Looking back on 2012, I'm astounded by how much I've done, seen and learned in Public Relations and Social Media this year. From special events, to Facebook giveaways, to networking events and more, I couldn't have asked for a better professional year.
In honor of my "Rookie" PR year (and the start of a new year!), I've decided to countdown my top 3 absolute favorite working experiences of 2012:
3. The Grand Opening of the New Show at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
June 26, 2012. I will ALWAYS remember this day, because it was the date of my first special event! Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament-Orlando held a VIP party for prominent members of the Orlando business community and other important Orlando residents, such as members of the local media, this summer at the Orlando castle. Considering that I had just been hired in May, I knew that this show was a test to see how well I could handle the media and putting together a VIP list. To my great delight, the event could not have gone more smoothly. Not only was I able to prove to my boss that I'm capable of helping with organizing a huge event, I also got to see the new show first-hand and celebrate with the Medieval Times team after the show. So much fun!
2. Celebrate Dogs! (The AKC/Eukanuba National Championship)
To date, Celebrate Dogs! is my crowning achievement. The agency was faced with the difficult task of acquainting Central Florida residents with the re-branded title of the daytime portion of the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship, now called "Celebrate Dogs!" I was tasked with creating and maintaining social media sites for the event, as well as securing media coverage and using guerrilla marketing tactics to spread awareness around town.
Social Media had a huge impact on the event, and I worked extremely hard to ensure that the client was satisfied with my efforts. Beyond this, I organized blogger giveaways for free tickets to the event. In total, my blogger/social media efforts reached over 1,000 people.
My efforts also generated 5 segments on local-area television stations, as well as online, print and radio coverage. Not bad!
Another highlight was working with a local entertainment company to design a mascot for Celebrate Dogs! "Euka", the Eukanuba Mascot turned out to be absolutely adorable, and the client loved the final product.
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| "Bailey" the AKC Beagle and "Euka" the Eukanuba mascot pose at Celebrate Dogs! |
Celebrate Dogs! was an INCREDIBLE experience. Having Proctor & Gamble (Eukanuba) for a client is anyone's dream, but it's especially great for a recent college grad!
1. The Atlantis Roll-Over at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
Hands down, the most memorable event of 2012 was the Atlantis roll-over at KSCVC! The event celebrated the last time a space orbiter will ever move. Talk about an inspiring experience!
I've already written about this in a different post, but this is still the greatest thing I've done this year. At the event, a colleague and myself were selected to help escort members of the media back and forth from different areas along Atlantis' journey. After the shuttling ended (pun intended), I was able to stand in an exclusive media-only section of KSC to watch Atlantis roll down the road and into her new home. As if the sight of the orbiter making her final journey wasn't incredible enough, we were also lucky enough to watch as she was escorted into her new home by astronauts from various Apollo and shuttle missions, including Buzz Aldrin.
Participating in the event also means I was a part of American history-- and that's something that doesn't happen every day!
The events I've experienced in 2012 would have been amazing to anyone in the PR field. For me, they were especially outstanding because they were the first events in what I hope will be a very long career in Public Relations. When I think that just this summer I was a college graduate who could only hope to find a job in my field, I am completely humbled and eternally grateful that I was hired to do what I love doing.
Here's to the PR adventures to come in 2013!
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