1.Name (First and Last)
Gina Chinino
2.Twitter
@GeenChaneen
3.LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=92920003&goback=%2Enmp_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1&trk=spm_pic
Employment Info
4.Employer
The Executives' Club of Chicago
5.Title/Occupation
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Academic Info
6.Graduation Year (list as "Month Year")
May 2012
7.Major
Broadcast Journalism
8.Minor and/or Certificates
Other Stuff
9.Hometown
Mokena, IL
10.Hobbies
Writing
Career Information & Advice
Please answer each of the following questions with as much detail as possible while keeping your answers succinct (aim for 2 - 4 sentences per question).
11.What are your job responsibilities/duties?
I am responsible for the branding, development and implementation of the marketing and communication processes that enable The Executives' Club of Chicago to be visible and branded to the business community through advertising, marketing, public relations, media relations, social media management and e-media development.
12.What does a typical day look like?
Every day starts with coffee, of course. Throughout each day I work with my team on marketing and communication strategies to enhance the branding of The Club as well as increase membership and program ticket sales.
13.What do you most enjoy about your job?
The Club is more than 100 years old, so I enjoy being at such an established and well-known organization. It’s very impressive that we have had notable past speakers such as Amelia Earhart, John F. Kennedy, Bill Gates, Condoleezza Rice and many more at our breakfasts and luncheons.
Although The Club has been around for many years, I am still encouraged to channel all my creative abilities - many of which I learned while being a student in The College of Media. My favorite part of being the Marketing and Communications Coordinator at The EC is that I am able to use my writing skills, public speaking capabilities and design talents in order to make our brand come alive throughout the Chicago business community.
14.What is the most difficult aspect of the job?
I honestly have found my true passion by working at The Club. I enjoy all the responsibilities that this career entails.
15.What on-campus activities were you involved with? Where did you gain relevant experience?
I was the Public Relations Vice President of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. Being on the executive board of Gamma Phi Beta provided leadership and governance experience and trained me to develop professionally. I also wrote for The Odyssey, worked as a Football Student Assistant and I was the Alumni Relations Chair of The Society of Professional Journalists.
16.How did your experience at ILLINOIS and in the College of Media prepare you for your professional life? For this specific position?
Majoring in Broadcast Journalism made me a confident public speaker. I remember in John Paul’s class my senior year that I was nervous to deliver the weather on our live student broadcast. However, being “forced” to ad-lib on live television, truly taught me that being in the communications field - whether it be writing, speaking, branding - communicating in some kind, was the path for me.
17.What advice do you have for students interested in this field?
Don’t give up. Broadcast journalism is such a niche market, so it can be discouraging while looking for jobs post-college. Know what your strengths are and how you can channel those outside of just the career you thought you were going to have.
18.What is one thing that you know now that you wish you had known when you started in the field? When you graduated from the College?
Network, network, network. Since I now work at Chicago’s premier networking forum, I see firsthand the importance of networking. While an undergraduate, I was a bit intimidated when it came to interacting with established professionals, but in hindsight, these people really do want to help younger generations.
