By: Jessica Varner

Interning at KVBPR has not only been an amazing learning experience, but very enjoyable as well. I love working on all of the different projects and the firsthand experience has taught me so much.

I wanted to write a blog post about what a typical day of interning at KVB looks like for me. I am a huge fan of song parodies so I decided to rewrite Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5”. Since I do not have class on Fridays, I usually intern from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving me a taste of what a typical work day looks like.

I rewrote the lyrics of the chorus, feel free to turn on Dolly’s version in the background and sing along!

Internin’ nine to five
What a way to get some knowledge
Here at KVB
Using what you’ve learned in college
They help you use your mind
Getting paid and class credit
It’s enough to teach you
Good PR if you let it

Nine to five, for research and releases
And you know that my
Job skill sure increases
Working at a firm
With lots of different clients
The piles of projects can sometimes look like giants

The KVB team
Teach you what matters
Step by step
So you can climb that ladder
Using AP style each and every day

In the same boat with a lot of your friends
Waitin’ for the day called graduation
But you’ve got experience
So you know you’re gonna be a-okay

By: Hayley Cook

Because I am both a student and an intern, my time is divided between the classroom and the office.

I spend my mornings getting organized, which I see as a moment of pure bliss. My orientation to detail is definitely something that attracted me to PR initially, and it comes in handy when I’m balancing multiple projects. In the mornings I spend time going over previous projects and their progress, checking my email, and discussing any new projects with KVB staff.

Then it’s time to get started. Some days, I start out with research projects for clients. This is something I do for staff frequently, and it usually involves creating a database of findings in Excel. Research can range from searching for numerous articles about a specific topic to compiling a list of awards for a certain field. Mostly, this takes some excellent Google skills and a little patience, which is something that I’ve learned primarily through experience in the field and researching information for class projects.

I also work quite frequently with media list building/editing and press release writing. A few days back, I sent out a press release for Metro Arts and their second phase of artistically-designed bike racks, which you can admire all over the Nashville area. Writing is something that I have honed tremendously while at Belmont. One of my very first classes as a PR major was Basic Newswriting (where my first assignment was to write a fake obituary for my professor, which naturally involved interviews with her elderly parents about their “deceased” daughter). “Basic” Newswriting, as it was so-called, was not basic in any sense of the word – it was rigorous and challenging, but I learned how to cut the fluff out of my PR and news writing. Through this coursework, I feel more confident in my writing, which is overall more concise and to-the-point than it was 4 years ago when I started college.

One of my favorite aspects of PR is event marketing, and I’m privileged to be working on some of that here! Event marketing was something I gained monumental experience in when I helped plan Nashville’s Fourth of July Hot Chicken Festival during my previous summer internship. At KVB, I’m working on a fundraising gala for one of our clients, and I’m so excited for my timeline to start taking shape. Moreover, media relations is a big part of event marketing, and it’s an aspect of PR I really enjoy.

In my PR Design & Production class, we’ve been talking a lot about knowing your brand and accurately conveying its message through design. The takeaway: in the end, YOU are responsible for your brand, not the graphic designer, or in this case, the media. The art of a press release is in sculpting your client’s brand and its message accurately. I’ve learned that this is an integral part of media relations and conveying your message to the general public through a medium.

I round out the day by finishing up projects, entering time, and readying myself for the next day. Connecting the dots between coursework and interning is something I’m excited to be doing, and I’m thankful to intern in an environment that encourages learning new things and skill building on a daily basis.

By: Nan Allison, MS, RD, LDN

When I plopped down next to a colleague at a meeting the other day, she leaned over and whispered, “My employer is sending out the Fat Letter.” I gave her a puzzled look, wondering if people were getting fired, promoted or what. She acted like I should know. In fact, I should have known. You see, we both had worked on a project called “Got BMI?” in response to the public schools’ equivalent of her employer’s “Fat Letter,” telling her she was overweight. We dietitians designed the “Got BMI?” campaign, meaning: “You got your kid’s Body Mass Index (BMI) results from the school health screenings. Now what are you going to do?”

Similarly, we are concerned about and interested in what advice employers are offering along with their “Got BMI/Fat Letters” to employees to help address the problems of being overweight, having hypertension or high cholesterol. We see current practices using generalized answers and programs rather than individualized approaches at the executive and employee levels.

Often employees are told to join a gym, eat smaller portions, eat breakfast, not drink sodas, or walk more during the day. Everyone seems to be focused on weight, period – suggesting only the traditional resources typically offered up to deal with weight. These practices may be popular but they are only effective in the short term.

If employers want to get serious about reducing their costs and getting employees to eat better, they might consider encompassing the needs of the individuals and looking closely at what the company’s entire nutrition programming design should include.

In order for a “fat letter” to get employee attention and inspire action, make sure:

• It is the right action and make the most of that letter.
• It really helps your employee and doesn’t send him down the wrong path or frustrate her into taking no action.
• It leads your employee to a healthier body and a more fulfilling experience with healthy eating, so that eating well becomes easier.

Be prepared to support your employees with an environment, culture and individual support system that will help them feel good, not bad, about themselves, so they don’t feel it is a struggle to do well.

Make the most of your investment in your employee wellness program. Use the services of an expert in nutrition at the corporate food delivery level and in medical nutrition therapy to design, assess and implement your program.

We’d love to know your thoughts:

• Are you an employer who is sending or is contemplating sending letters to employees about the need to do something about their health?
• Are you an employee that has received such a letter? If not, what would you think about getting such a letter?

By: Roy Vaughn, APR

I had three young sons when we founded KVBPR. How young?  Try 2 months, 4 years and 7 years. Now THAT is motivation to make it work. A few friends thought I’d lost it (thanks, guys).

It was a truly life changing time.

My youngest son was born with severe heart defects that required surgeries, and I was not sure we could get health coverage. If not, I was out. We found a way for us all to get covered through the efforts of Joann Denise and the full support of my future partners. We could go ahead with our plan.

Aileen, Greg and I were all confident that KVBPR could be successful from the start. By the close of 1996 we were in the black…no small feat for a start up of any flavor.  Before we knew it, we’d hit the five-year mark – another one of those business survival milestones – and we were still growing. Now there are 15 candles on the cake for my son Phillip and for KVBPR. Both are thriving…and I’m one proud papa.

We’ve all grown in different ways as time has passed. For instance, I’m writing a GUEST BLOG for KVBPR. Blogs didn’t exist, and I sure didn’t see myself on the client side, when we hung our shingle.

In 2007, I left KVBPR to join one of our clients, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Yes, health insurance has played a major role in my story with KVBPR. I’m happy to report I’m still at BlueCross…and the change has been really good for me and my family on many levels. Sometimes I’m asked about my relationship with KVBPR and I often joke that since I’m a client the partners have to treat me better now!

One thing has not changed at KVBPR — we founded the firm on the idea that strategic counsel, excellent work and high ethical standards make a difference for clients.

Of course, you can’t deliver on that promise without outstanding people. KVBPR can be proud of consistently attracting some of the best…talented, big-hearted professionals who’ve done great things at the firm and beyond. I hesitate to provide a list for fear of leaving someone out (but you know who you are). Man, it’s been so rewarding to work alongside you all!

To Aileen, Greg, Nancy and all KVBers, congratulations on the first 15 years.  It’s been fun seeing the firm grow up so well…almost as much as seeing my sons do so.

The Vaughns all grown up: Front - Laura; Back (L-R) - Jordan (21), Roy, Patrick (19) and Phillip (15). Roy's and Laura's ages were withheld upon request!

By: Kerie Kerstetter 

Back in May, I began my summer internship at KVBPR hoping to gain a little insight into the field of public relations. I was both eager and nervous. I expected the typical coffee runs and copy work, yet hoped that I’d be able to learn a few things about PR along the way. Little did I know I’d be exposed to so many facets of the industry and work as such an integral part of the KVBPR team. 

At the start of the summer, I began a blog called The Witty Intern (@TheWITTYintern) with the purpose of gleaning a little wisdom by reflecting on my experiences. I was the “witty” intern since the adjectives “savvy,” “clever” and “wise” had already been taken on Twitter; yet it came to be a tone I rather enjoyed writing in. I enjoyed journaling after a long day at work or a lesson learned. And by the end of the summer, I had a collective account of my experiences that was fun to read back through. 

It didn’t take me long to realize how fortunate I was to be interning at KVBPR. I had the privilege of working as a valued part of the agency and I was involved in every aspect of the PR process. I was included in everything from new client meetings and brainstorms to research and strategic planning. Co-workers always took the time to fill me in on client accounts or explain their reasoning behind tactics or campaigns. Employees encouraged my input and valued my creative suggestions. I gained experience writing articles and releases, talking to reporters, conducting research and crafting campaigns. I’m ending my internship with an over-flowing portfolio and a summer full of invaluable experiences. Not only that, but I’m ending my internship with the glorious revelation every college student yearns for (and every parent prays they find): Why yes, this IS exactly what I want to do with my life! 

I wanted to thank the KVBPR team for believing an intern could be such a valuable part of their agency. I attribute my amazing experience this summer to the confidence they put in my abilities and my potential. This may be the end of The Witty Intern, but perhaps the beginning of The Wise PR Professional!

KVBPR loves to keep up with its intern alumni.  Since he completed his internship and college education ten years ago, Joel Fortner worked for the US Air Force doing public relations as a civilian.  Now he has launched Washington, DC-based BlueBridge Communication (web site coming soon) to help businesses and nonprofits communicate better, especially those connected to the government. 

This week, he interviewed KVBPR partner Aileen Katcher on leadership for his Friday feature Behind Leadership.

Click here to read Behind Leadership: Aileen Katcher 

By: Brandon Daniell, principal, Matua Media

The other day I had to catch a 6 a.m. flight out of Chicago. I booked a cab for 4:15 a.m. I was staying in a friendly part of Chicago, but I admit I did wonder how friendly it would be on the curb at 4:15 a.m. waiting for the lights of my cab to turn down the side street.

As I quietly got my belongings together at 4 a.m., I was surprised to hear my phone receive a text message. Who would be texting me at 4 a.m.? To my amazement and relief, it was a text saying that my cab was 5 minutes away suggesting that I should get my things together. Then just as I was about to head to the door, I got another text — my cab was downstairs. When I walked out of the building, I walked straight into my cab.

During the ride to the airport, I started to think about those text messages. The taxi company used texting to deliver two very relevant messages that made my entire cab experience better.  I did not have to spend one minute waiting on the curb.

Texting is a powerful engagement and communication technology. First of all, 97% of all phones can send or receive texts. Second, more than 85% of texts are read within five minutes of being sent.  Third, the messages are relevant and timely. It is ironic when you stop to think about it that the only spam texts I seem to get are from my phone company.

Now how is it that I can get text messages reminding me that my car needs an oil change or that my flight has been delayed, but I still get messages from my doctor  on my home phone reminding me about something I need to remember or do.  What happens when I disconnect my home phone and join the 30% of American households that have no landlines.  Will the doctor’s office realize that I am able to be contacted pretty much anytime anywhere – via my mobile phone?

The potential to improve the dialogue in the health care space using texting is enormous. I mean, if an airline can tell me that my flight is running late, surely my doctor can tell me that his office is 40 minutes behind schedule.  And if a cab company in Chicago can prevent me from standing on a curb at 4:15 a.m., surely my doctor can learn to engage me in ways that are more convenient, timely, and relevant.  A little convenience in health care would benefit everyone.

By Sarah Norton

It’s my last week as the KVBPR intern, so I wanted to share a little about my experience. Thinking back to my first week at KVBPR back in January, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from working in an agency. But I had heard amazing things about the firm, and I knew that I would learn a lot.

A few of my high points:

• There was no shortage of hands-on experience. The staff at KVBPR recognizes that internships are meant to be a learning lab for PR and marketing students. From my first day, I was drafting news releases and doing social media research for clients.
• One of the strengths of KVBPR is its commitment to professional development for every member of the agency, even the intern. All semester, I was encouraged to attend PRSA and NAMA meetings and included in office staff meetings for brainstorms and presentations.
• Over the past few months, I have been able to do everything from research and write social media content (like this blog post!), to distributing news releases to local media, to assembling award entries for competitions like the Nashville Parthenon Awards and the PRSA Silver Anvil judging. I knew that every contribution I was making, no matter how small, had an impact on the overall success of KVBPR during my time in the office.

I have had the privilege of interning with several organizations during my time in college, but KVBPR was the place I learned the most about the day-to-day life of a public relations professional as a result of being a valued member of the team.

In addition to sharing what I learned during my time at KVBPR, I also want to offer a few tips for other interns:

• Keep a timeline of what you’re working on. It helps you stay organized, and it’s an easy way to share what you’re working on with your supervisor and other account executives if they want to give you a new project.
• Ask questions. Above all else, an internship is a learning experience, and every question you ask is important. Whether you’re asking how to work the copier or the best newspaper editors to contact, someone will be able to help you.
• Be an active consumer of the media. Stay up to date on Twitter, check headlines on at least one major news site a of couple times a day, and engage in conversation with others about what you’re reading.

As I move towards my own career, and search for jobs, I can look back on my time at KVBPR and understand what’s expected of a PR professional on a daily basis. I am so excited to see where life takes me, armed with my experience here and my degree.

But for now, I’m leaving KVBPR to get ready to graduate this weekend. Thank you to the entire staff for a great semester!

By Tonya Kimbrough

I was talking about my recent visit to the Greenbuild tradeshow in Chicago, when someone asked, “What makes a building green?”  Before I began working with our client SSRCx, I had the same question.  I imagined walking into a green building and being overwhelmed with all of its greenness.  “Ah, so that’s it.”

In fact, I’ve learned green buildings don’t look very different, if at all, than other buildings.  They are just built smarter, with more efficient systems and features.  These features can include things you might not notice at first, like low-emission paints, fabrics, carpets, and even green cleaning supplies.

Walking the aisles at Greenbuild, you will find most of the materials look very similar to what you would find at other building shows, including, as our guest blogger in this post points out — toilets!  But the products and services are made or operate differently in a way that makes them more efficient and healthier, both for the environment and building occupants.   It shows that little changes here and there can make a big difference.  

Check out this post from Brian Bloom with KVBPR WorldCom Partner Liggett Stashower (LS) in Cleveland, Ohio, where he discusses his impression of Greenbuild 2010.

Going, going . . . green

By Brian Bloom, Liggett Stashower

Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, I went to visit several of my clients and prospects at a trade show. Well, actually, it looked like a green flea market called the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo with a potpourri of sustainable building products and services.

Walking through the entrance in Chicago’s McCormick Place West, Greenbuild looked like a normal trade show. Once inside, the expo had all the ingredients of a fruitcake. Very fitting for the upcoming holiday season! All the big boys were exhibiting. You know, companies like Philips, General Electric, Glidden, Sherwin-Williams, Armstrong, Andersen Windows, Acuity, Rubbermaid, etc. However, the largest exhibitor at Greenbuild, in only a 30’ by 30’ booth due to the show’s space constraints, was selling toilets. Yes, TOTO toilets! Most of the other exhibitors were in 10’ by 10’ and 20’ by 20’ booths.

Read more of Brian’s post

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – KVBPR (Katcher Vaughn & Bailey Public Relations, Inc.) intern, Frannie Boyle leaves the office today as her internship period comes to a close.

She never thought she would come away with such a wide variety of experiences. Not only can she draft press releases, build media lists, and navigate Vocus, but she can also use a flip camera, tell you about senior organizations in nearly every town in the state of Tennessee, and point out which Tennessee public schools have the most tech savvy websites. She still needs to work on AP style and getting Senior Olympians off the phone in less than 30 minutes, but all in all she came out of the internship smarter, happier and with a greater confidence in the PR business.

Boyle is not happy that she has to leave KVB. The work environment was better than she could have dreamed for and the experience was enjoyable and valuable at the same time. Boyle would like to thank everyone who worked with her.

“It was wonderful to be a part of the tight community on the 21st floor, and I am sad to leave it,” Boyle said.

Boyle is a junior at Vanderbilt University, and she is in for a rough couple of semesters until she graduates in May of 2011. She will be in Nashville for awhile, so she will have no problem keeping in touch and stopping by to visit the L&C tower.