Meet Molly!

 

Where were you born and raised?

I was born and raised in Timonium, Maryland.

What are you studying in school and where?

I just finished my junior year at the University of Maryland, College Park.  I am in the Robert H. Smith School of Business studying marketing.

If you could be a character on a TV show, who would you be? Why?

I would be Brooke from One Tree Hill.  Brooke is a woman who never takes no for an answer.  She is a go-getter and has always dreamed big.  She started her own fashion company right out of high school, and became a full-blown business in New York City by the time she turned 23.  Along with being determined, she is also light-hearted, spunky and fun. 

If you could live in any other country, where would you live and why?

I would live in Italy!  I recently took an Italian language and culture course, and have since been determined to learn more.  I love the culture, from what I have learned, and the food!  I would love to see all the historic places, and also travel around the country just to see the various lifestyles throughout.  I would want to spend a significant amount of time in Milan.

What three things make you the happiest?

The beach, my friends and a good cup of coffee.

Any guilty pleasures?

Romantic comedies…  I own way too many of them!

Who is on your iPod right now?

I like a variety of different music.  Now that summer is here, I like to listen to more country music.  Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, and Keith Urban are some of my favorites.  Beyond that, I love Maroon 5, Dave Matthews Band and Jack Johnson.

What company or individual do you admire most, and why?

I admire Kelly Cutrone and her business People’s Revolution.  She works in a hard industry and always manages to get the job done.  Her fashion Public Relations firm is one of the best around, and she continues to make the business grow.  You may have seen her on ‘The Hills,’ where she is definitely one tough cookie!  However, she has accomplished so much in the industry, and is a great businesswoman and mother.  After reading two of her books, I aspire to be as strong as her, and one day I’ll be able to grow my company as she did.

What are the riskiest things you have ever done?

I am not much of a risk taker—so this is kind of a big deal.  I went camping for a music festival in Florida over spring break with a group of friends and I am not much of an outdoorsy person. Needless to say, I have a hard time “roughing it.”  We had limited shower access, no electricity, and loads of fun; I survived camping for five days, barely.  I also swam in a lake that had poisonous snakes in it, which I would have never swam in it had I known!

Clapp Communications Adds Seasoned Media Professional to Growing Agency

Clapp Communications is pleased to announce the addition of Karen Meekins-Benckini as Media Director. Karen will manage all media campaigns for the agency, including University of Maryland University College, Maryland School for the Blind, University of Baltimore, Cohen’s Clothiers and Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She officially joins Clapp Communications after freelancing for several months there, as the firm continues its accelerated growth as a full-service marketing agency.

 

Karen, a Maryland native, brings more than 20 years of advertising, marketing and business development expertise to the company.  She was a Media Supervisor at a local advertising agency where she handled clients such as Strayer University, E-Z Pass Maryland, Maryland Athletic Club and Delaware Eye Institute. She also served as Director of Marketing for two broadcast entities in Baltimore, WBAL-TV and WBFF FOX 45 TV. During the 2012 political season, Karen placed both Issue and Candidate advertising across the country while working with a local political agency.

 

“Karen’s knowledge of the advertising industry will be a valuable asset as our firm continues to grow,” said Barb Clapp, President and CEO of Clapp Communications. “She has developed strong relationships with clients and is a trusted advisor to them on all aspects of their media, marketing, and advertising plans. We are happy to welcome Karen to our team.”

Karen graduated from Loyola University (formerly Loyola College), with a Bachelor’s in English/Mass Communications.

Meet Jamie!

 

Where were you born and raised?

I was born in Baltimore but raised in Millersville, Maryland. When I was 13, my family moved to Annapolis where I now currently reside. I love going downtown or boating out on the Severn River.

What are you studying in school and where?

I just finished my sophomore year at Loyola University Maryland. I am a communications major with a specialization in PR/Advertising.

If you could be a character on a TV show, who would you be? Why?

I would be Emily from ABC’s Revenge, played by Emily VanCamp, because she is strong, determined and independent. She is financially and emotionally independent and is always able to keep focused despite all of the distractions. She has the ability to balance a beautiful appearance and a tough personality.

If you could live for awhile in any other country of the world, where would you live and why?

I would live in Italy, which is actually what I will be doing next semester! For the fall of my junior year, I will be studying abroad in Florence. It is something I have always wanted to do. Italy is like no other country, it has a number of famous cities, artworks and historical monuments. I’m excited to travel all over Europe while I am there!

What three things make you the happiest?

The people I love, a beautiful day and laughing from a good joke.

Any guilty pleasures?

Anything chocolate, and chick flicks.

Who is on your iPod right now?

I love country, especially: Zac Brown Band, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, and more! I also try to keep up with the Top 20 latest hits.

What company or individual do you admire most, and why?

I admire Facebook the most because Mark Zuckerberg was so young when he started the company. He was around my age when he had the idea, which illustrates his genius. Facebook has set the trend for social media sites and sparked a wave of innovation. Although the website started in a college dorm, it took off at speeds no one could have predicted. The hard work and creativity of Mark Zuckerberg and the Facebook team is very admirable in this age of technology.

What is the riskiest thing you have ever done?

The riskiest thing I have ever done is jump off a 25-foot-rock into a lake in South Carolina. I am very afraid of heights and it was difficult for me to find the courage to jump. The adrenaline rush, however, was worth the fear!

Is ‘The Great Gatsby’ Getting Even Greater?

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby is set to premiere as a movie for its sixth time.  The book, originally written in 1925, is said to be one of the best reads of our time. Director Baz Luhrmann hopes to have achieved the grandeur that is The Great Gatsby in his on-screen adaptation, which (as seen in the trailer) pulls out all the stops!

The story line is everything a movie lover could possibly want—action, suspense, glam, and mystery. The movie is expected to be a huge success, complete with a cast of A-list actors—Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan, and Isla Fisher. And not to be forgotten, Jay-Z, the “King of Hip-Hop” and Executive Producer of the film, created the soundtrack of the decade, including his own work and songs by Beyonce, Andre 3000, Q-Tip, will.i.am, Florence & The Machine and more.

The bar for The Great Gatsby has been set sky high and I can’t wait to see this latest take on the classic American tale.

The movie opens on Friday, May 10^th.

 

Derek Chavis, Guest Blogger