………………………………………………………..... 25 Focus Group ……………………………………………………………..……………. 26 Advertising Sample CS4 ……………………………………………………………………… 27 Creative Resume ……………………………………………………………………… 28 Published Photography ………………………………………………………………………. 29
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Chris Glenn
http://www.scribd.com/chris_glenn
55 7th St, Shalimar, FL, 32550 8 5 0 . 2 9 3 . 0 6 5 6 ∙ [email protected]
_______________________________________________________________________________ Objective Education
To obtain a position in public relations that utilizes my knowledge in marketing, management, and communications. Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts University of West Florida ∙ Pensacola, FL Major ∙ Public Relations Operating Systems ∙ Windows 2000, XP, NT, Vista ∙ Macintosh OSX Productivity Software ∙ Microsoft Office Suite ∙ Word, Excel, PowerPoint ∙ Adobe Creative Suite 5 ∙ InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator Social Media ∙ YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, PROpenMic, Twitter ∙ Dean’s list last 2 semesters ∙ Maintained full course load while working multiple jobs 40 hours a week ∙ Received Bright Futures Scholarship General Manager of Aqua Surf Shop Jan 2012 - Present Worked 6 & 7 days a week for the entire season ∙ Control all internal and external accounts ∙ Staffing, purchasing, sales, merchandising, accounting, housekeeping and security ∙ Increase sales 20% from previous year ∙ Maintained and established customer relations to maximize service satisfaction Intern for the University of West Florida in Sports Communication Worked over 300 hours my last semester at UWF Accomplishments: ∙ Wrote press releases & feature stories for web and print ∙ Photographer and editor for media releases & feature stories online ∙ Built archives containing UWF team records covering 50+ years ∙ Created numerous student-athlete biographies and uploaded to online database ∙ Edited and posted social media videos of events and games ∙ Videographer of athletics for online database April 2011
Computer Skills
Honors &
Achievements
Professional Experience
Work Experience
Northeast Pensacola Ballpark ∙ N E P ∙ Umpire for T-ball Pine Forest United Methodist Church ∙ P F U M C ∙ Sound & Multimedia Technician Community Life Center of Gulf Breeze ∙ C L C ∙ Maintenance ∙ Front Desk ∙ Activities ∙ Coached 3-5 year old soccer at YMCA Ft. Walton Beach, FL ∙ Volunteer for Vacation Bible School at PFUMC ∙ Coached 3rd grade basketball at the Community Life Center
2006-2011 2006-2010 2000-2004
Community Involvement
2010 2007-2009 2004
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The following articles are published feature stories written during my internship for the Sports Communications Department at the University of West Florida. Every feature story involved research on the subject(s), along with an interview either face to face or through email. After the interview, I was responsible for the content as well as uploading and posting to the school’s website. The five stories are all available in online archives at goargos.com.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA SPORTS INFORMATION Friday, January 21, 2011 ASSISTANT COACHES HAVE ROOTS PLANTED AT UWF By Chris Glenn, Sports Information Student Intern PENSACOLA, Fla. – The University of West Florida women’s basketball team has a unique set of assistant coaches. Laura Davis, Jessie Ivey and Tiffany Williams are UWF alumni who previously played for Head Coach Shannan Bergen, and all three are now on the coaching staff. The experience of having played for Coach Bergen brings a variety of advantages to the players as well as the coaches themselves. Knowing what is expected from the players and being familiar with the program allows the three assistant coaches more time to focus on individual aspects of the team. Each member of the trio has individual responsibilities for the team, giving Bergen the opportunity to focus on the team as a whole. Graduate Assistant Coach Jessie Ivey aids Bergen in many ways on and off the court. A former forward for UWF, Ivey specializes in working one-on-one with the current team’s post players. She also coaches the players academically, helping to maintain the team’s cumulative 3.0 GPA by monitoring study hall for the players. “I'm still in school finishing up my master's degree, so I understand the student-athletes work load,” said Ivey. “Sometimes, all you need is someone to listen to you so you can get it off of your chest. I try to be that person for them; all of us do.” “Despite it being on a professional level now as an assistant, our relationship has stayed the same,” said Ivey, referring to her work with Coach Bergen. “She is very open and easy to talk to as a player and as an assistant.” The trio of assistants was all starters while playing for UWF. Ivey started every game as a senior and played all but one game each season of her freshmen and sophomore year. Davis, meanwhile, led the Gulf South Conference in three-point shooting in her junior season. Williams played in all 28 games her senior year and was named to 2nd team All-Gulf South Conference on top of winning Most Valuable Player honors at the UWF Tip-Off Classic. The women’s basketball team hopes to snap a five-game losing streak next Thursday night, when they face off with GSC East Division rival Valdosta State. UWF’s next home game is February 3, when they host West Georgia. Without a doubt, the experience that Davis, Ivey and Williams shared with Bergen gives an insightful advantage to each of them, strengthening the team as a whole. -- www.GoArgos.com --
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA SPORTS INFORMATION Thursday, February 3, 2011 ARGONAUTS COME HOME TO UWF By Chris Glenn, UWF Sports Information Intern PENSACOLA, Fla. -- University of West Florida men’s basketball sophomores Terrance Beasley and Keldric White came home to Pensacola to join UWF after successful careers at Pensacola High School. Both Beasley and White played under Head Coach Bob Stinnet during their senior year at PHS. After graduating from PHS, White went on to Louisiana to play quarterback for the Ragin’ Cajuns football team while Beasley headed to Tulane University to begin his collegiate basketball career. There were different reasons for each of the Argonauts to come home to Pensacola and play for UWF. They each agreed on being closer to family as the best part about coming home. Already knowing Coach Stinnet’s coaching styles and expectations, and being familiar with each other aided in their transition to UWF. “Coach Stinnet hasn’t changed at all since high school,” Beasley and White said. Coach Stinnet has instilled something in both of the player’s minds they say is the number one thing learned through their high school and college years from their coach, “No excuses.” They take this to the court every game they play. Beasley comments on what he has learned over the years from Coach Stinnet, “The harder you work, the more you get out.” The team is going to have to work hard to have a chance to get into this year’s Gulf South Conference Tournament in Southaven, Miss. on March 4-6. The last time the Argonauts advanced to the conference tournament was back in 2003-04 season. January was a challenging month for the basketball team losing six games in a row after having a solid month in December at 5-1. The Argonauts look to kick off February with some wins beginning at home tonight against West Georgia then going on the road to take on AlabamaHuntsville on Saturday and North Alabama on Monday. For all other information on UWF basketball, visit goargos.com. -- www.GoArgos.com --
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA SPORTS INFORMATION Friday, February 25, 2011 BEARDEN, YOUNG PROVIDE LOW POST DOMINANCE By Chris Glenn, UWF Sports Information Intern PENSACOLA, Fla. – University of West Florida women’s basketball forwards Octavia Bearden and Jessica Young are extremely valuable to the Argonauts. They are post players who hold up their entire team. All players impact the game, but no other position can change the game like a post player. Octavia Bearden, a junior from Tylertown, Miss., and Jessica Young, a senior from Hillsboro, Ala., are game changers. Young and Bearden currently lead the team in rebounds. Bearden also leads the team in steals, while Young is the leading free throw shooter. They are second and third on the team in points scored. Their aggressiveness is accompanied by their pure talent. The forwards’ skills are matched with the determination they bring to every game. Whether they are exploding off the floor for rebounds or shooting back shots off of rebounds, they are always in the action and constantly pressuring their opponents. After playing at Pensacola Junior College, now known as Pensacola State College, and Wallace State Community College-Hanceville, Jessica Young came to UWF in 2008. In her first season as an Argonaut, she made her presence known, as she became one of the top rebounders in the country. Young averaged 10.6 rebounds per game, which ranked first on the team, first in the GSC and 16th in NCAA Division II. After redshirting during the 2009-2010 season, Young returned to the court for the 2010-11 season. The senior earned the tournament MVP honors at the UWF Tip-off Classic and the Highpointe Hotel Corporation Classic. She was also an all-tournament selection at the UWF Holiday Classic. She continues to lead the GSC in rebounding, averaging 9.9 rebounds per game. Her 511 career rebounds rank seventh all-time in UWF history. Young will finish her collegiate basketball career at UWF this season. In April, she will graduate from UWF with a degree in Psychology. Octavia Bearden played two seasons at Southwest Mississippi Community College before transferring to UWF for her junior season. In her first season as an Argonaut, she has made a huge impact. During non-conference play, she was selected to the all-tournament teams at the UWF Tip-off Classic, the UWF Thanksgiving Classic and the Florida Tech/Carmax Holiday Classic. Bearden is currently pursuing her degree in elementary education at UWF. Last night, the Argos defeated Valdosta State, 60-55, in the final home game of the season. Young finished strong, netting 12 points and eight rebounds. Bearden contributed 13 points and four steals. The Argonauts will face West Georgia on Saturday in UWF’s final game of the 2011 regular season. For information on all UWF Athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com. -- www.GoArgos.com -7
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA SPORTS INFORMATION Wednesday, March 2, 2011 CYR REFLECTS ON 900TH CAREER WIN By Chris Glenn Sports Information Intern PENSACOLA, Fla. -- University of West Florida Head Softball Coach Tami Cyr recorded her 900th career victory last Friday over Lynn University. The Argonauts scored runs each inning until run-ruling Lynn’s team 15-0 in the fifth inning. Cyr has made UWF history as the first coach ever to win 900 career games. 2011 is Cyr’s 20th year at UWF and she has been the head softball coach for the last 18. Under her guidance, Cyr has consistently put the Argonauts on the map each year as one of the most dominant teams in the conference. UWF joined the Gulf South Conference and the South Region of NCAA Division II in 1995. Since then, Cyr has led the Argonauts to the GSC tournament every year and has brought three Gulf South Conference championships. Cyr comments on her achievements at UWF, “The one thing that has allowed me to get to this milestone is the fact that during my tenure at UWF my goals and expectations have and always will remain the same. I believe and instill in my teams that each and every time we compete we are going to win.” That mentality has been passed onto the players each year. The passion and love the players already have for the game of softball is heightened to new levels with Coach Cyr’s influence on each and every player that comes through the program. Cyr gives her teams the same goal every year, “To be the last team standing, to win the last game of the Division II National Championship and to have the distinction of being the best team in the nation.” There is a very long list of achievements Cyr has made in her two decades at UWF, but she has received much more from her teams than titles and records. “The University of West Florida and particularly the softball program have been among the greatest gifts in my life,” said Cyr. “I have been here for going on two decades, and I am so very grateful for having had the honor of being part of such a wonderful institution.” Cyr has been fortunate in having such a supportive administrative staff while coaching at UWF. Former Athletic Director Richard Berg was a huge influence on Cyr’s coaching talent as well as being a role model to her life. Cyr talks about the current administrative staff, “It’s absolutely fantastic with Dave Scott now at the helm. There is an electric current buzzing in the athletic department that is exhilarating.” With a solid athletic department and an outstanding staff on hand, Cyr has been able to achieve great things at UWF. During her 18 years as head coach, Cyr has earned the most victories of any coach in GSC history at 773. She does not view the records and achievements as the biggest
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impact UWF has had on her life, but instead it is the relationships she has had with the studentathletes that filter through the softball program each year. Cyr reflects upon her relationship with the players, “I have been blessed to coach them during their tenure and then become their friend for life. My life has been enriched by their undying love for the softball program, for the devotion they exhibit, for the sacrifices they so unforgivably accepted and for believing in me enough to be their coach. My expectations, as their coach were very high. I pushed them past their limits in most cases, but then seeing in their eyes, and feeling the contentment in their heart when they achieved what they thought was unattainable is the greatest reward a coach can be blessed with.” The next step for Cyr is not to continue doing what she has been for the past two decades, but to do more. Cyr’s goals and expectation’s for her teams have been proven achievable and successful throughout her career and she does not plan to change anything. “I will always play to win, and I will always put the wellbeing of my players first and foremost,” noted Cyr. “For me to have an influence in their lives, to be the platform for them getting their degree and to prepare them for the real world will continue to be my driving force.” The next game for the Argonauts is at home Saturday afternoon against Valdosta State at 4:00. For all other information on UWF Athletics visit goargos.com. -- www.GoArgos.com --
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA SPORTS INFORMATION Thursday, March 31, 2011 CULTURE CLASH By: Chris Glenn, UWF Sports Information Intern PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The University of West Florida men’s tennis team is one of the most culturally diverse of any sport at the college. The team consists of players from seven different countries - Brazil, France, Sweden, Russia, Venezuela, Peru and the United States. The studentathletes come from a variety of different backgrounds and nationalities to form one team, the UWF Argonauts. There are many obstacles that the student-athletes have to face by being in a new country and at a new university. Language barriers, separation from family and friends and adapting to a different culture are a few of the many adjustments faced upon transferring to UWF. It seems a hard enough task to come to a new school in a different country and adjust to the culture and people who are there, but for the men’s tennis team, the players had to do a little more than that. They had to take on all of the differences that would normally come with the change and learn to work together with players from seven different nationalities. The strongest doubles pair on the team is a combination of Leandro Ferreira from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Andrey Pozhidaev from Sochi, Russia. The two came from completely different backgrounds. Together, they make up the No. 1 doubles duo for the Argonauts and the No. 5 doubles tandem in the South Region. Ferreira, who is the No. 15 player in the nation in singles, came to America for the experience of living in a different country and for the education he would receive at UWF. The transition for Ferreira was a completely different change in every way from his home country, but he has enjoyed the transition. “Everything is different. The food, language, and people are all different, but it was not a hard transition for me,” Ferreira explained. “I really like new things in my life, so it was not a problem at all.” Playing with such a diverse group of teammates has made the experience more enjoyable for Ferreira. In regards to the cultural differences on the team, Ferreira noted, “I think it is an opportunity to know more about different cultures. It is very interesting how everyone react in different situations in the matches or even in our trips. Also, we know everyone is from a different a place, and it makes us more united as a team because everyone is here for the same reason.” His doubles partner Andrey Pozhidaev feels similar about the diverse team. “I think it is great. For me it is very interesting to learn something new about a different culture,” stated Pozhidaev. “The most important thing is that we all know that we are a team, and we support each other on and off the court.”
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The support and camaraderie of the teammates has strengthened the group as one body working together for the same cause. In addition to winning matches, putting the Argonauts on the map as top 10 in the nation in singles and doubles are the goals for the pair this season. Both Ferreira and Pozhidaev made the same point of tennis being a very individualistic sport, but at UWF they have each learned to be part of a team that they belong to. The cultural differences have not been anything but strength for the team. With the UWF team listed as No. 8 in the nation and second in the Gulf South Conference East Division, it is very likely the Argonauts will qualify for regional play. The team has only three matches left for the regular season before heading to the Gulf South Conference and NCAA South Regional tournaments. With just under three weeks left to practice, and a month to prepare for the regional tournament, the pair will train their hardest to bring their very best to the court for the tournaments. For information on all UWF Athletics, visit www.GoArgos.com. -- www.GoArgos.com --
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This feature story was written for my Writing for Public Relations class during my junior year at the University of West Florida. I interviewed the subject of the piece and gained extraordinary insight and knowledge on his personal perspectives about the public relations field. This was my first feature story ever written.
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FEATURE STORY Making Your Dream Job Real By Chris Glenn July 27, 2010 – How can I involve my passions in life into a career? This was a question Ryan Marks had to figure out. He already knew what he loved to do in life, but getting paid for it was a different story. Learning constantly along the way, Marks took all the steps to making this dream a reality. Ryan Marks grew up surfing the Virginia beaches with his father and brother. He kept this activity a big part of his life, and allowed surfing to shape himself into the professional that he is today. Marks graduated the College of Charleston, in Charleston, S.C., in 2001. After getting a real-world education he ended up running political and small-scale hospitality campaigns in Wilmington, N.C. Marks received an opportunity to work for an investment relations firm out of Orlando in 2006 and took a risk. Three years later he was the head of a hospitality technology public relations firm named Plan A PR. During this time he began to position his own private firm, Lionize PR, as the East Coast’s most credible PR firm. “I chose public relations because I found it intertwined my love to write and communicate with philosophy, politics, and entrepreneurship. Along the way I read… a lot,” Marks says. Marks based Lionize PR around what he is most passionate about in his life, surfing. He prides his company as the only PR firm on the East-Coast in the surfing industry. Marks talks about his firm, “I began this firm because I have two passions: public relations and surfing. Talking with people; writing about events, people and companies; and being involved in the matrix that is PR is my professional passion.” He predicts in the future that PR firms will specialize. He has positioned two firms as specialists in specific markets and they both have grown, even as other agencies folded. “I believe in threes; I believe that specific brands translate into three words in the mind of the consumer; and I believe that PR firms must find a way to directly connect and act on those perceptions, ones you may create or exploit,” Marks says. While large firms will always collect large retainers based on broad networks and leveraging the advertising dollar, he believes that having a relationship with the trade press will always lead to new opportunities. Those relationships are credibility gold and something large firms struggle with if they are the “everything to everyone” shop. He believes PR is about results, and that should be the most devout focus. It’s always been about carrying the right tools to the right job for Marks. He figured out a way to build a career that directly involves his passions in life, and he continues to find success in his professional endeavors. The most important advice Marks could give someone who is looking into PR as a career is to “Look for opportunities and take risks if need be. Don’t be a stuck up PR person. Personal relationships are gold, but they’re golden when you have them in a database.” Marks shows how possible it is to make your dream job a reality, you just have to make it happen.
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This next piece is the executive summary to an issues tracking project from my Current Issues and Trends class taken my senior year. I did thorough research and detailed data findings for this project. I interviewed every surf shop owner in the Florida panhandle as well as the lower Alabama region. I gained great experience through the interviews that attributed my class studies with real-world interaction. This was my most enjoyable project I have ever done because it involves what I am most passionate about in life which is surfing.
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Executive Summary
Overview The Deepwater Horizon oil spill, more commonly referred to as the BP oil spill, is the largest natural disaster the United States has ever encountered. The oil spill resulted from an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig on April 20, 2010. There were 11 deaths on the rig alone with 17 injuries. The oil flowed continuously for three months until it was successfully capped on July 15, 2010. In those three months, an estimated 53,000 barrels of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico each day. The total amount of oil spilled into the gulf was estimated at 5 million barrels, or 185 million gallons of crude oil. The effects of this spill have been felt heavily by the environment and the economy throughout the Gulf Coast region. Through numerous interviews with local business owners in the water sports industry, I have found out how the BP oil spill has impacted each business in different ways.
Summary of Findings When focusing on how the BP oil spill impacted the water sports industry in the gulf coast region, I thought the best way to retrieve this information was by interviewing store owners who specialize in the sales of water sports products. There are a total of six shops from Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, to Gulf Shores, Alabama, who participated in my research. These shops include: Fluid Surf Shop, Innerlight Surf Shop, Waterboyz Surf and Skate, Islanders Surf and Sport, Blonde Johns Surf Shop, and a Parasailing company out of Gulf Shores, Alabama, named Chute-Em-Up parasailing. Some of these businesses have more than one location, but all were impacted by the oil spill. I will provide individual sales and income percentages from 2009 and 2010 for these businesses in the water sports industry on both Florida and Alabama’s coasts. The average for all of these businesses was around 30% loss in revenues from 2009 to 2010. The comparison of this data alone shows the vastness of the oil spill’s effect on these businesses. With the majority of business each year coming from tourism throughout the summer months, the oil spill could not have come at a worse time for the local economy. Each business was impacted differently, because each provides different services from online sales to summer long surf camps. The difference the oil spill made to local businesses in dollar amounts is in the millions in this industry alone. Even with the loss these business owners have faced, they all have managed to survive this catastrophic disaster. To aid in their survival, BP has made compensation to the majority of the businesses I interviewed. Although no owner that I interviewed was happy with the events that happened over the past six months, not one complained about how BP has dealt with compensating their losses. The interviews have given me insight on the problems the local water sports industry has faced, and the different ways each has overcome the issue at hand.
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Summary of Recommendations Harry White, PIO in charge of operations at NAS Pensacola, said, “The best time to start planning for a crisis is right after it happens.” When asking local business owners how they would plan for a disaster like the BP oil spill, almost all of them responded with the question, “How could you plan for it?” Events like this are more uncommon to Florida and Alabama’s coasts than the disastrous hurricanes that present themselves every few years. Islanders Surf Shop relied heavily on its online sales to keep its local shops running. I would recommend the shops that do not have online stores set up to do so, not only to bring extra income, but to have another income to supplement the store in case of a disaster. Blonde Johns Surf Shop’s home page has links to its Facebook, Twitter, Flicker, MySpace and YouTube social media outlets. These links provide customers an additional way of attaining information about the oil spill and the stores business opportunities such as sales and events. Most companies had a Facebook account, but none had the social media options Blonde Johns provided. I would encourage all of the local businesses to acquire these social media services for their publics to have the option of using. The more social media outlets that are available, the more opportunity businesses have to connect with the public. Innerlight was the only business I interviewed that provided daily oil spill updates on their website that kept their customers visiting their site every day to stay informed. This was a great way to stay in touch with the public, and other companies should use this tactic of providing information to its customers in a time of crisis. Also, make sure to get the claims to BP as quick and precise as possible. Chute-Em’-Up Parasailing owner Chris Eberly had to hire a lawyer to receive the loss funds his company faced. Whatever means necessary, BP has an obligation to pay for the local economies losses and it is the responsibility of the owners to get compensation filed. A last recommendation I would have is to do what Waterboyz Surf and Skate did by promoting events at the shop to get customers in. Focus on what the shop can do, water sports product sales may be down but focus your promotions on clothes, skateboarding, and other areas that customers can be active in.
Conclusion The devastation of the BP oil spill will be something the Gulf Coast region will continue to deal with for years to come. From loss of sales locally and tourists nationally, business owners have been faced with something they have never experienced before. The survival of these businesses has been accompanied with BP compensation and the determination of the owners themselves. As oil continues to wash upon shore, tourism in the winter months, also known as “The snowbird season,” is threatened. The effects on the environment remain unknown, but as for local business owners in the water sports industry, they look forward to next year’s season with hope of returning to previous year’s profits.
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The position paper I presented to my Writing for Public Relations class is the following item. I was responsible for choosing a position applicable to college students and articulate my personal insight on the chosen subject. I chose ‘How to be Successful in College’ because I felt I could relate the information best to my fellow classmates. The project opened up my eyes more too successful practices by college students and the following semesters I had a noticeable difference in my academic standing including making the Dean’s list.
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Mr. Scott’s Intro: Ladies and gentlemen, tonight your guest speaker is one of your fellow students, and she's here to share her tips on how to succeed in college. While both working and attending school full-time she has learned various techniques to help her navigate through a hectic schedule. Please join me in welcoming Elena Reyes. Acknowledgment: Thank you Mr. Scott, and thank you class for being here this evening, I hope you can take away something tonight from what I have learned as a student that helps you in your college careers.
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How to be Successful in College Would it surprise you if I told you that only half of all the students who enroll in UWF actually graduate? This statistic alone exemplifies the importance of the preparation and the steps that are necessary to ensure success in your college degree. College success consists of many different challenges that a student must learn to overcome. The majority of students do not live with their parents while they’re in college, and it’s the first time they experience independence and responsibility for the decisions they make. College students are taking that next step in life, and the importance of being successful is great. College can be stressful because it’s a time in life when a student’s decisions drastically affect his or her future. There are, however, different approaches that can be taken to be successful. Learning how to balance elements of a hectic daily schedule with school, being proactive with school assignments and activities, and not letting academic setbacks make you lose motivation all directly affect a student's success in their college experience. First let’s look at what a student must do to manage the daily tasks of a demanding college schedule. The successful college experience starts before a student ever arrives at their first class. Choosing where to live, what job to work, and every other daily decision made plays a role in the success of that student. A job is important for many financially independent students because they have obligations to pay their bills. While working 40 hours a week as a secretary at the health department, and attending school full-time, my schedule requires detailed prioritization. I have to keep up with due dates for assignments and test while juggling work duties. If I know something is due Tuesday, I don’t wait until Monday to work on it because I know I will be at work all day. This doesn’t leave much room for procrastination. Time management is a priority for a student to stay on track with their studies. It’s also important for a student to not let their job get in the way of doing well in school and completing their degree. I make it a top priority of mine to work out a school schedule with my supervisor well before the start of the new semester. If I have a day class that interferes with regular business hours, my supervisor is very willing to work with me because I have given him advance notice. Students should set up their class schedules as soon as possible as it will help avoid scheduling conflicts. Also, utilizing a planner, scheduling book, or calendar helps with keeping track of upcoming
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classes, assignments, and tests. Don’t commit yourself to too many people or things, as it can interfere with school. Prioritizing time for studying is important to success in any college setting. Keeping healthy can help alleviate the stress of daily life as well. Exercising and getting plenty of sleep helps students keep a healthy mindset, and in turn more likely to succeed in school. The more rested and healthy a student is the more they can focus on school and truly retain what they’re learning. Next, it is vital that students are proactive with school assignments and activities. One of the easiest ways to do better in school is by simply going to class. Many students miss class from time to time, but if you’re not in class it’s hard to get all the information (even if a fellow student provides his or her notes to supplement what you missed). Learning what method of note-taking works best can also help a student do well. Some prefer typing notes on their laptops while others prefer handwritten notes, and some rely heavily on notes through a recorder. Find what works best for you, and stick with that method. Make sure that your notes contain all the main points the instructor covered, highlighting what was heavily emphasized. Get involved in class discussions as much as possible, and ask questions if a topic is not clear. Not asking a simple question could be the difference between missing a test question and getting it right. Getting involved in class discussions, study groups, and school organizations is very beneficial to all students. I am currently a member of FPRA, and I have seen how it can be a great networking tool. You get a chance to meet people from many different areas within the PR field. They are all willing to share their knowledge and help students who are just starting out in the PR business. Being involved with school organizations can help a student meet more people and open more doors that can aid in their success. Socialize with people and get involved in study groups. Studying with others helps students reinforce what was learned in class, and learn new study methods from their peers. You might even find that you study particularly well with a certain student, and you can study with that person throughout other classes. Networking with fellow students also helps you learn what classes and instructors to sign up for, and even which to avoid. Also, be personable with your instructors. Professors are there to help students learn and are often very willing to help. Building a good working relationship with your professor will make it easier to ask for extra help when needed, and you’ll feel more comfortable about asking questions when necessary. The final approach is how important it is to not let academic setbacks make students lose motivation in the ultimate goal of being successful in college. I strive to make the highest grade possible on all my tests and assignments that I am given. It can be very frustrating after working hard at an assignment, or studying hard for a test, only to receive a grade that doesn't reflect all the effort that was put into it. Students must remember that college isn't always easy, and sometimes setbacks happen, but motivation must be kept in order to achieve success. Tutors and labs on campus can also aid in a student’s success in college. If a class is difficult, don’t give up; instead utilize the various campus resources. Set goals and stay focused on them through the ups and downs of your studies, remember you are here to learn. There are also many decisions a
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student must make in their personal lives in order to be successful. Enjoying college is very important, but it is even more important to prioritize school with whatever else life brings your way. I often get caught up in other things going on in my life, whether its family, friends, or leisurely activities, and I sometimes procrastinate on my studies. There is nothing worse than waiting until the last minute, or cramming a few days’ worth of studying into the night before a big test. Most students don’t do their best work when they’re rushing, so it’s crucial they stay on top of due dates for assignments and plan accordingly. Make sure you surround yourself with people who support your goals with school. A student chooses who they are friends with, and this can have a huge effect on his or her success. Anyone you surround yourself with will have an influence on you, and every angle that plays a role in your life should be taken into consideration. College success helps ensure a smooth ride on the road to a bright future. Learning how to balance elements of a daily hectic schedule, being proactive with school responsibilities, and not letting academic setbacks make you lose motivation are all important factors of being successful. For many, responsibility is learned in college for the first time. It’s possible to have some of your best years in college, but it’s ultimately up to the student to make the right decisions during this time. Remember the things that work for you, put them to use, work hard, and success can be attained. Always keep your goals in mind, push forward every day, and enjoy the countless life-shaping experiences that college offers.
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The next item is my applied research project from my Integrated Communications Research class. The topic was chosen due to its familiarity to me and to fellow students who have dealt with spring break in many different forms. I researched the effects of spring break through a large venue of sources, and gained a great deal of knowledge on the effects spring break has on our local economy and publics. It includes a proposal, summary of background research, focus group and survey plans.
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Proposal Public Attitude Towards Spring Breakers Effects Hundreds of thousands of visitors come to the beaches of the panhandle in Florida each year to celebrate their time off of school for spring break. There are many positive and negative effects from these visitors each year, but is it all worth it? This project looks at the public’s view of the tradeoff between spring breaks negative effects, as well as its positive effects on our area locally and the panhandle as a whole. Every year we have to deal with the traffic on the highways, the crowds at our stores, and the aftermath of variables left when the crowds of spring break leave. I surf every time there are waves, so I always seem to get directly affected during the two months of spring break in March and April by the traffic and crowds on the way to our beaches. Every year that passes I ask myself if the economic boost we get each year during these two months is worth all the hassle, so this project has a personable approach to me, because I have always wanted to know how much spring breakers bring to our area financially and to the local economy as a whole. Since the early 1990’s spring breakers have flocked to Panama City beach, Florida. With the rise of MTV coverage, and the targeted market of bars and clubs opening just for the spring break time period, our little town of Panama City has been put on the map as one the biggest party spots in the country. This town is like a ghost town most of the year compared to the two thriving months of March and April, where spring breaker come from all over the country to celebrate their time off from school and work. Over the past decade, I have lived and worked on the beaches of Navarre, and Pensacola during these months. What once was the singled out town of Panama City as the spring break destination now has spread to all of our major beach towns. Mainly Pensacola, Destin, and Panama City beaches are targeted for the vacations of thousands during spring break each year. Unfortunately, there comes a lot of negative effects from all of the partying that spring break brings. An increase of law’s and guidelines, as well as higher staffed law enforcement and hotel employees have arose due to the increase in visitors each year. The results of this research would be of interest to any local hotel and store owners, and to the general public as a whole in understanding how much our area benefits economically from the spring break visitors each year since it originated. Specific Research questions would include: • • • How does the local public view the economic advantages that spring breaks visitors bring to our businesses each year? To what extent do individuals understand the tradeoff of negative to positive effects that spring break has on our area as a whole? How do individuals view the spring break visitor’s disadvantages that are brought to our beaches each year?
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Summary of Background Research Public Attitude Towards Spring Breakers Effects Spring break in the United States dates as far back as the 1930s, when a tradition was born from college swimmers traveling to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, every year to train. Throughout the years the tradition held, and by 1954, 20,000 college students were making their way to Ft. Lauderdale beach to celebrate spring break. With the Great Depression, spring break didn’t really take off until the late 1950s into the 1960s. The 1960s and 1970s brought the visitors into the hundred-thousands. This number continued to grow until Ft. Lauderdale reached its peak in 1985 of 350,000 college students. This brought increased problems with crime and strain on the city. The city that had started it all in the United States had found its way into spring break history. With the help of MTV’s first broadcast in 1986 from Daytona Beach, Florida, the early 1990s made the shift towards Daytona Beach as the spring break destination of choice. By the late 1990s, spring break was firmly planted within the college culture. On top of being just a break for college students, high school students looked for spring break destinations too. Young professionals looking to relive their college days also joined in the 1990s. This resulted in spring break destinations becoming more varied and exotic expanding outside of the United States borders. Several of the most popular hot spots that had made a name for themselves in the United States included Panama City, Florida, which hosted over a halfmillion spring breakers in 1997; and South Padre Island, Texas, which hosted 130,000 visitors during spring break the same year. With all of these young adults congregating in one city, problems arose for the visitors as well as the cities local businesses and residents. Hundreds of thousands of college and high school students flood the panhandle of Florida each year to celebrate their week of vacation from school. They come to relax, party, and enjoy the beautiful beaches our gulf coast has to offer. There is a lot of evidence that spring breakers leave behind on our beaches and hotels. Most local business and hotel owners welcome the wave of students knowing the economic boost that the thousands bring to the area, but still at the same time know what is to come. Underage and excessive drinking, DUIs, sexual assaults, illegal drug use, public nudity, excessive littering, and property damage are just a few of the undesirable activities that take place every year. The local residents have gotten used to what is to come each year, though they don’t enjoy the negative side that always shows itself. Spring break does promote a trash problem. Many spring break visitors have portrayed more negligence in the use of trash bins than other tourist groups. Some local beach businesses that assist to the spring break tourists seem to be accepting responsibility for the beach they profit from with staffs that keep the beach clean all day. There are however many spring break businesses that seem to accept no responsibility for the trash that their guests leave behind. This is shown by the condition of those businesses beaches at the end of each day. This problem creates resentment against the businesses who promote spring break, and to the spring break visitors. Panama City Beach has become the ultimate spring break destination with the help of MTV and video productions like “Girls Gone Wild” promoting the beach towns’ wild side
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during the months of March and April each year. It is a known fact that the police are more lenient and that more is allowed this time of year than any. Hotel managers know that there is a lot to face with all of the craziness that takes place, but the economic boost that takes place really is beneficial to the areas businesses who take part in aiding to the spring breakers. It is a proven fact that spring break forces winter residents out early. A significant portion of winter residents surveyed by the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau in 2007, stated spring break as a reason why they do not stay longer. This does take away from the tourists of the winter season, but the financial difference that spring breakers bring makes the issue easy to overlook. Spring breakers pay higher room rates than winter residents, but not all properties visited each year by winter residents seek spring break tourists. Spring break does however bring an average of 35 percent of annual revenues to the Panama City Beach area from 2006 to 2007. In 2006 the total revenue for Panama City Beach was more than $60 million with marketing expenses more than $2 million. In 2008, visitors to Panama City Beach during March or April spent an average of $65 per day per person. In addition to hotel and travel fares, spring break gets a lot of money circulating that might otherwise be saved. Who benefits the most from the spring break visitors? The local businesses who take part in the spring break season. The local residents and businesses who aren’t involved in the money making opportunities during this time of year, just get to deal with the traffic and negative effects that spring breakers bring. It turns out that college spring break is of great financial importance to a minority group of tourist related businesses. It is clear that the economic impact of college spring break for the entire tourism community is not as substantial as it portrayed for all local businesses. The obvious benefits are to those businesses who take part in the spring break activities. So the tradeoff of negative to positive effects of spring break is worth it to those who benefit financially from the spring break season.
Source List “A Brief Spring Break History.” World Wide Website (http://www.coolestspringbreak.com/spring-break-history.html) accessed February 3, 2010. Bohn, Lauren. “A Brief History of Spring Break.” Time Magazine, March 30, 2009. Calhoun, Brady. “Spring Break Brings Crime Spike.” News Herald, April 20, 2008. Gant, Andrew. “Flier Blames City For Unsafe Spring Break.” News Herald, January 1. 2010. Lawson, Jim. “College Spring Break Marketing Considerations.” PCB Convention & Visitors Bureau, April 27, 2007. “Spring Break Splinters.” News Herald, November 11, 2009. “2008 Spring Break Statistics for Panama City Beach.” World Wide Website (http://www.panhandleparade.com) accessed on February 5, 2010.
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Focus Group Plan Public Attitude Towards Spring Breakers Effects I will focus on the local hotel businesses for my participant selection for my focus group. I will mainly look at hotels directly involved, or affected by the spring break visitors. These participants will include local hotel owners and managers. Their incentives for participating will receive a $25.00 gift card to a local chain of restaurants. There will also be a drawing held to win a free weekend stay at a local resort, this will take place after their participation in my focus group Warm-up Questions 1. 2. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words “spring break?” By show of hands, how many people here are affected positively by spring break?
Detail questions 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. To what extent do individuals understand the positive effects spring break has on our area? To what extent do individuals understand the negative effects of spring break on our area? What do you estimate is the percent of annual income spring break brings to our area? What is your biggest issue with spring break? When you visit another city on vacation, what economic impact do you bring?
Wrap-up questions 8. 9. 10. If you could make one suggestion on the best way to improve outcomes of spring break for our area, what would it be? What do you think will happen differently this spring break than previous years? Is there anything else anyone wants to add?
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Survey Plan Public Attitude Towards Spring-Breakers Effects I will recruit my survey participants at the local Pier Park outlet mall. My survey will be administered to college-age adults and older. I will use cross-tabulations to help examine the different views of participants. Their incentives will receive a free weekend stay at a local resort awarded through a drawing taking place after their participation. Every participant will receive a $10 gift card to Wal-Mart in addition to the drawing. Demographic questions 1. Please mark your gender o male o female o no answer 2. Please mark your age o 17-24 o 25-30 o 31-40 o 41-50 o 51-60 o 60+ 3. What is your race? o white o African American o Latino o Asian o no answer Psychographic questions 4. What is the highest level of education you have completed? o high school o some college o college graduate o graduate degree
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I have included an example of my graphic design abilities I attained through Professional Publication Design classes. The following item is a creative resume assignment I used Adobe Creative Suite 4 to design.
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The following photographs are two pictures that were published on the website of the University of West Florida. I took hundreds of photos throughout my internship at UWF. I also did all of the editing and online posting of the photography I took.
All Sports Day at UWF
Bill Bond Baseball Clinic
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