Student Speak

Spring 2007

|Name: Jillian Garis
Major: Public relations
Class: Graduated in May
Hometown: Spartanburg

You just started working full time for Mustard N' and Relish, a public relations firm, but you were an intern there first. How did you get the internship? Well, first of all, Mustard N' Relish was founded by Jeff Ranta, a professor at the University, and Bo McDonald. Jeff was a professor of mine in public relations classes and my advisor in The Carolina Agency (TCA), which I was firm director of at USC. Having worked with Jeff on campaigns for classes and TCA, he was able to see my strengths and thought I would make a great intern for Mustard N' Relish. I started interning in February, and around April, they asked if I would like to stay with them full-time after graduation. I am very lucky and thankful for the opportunity.  I started working at Mustard N' Relish May 1, a few days before I actually graduated.

How was your intern experience? I loved the internship. It has taught me a lot. Even though it was only three months, I was able to do hands-on work. This is not the kind of agency where interns sit at computers all day and answer the phones. Jeff and Bo let me do things, go to meetings with them, work with them on their radio or TV spots, and comprise campaigns. It was helpful and a great experience. I'm glad I was able to move from my internship to a full-time position because I didn’t have to leave the clients I started with. I can now finish working with them and see the final product. It is an amazing feeling to see what you have accomplished.

How did you become interested in public relations? I was an advertising major for my first two years. After taking a few advertising and design classes, I decided that I wanted to go further, not just designing and creating but executing a plan; so, public relations was the next step. I am so glad I made the switch; public relations is so much fun, and it incorporates so much.

What kinds of services does Mustard N' Relish offer? We're a full-service public relations, advertising, marketing agency. We have a number of clients, including car dealerships, restaurants, and hotels. I'm working with the Foxfire Grill and owner Bill Dukes on a special senior news section in the Irmo News. I write articles and create ads for the paper, and I also highlight Foxfire Grill at senior organizations and senior citizen centers to get more of the senior population interested in Foxfire Grill. We also have a new client in Hilton Head, which is new and very exciting. We do all different sectors of marketing including: newspaper, TV, radio, billboards, direct mail, public relations, whole campaign strategies.

How was your experience at Carolina? Wonderful and amazing. Wonderful teachers. Carolina, in general, is just a great place to learn and grow. I am very thankful to the University for giving me the opportunities for internships. I learned so much from such an amazing faculty. Working with them taught me a lot about who I am and who I want to be.

5/07