Public Relations Management Class Set to Create Strategic Public Relations Plans For Four New Jersey Clients

As part of the public relations capstone course experience, students in the class work with “real” clients, and this semester, those clients are a wonderful reflection of the entrepreneurial diversity and vitality of the state’s economy. One group in the Public Relations Management class will be developing a communication plan for a New Jersey vineyard – yes, we have vineyards in our state – Villa Milagro, a Phillipsburg based enterprise. The vineyard’s goal is to create greater awareness of its vineyard to the residents of the state. A second group in the class has started working with the New Jersey Festival Orchestra, the state’s second largest professional symphony (incidentally, a PR Management student group did work for the state’s largest symphony, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, two years ago). The orchestra’s communication goal is to establish Morris County as its home base. A third group has been tasked with creating a PR plan for fashion designer Katherine Mahony, also a Morris County based business, who would like to develop an identifiable brand image for her clothing line. The fourth client is Paramus based pediatric cardiologist, Doctor Subhashini Subramanian, who recently started her own practice after being associated with Hackensack University Medical Center for the past seven years. “Subs,” as she is known, wants to inform young parents in North Jersey of her practice.

In addition to the New Jersey theme, there is also a decidedly English flavor as well. Katherine Mahony and the New Jersey Festival Orchestra’s conductor and managing director are all from England.

Part of the real world experience the students will receive includes honest feedback from the clients, so, in addition to learning about strategic planning, the students will also learn how to deal with clients professionally, responsibly, and the need for strict adherence to deadlines.