Week 3 Exploration: Company Research

This weeks exploration project was to expand on our Week 2 Target List. I decided to do research on the company, Nintendo. They currently have an opening for a Digital Marketing Manager. This research will help me better understand the company and also help me decide if this is a company I really do want to work for.

Please click this link to expand the infographic.

My MCBS MultiMedia Story Video

This is a visual story about my journey of going back to school at Full Sail University and what Full Sail has taught me over the last three years.

Link to YouTube video.

Week 2 Practice: Elevator Pitch

For this weeks discussion we were to create and "elevator pitch." Creating this pitch was done to help us introduce ourselves to the industry professionals within the industry we're planning our careers. My pitch is specific to the event planning and gaming industries.

Link to Pitch video on Vimeo.

Week 2 Project: Network Email

For this weeks project we were to find someone in our professional or personal network and draft a professional email to him or her. The purpose of the email is to ask them for advice, resources, and time, to better understand the industry we want to get into.

Subject: I Want YOU to be MY Mentor!

Hello Mr. Crombie,

My name is Taylor Wickman and I’m currently attending Full Sail University. I’m set to graduate in May 2016 with a Bachelors of Science in Media Communications. Upon graduation I’m setting my sights on the gaming industry. I plan to break through the industry, making my way into the trade show division. I want to help guide companies when they exhibit their games and products at conventions and trade shows. I am a media guru, specializing in Event Planning, Communications, Public Relations, and Media Design. I have dozens of certificates completing courses for Adobe Creative Suit, Microsoft Office, and many more programs. I have a personal advantage with over seven years of experience in customer service and a pervious background in the gaming industry,

I’m reaching out to you, Rob Crombie, because you have worked for Nintendo of America for 14 years within several departments. I know you have gained a lot of knowledge about how Nintendo of America operates. I believe you can help me gain insight and advice into the inner working of the gaming industry and you help me understand what it takes to reach my career goals. I look forward to hearing from you and discussing our passion for the gaming industry. Thank you for taking the time to review my request and considering speaking with me.

Sincerely,

Taylor Wickman

Analysis: Building A Professional Network

For this weeks analysis we were to research our current professional network. This was done to find out how we can expand that network and help us gain traction in our industry by making connections and understanding how to create more. 

Link to Prezi.

Information within the Prezi:

10 Current professional/personal communities:

1.     LinkedIn - Connections: 112

2.     Youtube

3.     Facebook - Connections: 327

4.     Twitter - Following: 111 Followers: 34

5.     Instagram - Following: 237 Followers: 106

6.     Pinterest - Following: 63 Followers:142

7.     Full Sail University Media Communications Facebook Group - Member: 234

8.     Full Sail University Networking Facebook Group – Members: 10,473

9.     Full Sail University Alumni LinkedIn Group – Members: 9,495

10.   Family - Connections: 20

Target List – LinkedIn first, second, and third connections

Company: Nintendo

1^st – Sr. Business Development Manager Alex Palomares (former co-worker)

2^nd – Senior Technical Recruiter – Ryan Graves

2^nd – Assistant Manager, Public Relations - Krysta Yang

Company: CRG Events

3^rd – Senior Event Manager - Brittney Schrag

3^rd – Senior Event Manager – Desiree Rook

3^rd – Event Coordinator - Cori Rosenberg

Company: Valve Corporation

2^nd – Steam Business/Marketing – Nathaniel Blue

2^nd – Business Development/Marketing - Erik Peterson

2^nd – Events – Arsenio Navarro

Company: PopCap

2^nd – Product Support Expert - Lauren Detjen

3^rd – Head of Marketing – Gary Clay

3^rd – Sr. Mobile Marketing & Live Services Manager – Plants vs. Zombies – Michael Lee

Company: Pokemon

2^nd – Consumer Marketing Director - J.C. Smith

2^nd – Producer | Online Marketing – Thomas Wiggin

2^nd – Merchandise Development – Rey Perez

Connections you need to make in order to be connected to Target List organizations

In order to connect to the companies within my Target List, I need to connect with current employees and recruiters on social media websites like LinkedIn and Twitter. This will allow traffic to my LinkedIn profile and my personal website. Employees and recruiters will be able to view my accomplishments and reach out to me.

Strategies, conferences, or approaches to make connections:

1.     Attend conferences like: IMEX America and Experiential Marketing Summit.

2.     Join professional events/meeting industry groups like: Meeting Professionals International and Professional Convention Management Association.

3.     Volunteer for a company event that you’re interested in working for to gain company insight.

4.     Get referrals from current network.

5.     Network and become more active on social media.

Using these techniques will help propel me in my journey to finding future employment. Building a professional network will allow me to make connections with companies I want to work with. It will help me gain insight into how these companies operate and what I may need to do in order to achieve employment. Attending tradeshows, conferences, and business events will help me stay on top of my industries trends, which will make me more valuable to employers.

Practice: Networking Events & Organizations

This weeks practice activity was to help us build our connections with the industry we will be heading into after graduation. We were to find conferences and professional organizations that cater to our industry. Researching conferences and professional organizations we can join, helps us make connections with professionals that can help us reach and further our career goals.

Conferences for the meeting and events industry professional:

IMEX America (October 18-20, Sands Expo, Las Vegas, NV)

Website: http://www.imexamerica.com/

IMEX offers education programs, partner with dozens of event planning organizations, forums for professionals and students, and tons of networking opportunities. This conference would help me with my professional persuits by providing the forum for students and its offering of education based meetings.

Experiential Marketing Summit 2016 (May 4-6, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO)

Website: http://emsummit.eventmarketer.com/

With over 1,500 marketers from around the world, EMS provides insight into the latest trends and best practices to keep on top of the changes within the events industry. Learn from top companies marketing planners from Pepsi, American Express, Cisco, Bacardi, Intel, Google, and more. The conference immerses you into master classes, workshops, and meets and greets over a three-day period.

This conference would help me within the events and meetings industry by preparing me for the current trends. This entire conference is education based, which is exactly what I would need as someone just getting into the industry.

Organization for the events and meetings industry:

Local: Meeting Professionals International (MPI) - Washington State Chapter

Website: http://www.mpiwsc.org/

Mission/Vision: MPI’s mission is to provide industry professionals with the tools they need to network, communicate, negotiate, discover new technologies, become informed of industry trends, and gain knowledge and opportunities.

Benefits: The MPI has 300 members in the Washington State Chapter. This is the largest industry organization in the Pacific Northwest. MPI offers education, growth opportunities, and business development.

National: Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA).

Website: http://www.pcma.org/about-pcma#.Vw56DDYrKfU

Mission/Vision: PCMA is a leading organization for meeting and event professionals. Their mission is to “deliver superior and innovative education and promote the value of professional management.”

Benefits: PCMA provides education, business networking, and community engagement for global meetings, conventions and business events. They have over 6,500 members and 50,000 customers.