Kelly Michalski COM 208 Dr.

Ferris January 28th, 2014

Networking Assignment Part I

My Network
Lisa (Front end manager at Sendiks Food Market)

Aunt Barbara (Works for the Bank of Hawaii) Mom (LPN at Franciscan Villa)

Bryce (Employee at Byte Studios in Milwaukee)

Employer

Family

Friends

Professors

Aunt Margaret (Former writer for the Catholic Herald)

Cousin Laurie (Event Manager for the BBB)

Riley (Platteville student, studying to become a police officer) Gina Barton (former professor, journalist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Jesse Garcia (former professor, sports reporter for TMJ 4 News)

Carolyn (Rileys mom, works in Human Resources at Briggs and Stratton)

As I have displayed above, I divided my network of connections into four categories: family, friends, professors, and my employer. I chose these particular connections because each person, through their place of employment, has a different expertise. They also have access to a variety of media outlets in order to disseminate information related to their field. Starting off with family, I included my mom. She is a licensed practical nurse who has been working at Franciscan Villa in South Milwaukee for over thirty years. Equipped with education and many years of health care experience, my mom would be an ideal connection in the medical field. In order to access this resource, I could simply interview my mom, who has access to social workers and doctors. Franciscan Villa also has a monthly newsletter along with a website at their disposal. My mom or I could always get in contact with the people who are affiliated with these media channels and pitch ideas to them or ask them to include certain news pieces in their newsletter and or website. This all relates to me because I am currently a communications major with a public relations emphasis. If I choose to become a public relations specialist, it would be imperative to conduct medical related research if I had a client who was associated with such a field. I also included my Aunt Margaret. She is a former writer for the Milwaukee newspaper, the Catholic Herald. She relates to me because for the first two years of my college experience, I was going to school for journalism. I have always had a strong interest in writing and even wrote for my high school newspaper. And if I do become a public relations specialist, my Aunt Margaret would be able to provide me with news stories and information relating to the Catholic faith. As weve learned, public relations specialists and journalists must work together. To access this resource, I could simply interview my Aunt and learn more about the newspaper and its staff. I would also visit their website. She could even help me land an internship as well.

In addition, I included my Aunt Barbara. She works for the Bank of Hawaii and her job responsibilities include taking care of her clients banking needs. She works in Private Client Services, where here clients typically hold millions of dollars in their bank accounts. To access this resource, I would talk with my Aunt to learn more about her job, the state Bank of Hawaii, and their website. Personally, my Aunt would be an ideal resource for financial advice. In the public relations field, she would offer great insight into the world of finance. Cousin Laurie is in this category too. Technically my Dads cousin, Laurie works for the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin in West Allis. She is the organizations Event Manager and some aspects of her job involve public relations. Accessing this particular resource may be a bit more difficult as I have only met Laurie once in my life. However, I do have access to her e-mail and phone number. I would contact her and set up a time to meet to discuss more about her job and her responsibilities and learn more about the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin. I could also look up the website in order to gather more information. This relates to me because her job just about mirrors what Im currently going to school for. She would be an ideal resource for finding a internship as well. Next is the friends category. My friend Riley is placed here because he is a long time school friend, who has an outgoing personality, a diverse knowledge, and is currently a Platteville student who is studying to become a police officer. So, he is quite familiar to the world of law. If I was a public relations specialist who was looking for the facts, researching law or planning an event sponsored by the police department, Riley would be a prime resource. In order to access this resource, I would interview Riley, who also has access to the Plateville Newspaper, other media channels on campus, and the New Berlin Police Department (as he went to a police academy nearby and has connections to them). I also included Rileys mom, because she works in the Human Resource Department at Briggs and Stratton. She is familiar with

business related operations and the hiring and firing process of employees. Although not exactly considered public relations, her job does involve some of the fields aspects. Riley was also willing to offer me an internship at Briggs and Stratton through his mom. Since I do not know Rileys mom very well, I would access this particular resource first through Riley. Bryce is included here also. He is one of my brothers friends from high school, who is currently working at Byte Studios in Milwaukee. Bryce is technology savvy as he possesses the skills required to build computers from the ground up. He is also familiar with programming computers and creating and selling apps and putting them on the Android market. In order to access this resource I would interview Bryce and research the company via their website. This would provide me with information regarding Bryces job duties and the companys purpose. This relates to me because Bryce is a helpful resource regarding all things technology. In the world of public relations, he could be hired to create and design apps for clients in order to promote business and disseminate information. Through Carroll University, I have had two professors in the journalism field. First was Gina Barton, who is a criminal investigative reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She taught my Newswriting and Reporting Class. Second was Jesse Garcia, who is a sports reporter for TMJ4 News. She taught my Broadcast Reporting class. I would access both of these sources through e-mail. Both would allow me to have access to two prominent news outlets in the Milwaukee area, with two drastically different viewpoints, one in crime and one in sports. As mentioned before, this relates to me due to my interest in journalism and the opportunity for internships. Last is my employer. I currently work at Sendiks Food Market in New Berlin and my manager Lisa is in charge of the front end. Her duties include such tasks as supervising cashiers

and baggers, balancing money, and scheduling. She is also involved with the weekly Sendiks newsletters and ads and overseeing the scheduling and preparations for special events (such as Leroy Butler for example). I would access this resource simply by talking to her at work and getting in contact with other managers in the store. This relates to me because Lisa has an understanding of business, sales, and event planning. Plus, she has access to outlets via website and newsletters to disseminate information. Although not exactly public relations, her job duties are similar. It would be helpful for me to learn more about her job and responsibilities as it relates to my education, especially with regard to planning special events.