Updated: 06.13.07
Read about our 2006-2007 Mentor Lunch Series below. Student comments on their Mentor Lunch experience are in blue.
Featuring: Heidi Dahmen
Friday, May 11, 2007
For the majority of her career, Heidi Dahmen produced for non-scripted, network primetime and cable television programs airing on ABC, CBS, FOX and UPN, as well as USA, E! Entertainment, TLC and TV Land. She's also produced for major television syndication companies including Disney's Buena Vista Productions, NBC Universal and Paramount Domestic Television. In addition to working in reality, talk, magazine, clip and documentary formats, she acquired and sold a life rights story which was made into an ABC television movie. Heidi started her career as a producer at KOMO TV, the ABC affiliate in Seattle, working on locally produced programs and specials before being hired by Buena Vista Productions and moving to Los Angeles. She graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Communications and an emphasis on Broadcast Journalism.
Being able to have a sit-down opportunity with one of the television industry's top producers was truly priceless! Ms. Dahmen shared information that was both valuable and relevant to our future careers, and provided us with much-needed insight that would not typically be found in the normal classroom setting. For her to take the time of her extremely hectic schedule to meet with us was a testament to her character and dedication to this university. Thank you to Ms. Dahmen and the UW Department of Communication!
Christopher Nguyen
Ms. Dahmen offered helpful insight about the television industry - insight I will definitely take with me as I pursue the field! Conversing with her as well as the other aspiring students built up my confidence and reaffirmed my desire to venture into this industry. Much thanks and gratitude, Ms. Dahmen for your time and for sharing your experience with us in the COM department.
Grace Woo
The mentor lunch was a great opportunity to meet with an experienced professional that was eager to share knowledge about their profession. It provided a supportive environment that encouraged students to ask questions that would otherwise go unanswered. I gained lots of knowledge about how the entertainment industry works from a producer's perspective and received inside information. Ms. Dahmen encouraged all the students at the mentor lunch to pursue what they are truly passionate about and to be persistent in their pursuit. It was a wonderful opportunity.
Rachel Werth
Featuring: William "Les" Kendrick, PhD, class of '87
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
The Department hosted a lunch for graduate students with William "Les" Kendrick, a 1987 PhD from the UW's School of Communications. Les is a communication and educational consultant working in the Seattle area. His entrepreneurial businesses have focused on research, planning, and evaluation, and how we can effectively use the Internet to gather and make sense of information. Les is co-owner of Educational Data Solutions, LLC, which specializes in the development of Internet reporting tools and user-friendly interfaces; the company helps principals and teachers better understand and use student achievement data.
Les' research focuses on language, speech acts, and how humans interact with communication technology and media in general. Some papers he's presented recently: "Why We Watch: A Theory of Television Viewing Behavior"; "Computers Don't Know What They Don't Know: The Possibilities and Problems of Communicating with Computers through Language"; and "Colorless Green Nonsense."
Featuring: David Blandford, APR, class of '87
Thursday, April 19, 2007
David Blandford is Director of Public Relations for Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau, where he oversees the public relations department and directs many aspects of organizational communications. He has served in Seattle's tourism industry for more than 15 years.
Blandford is the 2007 President of the Puget Sound Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). He has served on various committees for several years and joined the chapter's board of directors in 2003. He has also served on the board of the Society of American Travel Writers.
Prior to his work in Seattle's tourism industry, Blandford held other marketing and communications positions in Seattle and in Washington, D.C.
Blandford earned a bachelor's degree in editorial journalism and political science from the University of Washington in 1987.
I found the lunch extremely interesting and helpful. David was very generous sharing his experiences and advice. I think that attending the lunch will definitely help me in my internship and job searches. Thank you again for providing opportunities like the mentor lunch.
M. Elaine Vote
Mr. Blandford provided insightful advice on the PR and tourism industry. The discussion was informal, which I genuinely enjoyed because the conversations were personal. I appreciated his enthusiasm, not only by his natural demeanor, but more so when he discussed his passion for his work. I'm fortunate to have participated in the Communication Mentor Lunch program and will take Mr. Blandford's advice with me as I graduate and pursue my career in communication.
Grace Woo
The mentor lunch was really informative because I was able to learn a lot about the world of public relations. David gave all of us some really good tips and pointers for dealing with different issues and problems in public relations. Also, I appreciated all his advice given to help us, young soon-to-be graduates, as we begin on our career path. Thank you. Sincerely,
Jessica Everhart
I thought that the mentor lunch was very successful. Mr. Blandford provided great insights on the tourism and public relations industry. He also gave us good advice for pursuing our own career objectives taking the time to answer individual questions. He was very genuine and helpful. Thanks,
Kelly Nelson
Meeting with Mr. Blandford allowed me to get an insiders' perspective into a focus of the industry that I had never previously considered. I came away from the lunch with a stronger curiosity than ever about the roles people play to shape our media and society.
Stuart Lorimer
The mentor lunch with David Blandford was a very enjoyable experience. As a graduating senior, it is so helpful to talk with professionals who can offer advice as I enter into the "real world". Mr. Blandford was friendly and welcoming and made it very easy to ask questions. He offered some great interviewing tips and even helped me make a possible internship connection for the future.
Kira Harrison
Featuring: Lori Matsukawa,
class of '96
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Lori Matsukawa is an award-winning journalist and anchor (KING 5 News, KONG TV). Her professional awards include ARBY Awards in 1987, 1989, 1992, 1996 and 2000, given by the Academy of Religious Broadcasting; a Society of Professional Journalists award for Economic Reporting in 1989 and the "American Scene Award," from the local chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in 1986. Matsukawa co-chairs a committee seeking to build a Japanese cultural and community center in Seattle. She also served on the Association Board of the YMCA of Greater Seattle. In 1999, she organized the Student Broadcast Project for UNITY, a multi-cultural journalism convention held in Seattle. She was chosen as an Asian-American Living Pioneer by the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation in 1996. In 1993, she was given the Community Volunteer Award from the Asian Counseling and Referral Service, where she served as a board member and board president. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA). Matsukawa is a founding member of AAJA's Seattle Chapter. She is also a member of the Department of Communication Alumni Hall of Fame.
I thank you for the chance to have lunch with Lori Matsukawa. Speaking with her was especially great in terms of the advice that she gave all of the students at the lunch. She had said some things that were really eye-opening. I truly appreciate her coming out to meet with us. Thanks again and please let me know of any future mentor lunches. They are really great opportunities!
Deeckla Eretz-Kedosha
The lunch with Ms. Matsukawa was very helpful in examining the possibilities in the broadcasting industry. Not only was she informative, but furthermore very pleasant and intriguing to listen to. I appreciate her time and commitment to her alumni~Rs future. Zack MidlesThe lunch with Ms. Matsukawa was very helpful in examining the possibilities in the broadcasting industry. Not only was she informative, but furthermore very pleasant and intriguing to listen to. I appreciate her time and commitment to her alumni's future.
Zack Midles
Thanks to Lori Matsukawa, I now have an even stronger desire to pursue a career in news and broadcasting. She gave many beneficial advices and answered a lot of questions for us. Thank you the COM department for the valuable experience.
Nhi Yen Tran
Our lunch with Lori Matsukawa was inspirational. Her advice was really practical and I appreciated her honesty about the industry. Thank you for giving back Mrs. Matsukawa!
Kristen Cowen
Lunch with Lori Matsukawa was a wonderful and very beneficial experience. She offered a lot of valuable advice regarding the broadcast journalism industry. It was great to hear about her background and career experiences. She was very personable and enjoyable to be around. This was a wonderful opportunity, and I feel lucky to have been a part of it. Thank you so much!
Taryn Marie Echert
The lunch with Lori Matsukawa was an awesome experience. The things we talked about were things that we probably would not have heard in any communication class. Her real world experience, let us know what kinds of things to expect in the actual field of being a reporter/news anchor. She was very helpful in letting us know what to do before we graduate. We learned to take full advantage of the different groups at school. It was great to meet her, and I know for sure that I learned a lot.
Jennifer Moon
Thank you so much for the mentor lunch today, it was a great opportunity to find out more about the broadcasting journalist, something that I was quite unfamiliar with prior to this experience. Lori gave some very helpful information and really focused on anything that we were concerned about. She was able to teach us a lot in just an hour lunch with her. Thank you for the opportunity, it was well worth it!
Brittany Rogers
I enjoyed my luncheon with Lori because it was very informative and a great way to make a connection with a professional in my field of study. I hope to participate in more mentor lunches in the future with individuals from various aspects of communications. Thank you.
Ashley Russell
Featuring: Rebecca Smith,
class of '77
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Rebecca Smith is a national energy reporter in the San Francisco bureau of the Wall Street Journal. She won the Gerald Loeb Award in 1996 and 2001. She is the co-author of "24 Days," which chronicles Smith and co-author Emshwiller's uncovering of the Enron scandal.
I immensely enjoyed the mentor luncheon. It was very informative, inspiring and encouraging. It reminded me that the world of communications continues to grow and connect people, and that networking is an invaluable part of this industry. I look forward to more mentor luncheons, and being able to learn more about the opportunities available to me before and after completing my BA. Thank you.
Asli Omur
Rebecca Smith was one of the best guest speakers I have heard this year. Not only was she very informative, but she truly seemed willing to help us in anyway we could to further our careers. I really appreciated having her come in and talk!
Lisa Hanchinamani
Rebecca Smith's frank talk about journalism was a booster shot for my plans. I saw someone, who now works at one of the most respected newspapers in the country, talk about her days at a tiny weekly or in Alabama with a bit of a smirk. She inspired to work hard in this business to get where I want to be.
Manuel Valdes
Lunch with Rebecca Smith was as inspiring as it was informative. She is a talented woman who has worked with such a wide array of papers, that she really knows a great deal about the newspaper industry. Not only did she answer our questions honestly, her recommendations were insightful. A big thank you to the department and Ms. Smith, for meeting with us. As a graduating senior, I could not recommend this experience more to fellow undergraduates.
Michelle Zimmer
It was very useful to have an experienced writer such as Ms. Smith come into our Newslab class and share a few words with us. That such an accomplished journalist as herself, who must be enormously busy, could take the time to speak to us means a lot. Her insight into the long, stressful hours of a professional journalist and the rewards to be had from this work was valuable.
Adam Kilbourn
I just wanted to say thank you for the visit from Rebecca Smith to our Com 362 class just last week. She was encouraging, insightful and genuine to us budding reporters. She made me feel like there are people out there that really do feel passionately about what they do for a living, and it gave me hope for what I will be doing in the future. I think Rebecca should definitely be a visitor to more 362 classes, she brought her personality to the discussion and showed us that with some hard work and a little elbow grease, you can make a difference.
Brittany Rogers
I thought Rebecca Smith was very interesting, she had a lot of experiences and knowledge to share and was very easy and fun to listen to. I thought she was genuine and honest and it seemed like she really cared about helping us get into the field.
Anthony Dion
It was a great pleasure to meet Rebecca Smith. One of the things I found most interesting (being a mom) is how she has been able to juggle family and such a demanding career. I also am deeply grateful that she offered news lab students the opportunity to email her if we had any further questions or needed advice.
Annalisa Giust
Rebecca Smith's visit to News Lab was by far the most enthusiastic presentation of someone who has succeeded in journalism. It was exciting to see an alum who persisted with journalism and went back to get her Masters in order to further her career. She was definitely unique in the respect that she asked each one of us our plans for future careers. It was refreshing to have a professional care about what we wanted to do rather than present his/her career. She was very open to networking and she will be someone who I will be contacting later for future advise.
Genea Paras
Rebecca Smith was awesome! She was extremely inspirational and down to earth. She was engaging and had a great sense of humor. The lunches with alumni are a great way to gain insight about life after college, and it is always helpful to learn about the ups and downs they went through to get to where they are. Rebecca is a perfect example of someone who followed her heart, and I'm very grateful to have had the opportunity to listen to her words of wisdom.
Natida Sribhibhadh
Featuring: Steve Pool, class
of '77
Monday, February 12, 2007
Steve Pool is an award winning weathercaster, with 7 Emmy Awards to his credit. He has filled in more than 80 times as guest weathercaster on ABC's Good Morning America. He is on the Executive Committee of the Museum of Flight Foundation trustees and supports KOMO's annual Miracle Makers Broadcast, which raises millions of dollars for Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center. With former NFL player Warren Moon, Steve Pool organizes the Warren Moon and Steve Pool Golf classic - a two day event that raises money for Children's Hospital, specifically for children in the community to have access to medical care, regardless of their financial situation.
That lunch was really helpful and really appreciated. I heard a lot of answers to my biggest questions about the industry and Steve was very nice. I'd really like to intern in the weather department at KOMO and have an application in there. Many Thanks,
Blake Bidleman
Lunch with Steve Pool was a wonderful learning experience for me. I appreciated his honesty about the industry and his laid-back, personable attitude allowed all the students to relate well with him. I will always his remember his advice: "passion and persistence". Thank you Mr. Pool!
KC Cowen
Thank you for the lunch with Steve Pool. I am graduating in the spring, and Mr. Pool had so much insight to offer me. He was very well spoken and had an excellent poise about him. Very down to earth. Thank you again.
Nicole Hill
What a great way to spend to an hour! After lunch with Mr. Pool I felt motivated and encouraged to get out into the industry and gain some experience. I was impressed by his casual conversation and ability to be light hearted but highly informative as well. I appreciated the advice he offered and his honesty about the highs and lows of the broadcasting business. especially liked having the opportunity to ask specific questions and enjoyed hearing amusing stories of Mr. Pool's many experiences. It is so great to have these kinds of opportunities and I am thankful for the great networking advantage!
Kelsey Gray
The lunch with Steve Pool was a great opportunity, not just to meet someone that I've been watching on KOMO 4 since I was a kid, but to hear the story of how he got started in broadcasting. Just hearing his advice and his story made me think more about the path I plan to take in the next few years. He was very interested in the students who attended the lunch, and made sure that all of our questions were answered. It was a great experience, and I hope to participate in another mentor lunch soon! Thanks again,
Lauren Snyder
I had a great time at the Steve Pool Luncheon. He gave valuable advice about careers and life.
Stephanie Smith
Featuring: Suki Dardarian,
class of '80
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Suki Dardarian is a newly appointed managing editor at The Seattle Times, where she oversees the Metro and suburban news operations as well as the Sunday newspaper. She has been with the Times since 2000, and previously was senior editor at The News Tribune in Tacoma. She has received many honors, including the ASNE team deadline writing award and a series that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Before becoming an editor, Dardarian was a reporter for The Herald (Everett), The News Tribune and The Seattle Times. She is a graduate of the University of Washington, where she was editor of The Daily. Dardarian is a past president of Associated Press Managing Editors and has chaired that group's diversity, journalism studies and conference program committees; she also sits on the board of the APME Foundation.
The mentorship lunch with Suki Dardarian did much more for me than I expected. In that brief hour we spent conversing, I realized that journalists are human and newspapers want to hire the most interesting humans they can. The term "good career" became less an educational goal and more an inevitable result of someone who does their best, engages life and keeps both fingers crossed. Thanks,
Celeste Flint
Speaking with Suki Dardarian was fantastic. She not only eased my concerns about applying for jobs after college, but also provided informative commentary on journalistic issues and her experiences. She made it apparent that she is not only a driven and accomplished journalist, but also a warm and sincere person. Meeting her helped me to keep in mind that a person is more than his or her career and must strive for success in all aspects of life. Thank you,
Meghan Peters
I really enjoyed the lunch with Ms. Dardarian. This was my first mentor lunch, and I would strongly encourage students to take advantage of this great opportunity. Ms. Dardarian was very approachable and offered some great advice based on her own personal experience as well as her knowledge of the changing industry. It felt like a conversation, and was very comfortable. Great experience.
Mia Steere
Featuring: Aileen Carrell,
class of '90
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Aileen Carrell began working for Starbucks Coffee Company as a Retail Store Manager in Fall of 1990 and she has been with the company ever since. After spending 5 years managing various retail locations in Seattle and Federal Way, she was hired as a Coffee Specialist in the coffee procurement division. Coffee Specialists evolved into Coffee Education Specialists and she became the first Coffee Education Manager for Starbucks, developing the strategy and growing the members of a global team of Coffee Education specialists. In Spring of 1994, she took on another new role for the company as Green Coffee Sustainability Manager. This role collaborates with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) division to strategize and implement sustainable best practices in the production and procurement of green (unroasted) coffee. The Sustainability team provides subject matter expertise to educate and message Starbucks coffee sustainability platforms within and outside of the company.
Carrell also makes time to nurture her talent career by acting in local commercials and corporate videos or providing voice-over work for various projects.
It was great meeting Aileen and being able to talk with a graduate of the UW communication department. I would encourage every UW student to take part in the mentor lunch series as the experience allows students the opportunity to see the career paths that our alumni have taken, and to envision themselves in a similar situation. Thank you Aileen.
Matthew Yearsley
The lunch with Aileen Carrell was a wonderful experience. Not only did talking with Aileen give me valuable insight into planning the rest of my academic career, but she gave valuable advice on starting a career after college as well. It was a fun and very informative way to spend a lunch break, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Thank you again for including me, I had a wonderful time.
Sara Wilson
In general, the luncheon program is a great way to meet professionals that hold the job that students one day hope to have. More specifically, Aileen was extremely knowledgeable and very open to everyone's questions; even the more personal ones. Overall, my experience was extremely positive, giving me an insight into what the professional world is like.
Aaron Graham
The mentor lunch with Aileen Carrell provided me with a wonderful and inspiring vision of what success can be. Carrell's charisma and ability to tell great stories about her work at Starbucks Coffee Company allowed students a chance to see just how far their degrees can take them. I believe it also allowed students a chance to voice their insights and perceptions regarding the local coffee company - something that will likely empower both parties in the future. Many thanks to the Communication Department for providing students with this opportunity.
Maureen Trantham
Lunch today with Aileen was very inspiring. Its great to sit down with alumni and hear about their experiences from UW to their present career. It gives me guidance and hope of one day getting to where they are. Coma Te I just wanted to say another big thank you for putting on the mentor lunch with Aileen Carrell from Starbucks! I had a wonderful time, and am very grateful for the opportunity. I think it's a fantastic program, and hope to participate again in the future!
Jenna Boulé
Featuring: Jerry Pugnetti,
'94
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Jerry Pugnetti serves as chief policy advisor for Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag, who is serving his fourth term as a statewide elected official. In his present role, he works directly with Sonntag in developing and executing policy initiatives advanced by the office, whether its efforts to strengthen open government laws, citizen engagement efforts or greater audit authority. In a broader sense, he conceives of strategies and messages in how and what to communicate, whether it is to citizens, the Legislature or interest groups. He has been with Brian since 1993, and most of that time was as deputy state auditor for policy and communications, overseeing the communications function for the office, among other things. He left the office in 2001 and moved to Jacksonville, FL. He was a visiting assistant professor at the University of North Florida for two years in the Department of Communications and Visual Arts and also spent a year managing the communications functions for the Duval County Health Department in Jacksonville before rejoining Brian and the office in mid-2004. He now divides his time between Olympia and his home in Jacksonville. He spent 18 years as a reporter and editor at The News Tribune, most of it in politics and had a several-year stint at the state Department of Revenue as public affairs manager and working on then-Governor Booth Gardner's tax reform effort of 1988 and 89.
I enjoyed the experience and I got to learn more of the finer details of the field and also given feedback and tips on how to achieve my long and short term goals in my career. I highly recommend this to all seniors who are wanting to take the next step in the career search as you will get to know your field and what its all about.
Jonathan Awad
First of all, thank you. I think it is great that you and the alumni put the effort into having these luncheons.
I have had my fair share of anxieties about finding a job once I graduate but Jerry Pugnetti made me feel at ease and confident about my future and what I have to offer as a young, motivated graduate. He offered helpful tips about becoming involved in the PR industry and helped each one of us identify the strengths we already have to offer.
Kira Harrison
Featuring: Kathleen Ann Gano
(class of '80) and Steven M. Gano
Tuesday November 7, 2006
The Ganos are Professional lobbyists in Olympia, WA. Kathleen Gano has twelve years experience working with her husband in the lobbying business. She works with clients, legislators, support staff and agency personnel to maximize lobbying efficiency. She also has fourteen years experience in sales and sales management in the retail consumer products industry. She has worked for Weyerhaeuser Company, Coca-Cola USA and Proctor and Gamble Distributing, to name a few.
Steven Gano has twenty-five years experience in all phases of governmental affairs ranging from a staff position in a Governor's office to a contract governmental affairs lobbyist for business corporations. His current client list includes Wells Fargo Bank- Banking, Wal-Mart- Retailer, Shell Oil Company, Cingular, Suncadia and Kraft, among others.
The alumni luncheon with the Ganos gave me a rare opportunity to get a glimpse of what lobbying as a career entails. I was impressed with not only their professional success but the level of pride they had regarding their profession. While I am yet unsure of my future career, I hope to find the same passion that Ganos have shown during our meeting.
Emily Bae (Political Science)
Thanks for the opportunity. In my last quarter with UW Communications I have been recounting the most meaningful moments and conversations I have had, and this Communications Alumni luncheon will certainly be on the list. Kathleen and Steve Gano gave me an insight and guidance into the vast fields possible with the experiences I've earned at the UW.
Thanks again, James Fraser
Featuring: Brien Lautman,
class of '81
Monday, November 13, 2006
Brien Lautman is Senior Director of Communications for Casey Family Programs. His career has spanned the fields of both journalism and marketing communications over the last 26 years.
He worked for six years as a reporter and editor for community newspapers in South Seattle and Idaho before moving into the marketing communications field permanently, beginning in 1985.
Before joining Casey in July 2005, Brien was vice president of corporate relations for the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle, a $50 billion-asset wholesale bank serving financial institutions in the western U.S. and Guam and the Pacific Islands.
He is also a board member of AIDS Housing of Washington, and a past board member and president of the Eastside Sexual Assault Center for Children (now called the Children's Resource Center).
Over the last 20 years, he has held senior management positions in health care (hospitals and insurance), advertising/PR consulting, publicly-traded ecommerce companies, banking and non-profit organizations.
The Lunch with Brien Lautman was truly an eye opening experience. It helped us see the many different directions we are able to take in PR and shows us how important the connections between undergraduates and alumni are. These Lunch sessions are truly wonderful and helps us meet those who were once sitting where we were and helps us see where we can go.
Coma Te
Mr. Lautman gave me great advice on what to expect during future interviews. It was a pleasure to meet him and listen to his experiences in the marketing communications industry. Plus the food was delicious.
Jonny Weinstein
Spending time with Brien Lautman offered an invaluable glimpse into the real world of communications and public relations. His advice and suggestions in regards to strategic positioning in the job market were incredibly helpful and allowed students an inside peek into things to come. Additionally, his emphasis on "selling yourself" in an organic, yet competitive, manner was very beneficial to individuals approaching positions and interviews. Thank you for facilitating this eye-opening opportunity.
Maureen Trantham
I had a blast at the lunch and I learned a lot from Brien Lautman. He provided us with helpful information not only for a career with public relations, but how to prepare for interviews, and how to gain experience. This was a great experience that I feel everyone should take part in. I am grateful that the Communication Department has set up this program. Thank you so much for this opportunity!
Whitney Hall
Featuring: Dianna
Brealey, class of '96
November 13, 2006
Dianna Brealey has worked in PR and marketing since leaving the UW. Before moving back to Seattle, she spent eight years in Palm Springs working for the Marriott in various PR jobs. She ended her time with the Marriott as Sales Manager for Desert Springs JW Marriott Resort & Spa and Marriott's Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa. During her college years, Dianna interned at Convention Services Northwest, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research/Guilds & Special Events and KYCW, Young Country 96.5.
Opportunities like this have allowed me to research what I would like to do in the future. There are so many things we can do with our communication degree so to find out and hear first hand from someone about what they do and how they got there really helps in pointing me in a direction I might be interested in.
Kristen Leetz
Meeting with Diana Brealey was a delightful experience. She provided a lot of background into how she began in the event planning industry. She also was more than willing to give us tips on what skills, including classes and work experience, may help us get started in the field. The lunch was a great time to reflect on what I have learned and what I have to look forward to.
Celeste Steggall
I very much appreciated the mentor lunch with Dianna Brealey. Her insight and personal stories about her internships and occupations were exciting and great to hear. She was able to explain as well as give great advice about applying for event planning internships and were to begin. It was a pleasure to meet her and listen to her advice not only about my internship conference but also about choosing a career after college.
Ariana Dawson
Featuring: Sara Jean Green
November 8, 2006
Ms. Green is the police reporter for The Seattle Times. A native of Canada, she's worked for The Seattle Times for about seven years. Before moving to Seattle, she worked for Canadian newspapers. She's a graduate of McGill University in Montreal.
The lunch with Sara Jean Green not only gave me useful tips on how to get started in a journalism career, but also got me very excited about the possibility of working in that field. Her casual and captivating personality made the lunch more comfortable and fun, and from it I can take away not only a great experience but also ideas for my future.
Thanks so much, Leah Gohring
The lunch with Ms. Green was very exciting because she had some great stories to tell about her experiences as a journalist. From the time she started as a 14 year old writer to what she writes at The Seattle Times today, the impression she gave me was that she was very passionate about what she writes, and when you feel like that about something you'll get the most out of what you do and what you accomplish. She had a lot of wise words and made journalism so much more intriguing than I already feel it is.
Allison Espiritu
Featuring: Eddie
Pasatiempo, class of '77
October 24, 2006
Prior to joining Korn/Ferry, Eddie Pasatiempo held executive-level sales, marketing, and operations positions at companies around the Puget Sound region and throughout the Pacific Rim. He most recently served as Pacific Northwest Territory President for EDS and has held executive positions with Versatile Mobile Systems (VMS), Mercata, Advanced Gravis and Mosaix. Edward also spent more than 15 years with IBM in various worldwide sales and marketing executive management roles. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President of Global Sales and International Field Operations for Captaris, Inc., where he was recognized as VAR Magazine's top 75 Channel executives in North America.
He is a Senior Client Partner in the Seattle office of Korn/Ferry International, focusing on senior and board level search assignments as a member of the firm's Global technology practice.
Korn/Ferry International is the world's largest executive recruitment firm, with 70 offices in more than 35 countries. The company's some 400 consultants help prominent public and private companies, as well as government and not-for-profit organizations, find qualified job applicants for openings in a variety of executive level positions (including CEOs, CFOs, and other senior-level jobs).
Edward is a graduate of the University of Washington with a bachelor's degree in Communications and he completed the Executive Management Program at Harvard.
He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the WSA (Washington Software Association), the World Trade Center of Seattle Board of Governors, the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce Advisory Board of Directors, the University of Washington Alumni Association Advisory Board, and the Seattle University Albers School of Business Advisory Board. He is a member of Seattle Rotary #4, an Advisory Board Member of the University of Washington Business School Center for Technology Entrepreneurship and a Mentor for the University's MBA program. He is on the Board of Governors for the Washington Athletic Club and is an advisory board member for the University of Washington's Women's Basketball and Men's Baseball programs.
The mentor lunch with Eddie Pasatiempo was a very valuable opportunity. I really enjoyed listening to him talk about his experiences as an executive and also his advice about the "sphere of opportunity" that is available to us as college graduates.
Thanks, Desiree Wilson
I am so grateful to Mr. Pasatiempo for taking the time to visit with us. It was great to get advice from someone who has been so successful. Mr. Pasatiempo was a student just like us at one point. It was great to see that someone can come from a background like other Communication students and become so successful. He was very honest and gave us some great advice that we could apply to any carrier we may follow one day. I really enjoyed myself and would recommend taking the opportunities the Department of Communication offers to meet people like Mr. Pasatiempo who know what they are talking about and will give you straight forward, honest advice.
Thank you, Chanel Merritt
Featuring: Beth Clark,
class of '80
October 18, 2006
Ms. Clark is a graduate of the Department of Communication ('80) and the UW School of Law ('84). Her practice emphasizes real estate development, land use and environmental law. Her particular expertise is in representing public pension funds and institutional investors in all aspects of real estate development and investors. She has significant experience in real estate acquisitions, transfers, leasing and financing, as well as in obtaining land use and environmental permits and approvals for commercial and residential developments before state and local administrative and municipal agencies and officers.
Named "Super Lawyer" 2003-2005 by Washington Law and Politics, Ms. Clark is a member of the American Bar Association, Washington State Bar Association and the King County Bar Association. She is on the board of directors for Washington Women Lawyers, a member of the Northwest Women's Law Center and Commercial Real Estate Women and an adjunct professor for Seattle University School of Law.
As a law school applicant, it was great to speak with an alumna who went on to law school and hear about her experiences. Meeting with Beth Clark provided me with the perspective that law firms have when looking at law school graduates, which gave me a realistic view of what to expect and how I can make myself more marketable to future employers.
Alex Oh
The lunch with Beth Clark was great. I learned a lot about what law firms are looking for in new associates and some advice at how I can become one of those candidates. I also learned that my post-graduation plans are practical and will help me later in life. It was a very good experience and I would recommend it to my friends.
Anthony Ching
I thought the luncheon with Beth Clark was a very good opportunity to get some feedback on real-life questions dealing with post-college careers. It was nice to have a personal, laid-back setting where our questions were answered one-on-one, and where Ms. Clark was able to kind of tune into our own interests to make specialized suggestions. I would definitely recommend this to interested students.
Jackie Jensen
Lunch with Ms. Clark was very interesting and informative. She shared valuable advice about working as a lawyer and what employers are looking for when they are hiring. Ms. Clark also gave us tips about ways to make the most of our educations. The insight I gained during lunch with Ms. Clark gave me a new perspective what I would like to do with my education. Thank you to Ms. Clark and the department for making this opportunity possible.
Marian Proctor
Featuring: Elaine Ko, class of '75
October 10, 2006
Elaine Ko is the executive director of Inter*Im Community Development Association (ICDA), a nonprofit based in Seattle's International District devoted to promoting, advocating for and revitalizing the I.D. and other Asian Pacific communities in the Puget Sound region.
Prior to this role, Ko had been ICDA's operations director/fund developer since 2002. She has also been regional manager and vice president for Primerica, director of the City of Seattle's Office for Women's Rights and founding director of the International District Housing Alliance in the late 1970s and early '80s. She was first hired by the agency, also known as Inter*Im, in 1975.
The lunch with Elaine was great. She had great advice about finding a mentor and volunteering at organizations to see how they run. I have already started to implement some of her suggestions into my own career plan.
Caryn Lauren McDonnell
I thoroughly enjoyed the mentor lunch with Ms. Ko. Her professional narrative conveyed a commitment to civic improvement. Ms. Ko is serving as the director of Inter*Im Community Development Association, an organization that focuses on maintaining the vitality of the International District. I learned during our luncheon -- that taking risks is needed for personal and professional growth. Ms. Ko shared with us the importance of placing ourselves in "brand new situations." She explained that when you are in a new situation, mistakes will be made, but it's important to press forward and continue to "show up." Her advice contributed to my clarity of thinking that afternoon, which I will mentally file and remember forever.
In addition, I would like to extend my appreciation for the opportunity to be able to participate in the mentor luncheons sponsored by the Communication Department. Moreover, Dr. Baldasty's enthusiastic support has been both inspiring and stimulating to me.
Rene' Bogan
I had such a good time at the mentor lunch hosted by the Communication department. It was so great to have someone answer my questions about interviewing and entering the job market who has actually been through it. I sincerely thank you for your time!
Ruthie Schneller
This luncheon was one of the most valuable information sessions I have been to. There were only three other students in attendance, which created a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere in which we could almost talk one on one with her. Ms. Ko gave me some of the best advice that I have received since attending UW, and I appreciated her outlook on things. Overall, a great experience!
Sarah Adler
Featuring: Kristin Aitchison,
class of '01
October, 4, 2006
Kristin Aitchison graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications and Political Science in 2001. While a sophomore, she interned at local radio station Kiss 106.1 for the promotions department, eventually working her way from handing out prizes at events and answering phones to full-time traffic reporter on the afternoon show by the time she was a junior.
(Fun fact: Another DJ at the station already went by "Kristin", so she was forced to change her on-air name. Her bosses called her Kaci temporarily as a thinly-veiled dig at the boss of a rival station, and it stuck!)
After graduation, she added weekend on-air shifts and club-hosting gigs, and in addition to co-hosting and reporting traffic in the afternoons, became the Public Affairs director for the station, interviewing local charities for a weekly program called "Kiss Talk." From there, she left afternoons for her own show in the overnight slot, spending a year on the air from 1am to 5am! She also began filling in for the news person at another morning show in the building, and when she left a year later, Kaci was hired as the News Director and new show member of The Bob Rivers Show.
In addition to radio, Kaci is also involved in comedy as a cast member of Jet City Improv and the sketch comedy group Train of Thought, and coaches with Team in Training, a local marathon-training group that raises money for leukemia.
I felt it was a very interesting experience. She was able to answer some questions that I had pondered about the industry. It was very relaxed and casual. It was not uncomfortable or stiff, which I was fearing! I had a great time and would love to do lunch again with another alumni.
Amy Heather
I thought it was a great opportunity to hear from someone who was once one of us and is now out there professionally. She was really nice and sharing her experiences with us is highly appreciated. The atmosphere was great in general. Thank you,
Gerardo Fernandez
The lunch we had with Kaci was very informational. I learned a lot from her and she gave us so many good ideas that we could use in preparing ourselves in the corporate world. She had also emphasized the importance of having passion in whatever we choose to do and if at all possible we should do something that we really are passionate about because if we are then there is no way that we will not be successful in it.
Special thanks to the department in having this kind of opportunity. It's always a nice experience to have a chat with someone who was once in our situation and to see and hear about how far they have gone ever since they graduated from school serves as an inspiration to those other students who someday wants to be like them.
Kristene Sarmiento
I really enjoyed the mentor lunch. It was great to talk with Kaci because I found her advice helpful and her experiences interesting. I would love to participate in a mentor lunch again. It was such a valuable experience.
Lucy James
Alumni and Development Manager
206-543-2717
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