Texas Advertising Hosts First Speed Networking Event

The Department of Advertising & Public Relations hosted its first UT Speed Networking event, Thursday, November 12, 2009 at the West Pickle Research Building. The event drew 72 participants, including 23 Austin alumni.

Speed networking involved a rapid fire, 3-minute, elevator speech and business card exchange between pairs of UT alumni and students. Loud clanging of a cowbell signaled the end of one conversation and a move to the next person for another quick conversation. It was noisy, it was informal, it was fast-paced and it was fun. Participants refined their elevator speeches and walked away with a handful of business cards and potential contacts in the business.

"Tell your students networking is how they will find jobs." said Matt Hooks, SEO Manager for Leverage Marketing. "It might not necessarily come from a direct contact made tonight, but it can come through a referral from someone they just met."

The concept and motivation for the event came from Cassie Fleniken, alumna and Online Marketing Manager at ijango.com.

On- and off-line promotions were designed and executed by the Fall 2009 Digital Media class, and included a Facebook ad campaign, a Facebook event page, two YouTube videos starring Dr. John Murphy and Celina Bonugli, blog and Twitter initiatives, outreach to TAG and PRSSA organizations, flyer distribution to Austin advertising and PR firms, CMA on-screen visuals plus Evite and viral e-mailings.

TAG volunteers aided by Lisa Dobias and Gene Kincaid provided organizational and administrative support.