A Galaxy That’s Not So Far Away

If you weren’t already familiar, hi, I’m Sarah Virkstis. I am the VP of Philanthropy for GVSU’s chapter of PRSSA, and I am also a self-proclaimed “Dis-nerd.” So, when I had the chance to listen and learn at a session during the PRSSA national conference that was all about Disneyland’s opening of Galaxy’s Edge, lead by Suzi Brown (Vice President of Communications at Disneyland Resort), I was a bit beside myself with excitement. Where else would I ever cross paths with someone within the top echelon of my own career field? Suffice to say, I was “geeked.”

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Taco’ing about Gen Z Era with Erika Prime

Erika Prime was the cup of coffee all PRSSAIC attendees needed for the third day of PRSSAIC. Not only does Prime have an impressive story, she is also an incredible speaker. She had all of us at the edge of our seats soaking everything in. Prime has been a leader on Taco Bell’s social team for five years and is a perfect example of an employee who loves her job and the company she represents. If it is not obvious by how highly she speaks of Taco Bell and her experience there, it should be evident in her bajá blast inspired hair.

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GrandPR
5 Tips for Scoring Big in Sports PR

This past October I attended the Public Relations Student Society of America International Conference (PRSSA-IC) in San Diego, CA. The four day conference was packed with keynote speakers and breakout sessions designed to address relevant PR related topics or industries. A session that stood out to me among many was Timeout: A Conversation About Sports with Events and Experiential Director, Marissa Rubenstein from Exactly agency in Washington, D.C. and Andy McGowan, Clinical Instructor at Georgia State University. Both had an unusual introduction to the realm of sports PR but have attained great knowledge from their experiences. Thankfully, they were more than willing to share their best tips for those looking to enter such a competitive industry.

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Own Your Privilege: 3 Takeaways from WMPRSA’s Signature Event

A few weeks ago, I attended  WMPRSA’s signature event, Own Your Privilege: ‘West Michigan Nice’ Is Not an Inclusion Strategy. At the event, the host Paul Doyle introduced exactly what ‘West Michigan Nice’ is and three speakers presented their own experiences about living in Grand Rapids. The event impacted my perception of this issue in our community. I wanted to share my biggest takeaways so that you can also work towards owning your privilege. 

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