A New Journey

Hello! I'm Jessica Postema, the other summer intern at Eisbrenner Public Relations.

I recently graduated from Michigan State University, home of the almighty Spartans (GO GREEN!) with a Bachelor of Arts in communication and specialization in public relations. Prior to joining Eisbrenner PR, I interned with Mittenberry, Triterra and CRT Medical Systems in various public relations and communication positions. Throughout my internships, I have learned how much I enjoy working in public relations, in particular, the media relations and writing components. They also have helped prepare me for the busy-ness, and sometimes craziness of agency life!

Outside of my education and experience, I'm an avid baker (particularly known for my red velvet cupcakes), dog lover and aspiring marathon runner (although I'm a long way from it). I love traveling the world (hoping to visit Greece and South Africa next), spending time with my friends and now that I've graduated, having time to read something other than textbooks; which currently is "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett.

So far, my internship at Eisbrenner PR has been great! They work hard, but definitely know how to have a good time. My co-workers have been so welcoming and willing to go above and beyond to ensure Greg and I have a good experience.

Well, that's a short introduction about me, more about my new journey as an Eisbrenner PR intern to follow. Stay tuned!

Pull Up A Stool

My first official pic at Eisbrenner PR

My name is Greg Melvin and I’m one of the new interns at Eisbrenner Public Relations. I will be your ‘tender for the evening. Not too long ago I was sitting on that side of the bar. I am a long-time reader, first-time writer of the SpeakEasy, and I couldn’t be more excited.

First, a little bit about myself. I am a recent graduate of Wayne State University, where I majored in public relations. During my senior year I served as chapter president of the James S. Measell Chapter of PRSSA, a position that allowed me to hone my ability to multitask and work in a team-oriented environment, both essential to agency life.

Getting goofy at The Henry Ford

Before coming to Eisbrenner PR, I spent eight months as the media and film relations intern at The Henry Ford. My experiences there were as fun as they were valuable – from giving media tours of Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit, to HOUR magazine photo shoots, to the Trevor Bayne vehicle dedication and everything in between. 

The Driving America ribbon
 cutting ceremony

I interned while the museum was opening the new automotive exhibit, Driving America. Working on press materials for Driving America is what initially piqued my interest in the American automobile and how it has and continues to impact our lives. It was a good introduction to life at Eisbrenner, whose clientele is around 60 percent automotive.

My first month at Eisbrenner PR has been great! Sure, I had a Kevin McAllister moment or two that first week – there is a lot of new information to absorb and a learning curve with any new place. But when your first week includes a hula-hoop contest, a game of office baseball and Koosh ball fights (plural), you know it’s a cool place to work.

Outside the Book, Eisbrenner PR’s intern program, is designed for you to succeed as an intern, and everybody – from my OTB “buddy” to the firm’s president – is happy and willing to help you find success. Plus, I’m not alone on this crazy ride – this semester Eisbrenner PR has two interns! You’ll meet Jessica Postema soon.

Well, that’s a little background on me. I look forward to sharing more of my internship experiences at the SpeakEasy in the coming months. So pull up a stool – I’ll start your tab

The Importance of Teamwork

“Working together is success” – Henry Ford

There’s no ‘i’ in team – yeah, it’s an old saying, but it still rings true. Think about it, most things can’t be done by just one person. A surgeon has a team of nurses. A writer has an editor. A shoe salesman has a supplier.

Here at Eisbrenner PR, the way we approach team work is to make sure everyone has the opportunity to use their particular skills and experiences to shine. No single person makes a team successful or even brings every skill to a team. On our teams everyone contributes, and yes, some people have a bigger role than others, but that’s what teamwork is all about.

And no, we don’t sit around and assign roles or pick them out of a hat. Similar to how we approach most things in our firm, each individual is responsible for defining their role on the team and asking for the opportunity to help where they can. The cool thing is that your role changes for various clients and projects – from leader to contributor and everywhere in between.

Another benefit to our approach to team work is that you have the opportunity to learn things from your teammates. Our team has experience from all walks of life – corporate, marketing, retail, nonprofit, editorial – so there’s always the opportunity to learn something new. The best approach is – here comes another old saying – to be a sponge and learn as much as you can. Admittedly, around here not all of it will be work related, but we can’t talk shop all the time! Even as an intern, you bring unique experiences and knowledge that we can learn from, so don’t be afraid to speak up.

Like everything at our firm, our approach to team work reflects some of our core values: respect one another’s skills and experience; be positive that you have something valuable to contribute; and, of course, work hard and have fun!