Nationally prominent communication executives of the College of Charleston’s Department of Communication Advisory Council will host an interactive forum titled, “Hey, What’s Your Hashtag? The Impact of Social Media on Your Next Job.” The event will be held Thursday, March 31 from 4:15 – 5:30 p.m. in Physicians Memorial Auditorium on the College of Charleston campus. The event is free and open to the public.
Forum panelists will discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of social media. Pulling from their personal experiences, council members will share how they, their clients, groups and organizations are putting social media to work. The panelists will focus primarily on assisting students in using social media to sell a product, promote an issue, and get them their next job. Mike Reardon, assistant professor, Department of Communication, will moderate the event.
The forum will feature three panelists:
Jeannie Bunton is vice president of the External Relations Group for the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), a global think tank (headquartered in Washington, D.C., with an Asia Regional Office in New Delhi, India, and project offices in Secunderabad, India, and Kampala, Uganda) dedicated to improving the lives of women in developing countries. In this role, she oversees ICRW’s communications, advocacy, and library sciences divisions and collaborates on message development for its private fundraising initiatives. She also serves as a member of the foundation’s management team.
Steve Cody, managing partner and co-founder of Peppercom, is responsible for overall agency direction and management, new business development, new product development, agency marketing, and overall account management. Since founding the agency in 1995, he has been instrumental in Peppercom’s rise from a two-person startup to its current position as one of the nation’s best- known mid-sized strategic communications firms. Along with strategic consultant Dr. Richard Harte, Steve has written a book, Pain-based Selling, What’s Keeping Your Customers Up at Night? published by McGraw-Hill. He was also one of the CEOs featured in Donald Trump’s recent book Trump: The Way to the Top.
Keith Lindenburg is director, National Public Relations, for Deloitte. In this role, Keith leads the external communications function in the U.S., including media relations, crisis communications, and executive eminence. His specific areas of PR responsibility include industries, functions, talent, regions, and community involvement. He reports to the deputy chief executive officer of Deloitte LLP.
“This is a chance for students to learn how they can use their knowledge of Facebook and Twitter to help them gain employment in this tough economic climate,” said Beth Goodier, chair of the Department of Communication. “Students will walk away from this forum better prepared to enter the job market, and I’m pleased we can create critical opportunities like this for our students.”
For more information on this event and the Department of Communication Advisory Council, visit www.cofc.edu/communication.
With one of the largest undergraduate majors at the College of Charleston, the Department of Communication enrolls more than 700 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs. Students in the department study such topics as political communication, interpersonal communication, journalism, and public relations. The department is housed in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.
The Department of Communication Advisory Council promotes the recognition and progress of communication instruction at the College of Charleston. The Advisory Council is made up of an outstanding and nationally prominent group of communication professionals who aid the Department of Communication in mentoring high- performing students, creating and improving departmental programs, and calling attention to the many accomplishments of the department’s students and faculty.
