I’m back!
Sorry it has been so long since you’ve heard from me, but MOVE had me busy planning our summer BBQ. Now that it is over, I have some time to recap the big day—or, as I refer to it- D-day.                

Last year, we encouraged neighborhood
The theme of last year’s BBQ was “Encouraging Neighborhood.” It was about getting more involved in the community and encouraging neighboring companies to break away from their busy routine and take time to get to know each other. 

This year, we were #inthemoment
Being a new year, and having some new faces at MOVE, it was my job to refresh the theme—a lofty task! However, it turned out it wasn’t something I had to really think up, it just sort of happened. One Friday morning, we all had our iPhones out and I was giving a Twitter tutorial, no big deal, so everyone could easily tweet from their iPhones whether they were in the office, meeting with a client or on a video shoot and I commented that MOVE is really #inthemoment. Don, MOVE Communications President, liked this saying (although it wasn’t a Facebook official “like”) and we thought it would be an appropriate BBQ theme since we would be promoting and chronicling the BBQ on Facebook and Twitter. That’s why from the planning process to the actual event, we were a lean, mean, tweeting (and status updating) machine.

The BBQ was planned for Thursday, July 14, so that Jamie, MOVE's Creative Design Manager, could make it from North Carolina. We were glad to have Jamie here because it was a team event and we joined forces to make it just as successful as last year. Kim, MOVE Associate Writer and Project Coordinator, was my wingman…er woman, helping me with everything from invitations to keeping balloons from flying away. Nikki, MOVE's Art Director, helped with the design aspects, and since Don is one of the few males in the office, he coordinated picking up the tables and chairs.  And last but not least, Carol, MOVE CEO, acted as hostess greeting guests.  

#Success

Between 4 and 7 p.m., we had more than 50 people attend, representing more than 20 different companies. We grilled brats and had hot dogs and pulled pork while talking with some local neighborhood companies and other business professionals reaching as far as Grand Rapids. We also got to try a number of potluck items that our guests brought, like seven--layer dip, sausage bread—thanks Sandy at Eiler PR— and the kid’s favorite: Jell-O jigglers! #nom.  Plus, the caramel apple salad was so good it came up during our Monday morning Basecamp meeting—thanks to the Photo Studio Group.                  

Last year’s theme was not all lost as we saw neighbors from last year and got involved with the community by asking guests to donate to Food Gatherers, a local food bank that collects food for the homeless in Washtenaw County.

Thank You

We would like to thank everyone who attended and helped make the BBQ possible. For those of  you who couldn’t make it, we hope you felt like you were "in the moment" with us by visiting our  Twitter and Facebook page.

It’s been eight days since I’ve been in the “real world,” aka MOVE Communications. I’m working here as a summer intern until August. After finishing my junior year at Saint Mary’s College (SMC), I made the trek north toward Ann Arbor. This is my first extended stay in the area; I usually just come by to watch the Notre Dame Fightin’ Irish beat the Wolverines. Go Irish! 

Before I get all business on you, let me share some fun facts about myself, Katelynd Park:

• I am a Mass Communications major with a minor in Spanish, Advertising and PR.
• I have lived in five US states, three countries and speak two languages.
•  I am a Student Ambassador at SMC and I am the President of Friends with Sisters (a school club where students are friends with a sister from the convent that is located on campus).
• I play field hockey on the Notre Dame Club team.
• It has been rumored that Linda, MOVE’s Executive Assistant, and I may be related.

Experiencing Marketing Communications
First I need to thank my last semester Marketing teacher, Robert Williams, who introduced me to SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis because during my first day at MOVE, I worked on a PowerPoint where this was the main focus.

To be honest, I always thought that PowerPoints would end with college, kind of like cursive ended with elementary school. Working at MOVE I’m seeing just how important they are for businesses, especially once MOVE adds in their strategic planning and creative concepts—from cool designs to catchy headlines. No, they didn’t pay me to say this!

It’s still early, but I’ve already had the opportunity to watch an experienced professional like Don Hart, MOVE’s President, interact with clients and develop a business plan that works for them. I’m starting to get familiar with e-mail marketing campaigns and how to apply business to social media—a big topic in my communication classes. And being a college student who is more or less addicted to social media, what could get better than that? #watchout