Video ID: 552
Interviewee: Adrienne Richards
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My name is Adrienne Richards and I’m the Public Relations Manager for the
National Turkey Federation. The National Turkey Federation is the national
advocate for all segments of the turkey industry. So we represent those turkey
brands that you might be familiar with in the grocery store, as well as state
poultry associations. On a daily basis, I oversee our consumer and food service
public relations; so what that means is on our social media – I’m on our
Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube pages, and I ensure that turkey is part of
those conversations, really getting people to include turkey in their diet. As
well as writing press releases, trade press articles for publications such as What
Poultry or Earnerberry, that really promotes and protects the turkey industry.
One of the first things I do when I get to the office is grab a cup of coffee, and
then I get on Social Media. I’m seeing what people are saying about turkey,
any new turkey recipes that they’re tweeting or posting on Facebook. When I
started here, it was one of the first things I did, because I realized that these
conversations were happening on Facebook and Twitter, and it was really
important that the Nation Turkey Federation becomes part of that conversation
to ensure turkey is included. Then sorting through email, press releases that
might need to get written, or trade press articles. I’m usually in here by 8:00 in
the morning and I usually leave by 5. Now if there’s a project or we have a
conference coming, of course those hours are extended. If the cable guy comes,
I have the luxury of working from home, or if I have a flight that afternoon, I
can work from home and then catch my flight. With my job at the Turkey
Federation, I am able to travel. I’ve gone everywhere from San Diego to New
Orleans, and most recently I was in Des Moines, Iowa.
What I love most about my career are my members. The National Turkey
Federation – our membership is really what makes my job great. Being able to
interact with our members and understand why it is I do what I do here - for
them in Washington DC. I would say the other thing I love about my job is
being able to educate consumers of the benefits of including turkey in their diet.
One of the most difficult challenges I face as in this career are advocates.
Those people who want to ultimately end animal agriculture. I’m proud to be
able to educate Americans and have them realize the true value of including
animal protein in the diet.
To prepare for this career, you can learn any industry, but the two most
important skills that I say I use on a daily basis would be public speaking and
writing. Majoring in communication studies really gave me the skills that I
needed to succeed in this career. One of the classes that was beneficial for me
were my public relations classes; we wrote press releases, we were able to
publish press releases for companies, and than I was able to include that it my
portfolio when I was applying for jobs out of college. My advice for getting
into the public relations field would be to get an internship. I think when you
go into that interview, you’re able to show them press releases that you’ve
written or brochures that you’ve designed, is going to set you ahead of any
other candidate. Networking and meeting people is important; I still keep in
contact with professors from Wilkes University and previous internship
supervisors, and it’s great top be able to use them as references. My best piece
of advice for being successful would be to have confidence and to trust in
yourself that you’re the best candidate possible for that position.
I received a communications degree from Wilkes University, and I had areas of
interest in Journalism and Public Relations. I started at the Turkey
Federation right out of college; prior to that I interned here at Washington DC at
ABC News.
My final advice would be to get an internship… and know that first job right
out of college is going to be hard, but the more real world experience you can
show, the confidence in yourself is very important. Don’t get discouraged; I
had a professor from Wilkes tell me when I was in the job hunt – it’s like going
to a high school dance and not getting asked to dance – it does get discouraging,
but don’t get down. If you’re right out of college and you don’t have an
internship, don’t think that you need to get a job – maybe you need to get an
internship first. It goes back to networking and using your connections.
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