VoxVoices
Monday Coffee Meeting - Amanda Jones
Posted on Jan 30, 2012 by Vox Voices | Subscribe to this RSS feed |
It’s Monday again, much to many’s dismay. But to take the edge off, here’s another installment of the Monday Coffee Meeting to introduce another Vox Optima staffer. Today’s exercise in privacy invasion is with social media analyst, Amanda Jones. Broadcaster, beauty queen, sports nut and Facebook wizard, Amanda lives her life going several different directions at once. If she’s not managing social media networks for clients, you can usually find her at a Capitals or Wizards game. But so far without the face-painting or big foam finger. Let’s talk to Vox Optima’s resident Virginia Tech grad and social media genius …
Vox Voices: So what’s the basic bio? Where do you hail from and whatever possessed you to get into public relations? What are your favorite PR skills?
Amanda Jones: Coming from a very small town in Virginia, I didn’t get to study a lot of different industries growing up. So when I headed to college I worked in broadcasting, retail, marketing and public relations. That is where I developed a love for it. I’d have to say my favorite “skill” in PR is the relationship building. It all comes back to that.
Vox Voices: Aside from being a little crazy, what drew you to Vox Optima? The exciting clientele, the exotic travel, the unbelievable pay?
Amanda Jones: Other than being crazy… hmmm. The people. This is such a fun company and the clients are enjoyable to work with as well.
Vox Optima: As one of the resident social media geniuses, why do you think social media has taken off like it has? Have any predictions of what it will look like in the future?
Amanda Jones: Most social media is so user friendly, and it is all so carefree. It allows users to do and be exactly what they want. Appealing to everyone and allowing free, easy, non-discriminatory forms of communication. Who wouldn’t want to use it, and who wouldn’t love it? I can see social media continuing to grow and becoming even more interactive. More face-to-face communication; more detailed aspects of where you are and what you’re doing; and more user control.
Vox Voices: Can you tell us a little about your life experiences and how they made you such a great match for the company and its clients?
Amanda Jones: Like I said, I have worked in a several different industries and with those experiences and my education I am very well rounded (I’d like to think).
Vox Voices: Rumor has it you might have a small fondness for sports. How many sports can claim you as a fan and how involved do you get?
Amanda Jones: I would absolutely say I am a fan of every sport. However, ice hockey, football, baseball and basketball steal the shows for me on most occasions. I’ve worked with more than 12 different sports before, but I am a loyal hockey fan and always will be.
Vox Optima: Since you are such a sports nut, here’s the lightning round of random sports questions. Which is better: Football or soccer? Formula or stock car racing? Baseball or cricket? Romo or Brady? Eli or Rodgers? Danica Patrick or Katherine Legge? Hokies or Cavaliers?
Amanda Jones: Better? I’d say soccer… more of the world cares about soccer. Formula. Baseball. Brady. Eli. Danica. Seriously? Hokies, is that even a question? (In the spirit of full disclosure, Amanda is die-hard Hokie graduate. We’re just pulling her chain).
Vox Voices: Which personal accomplishment do you brag about the most … so far?
Amanda Jones: I don’t really like bragging, but being second runner-up at the Miss Virginia USA pageant both broke my heart and was a huge honor. Being so close to living out a childhood dream was a lot of fun.
Vox Voices: Where do you see yourself five or 10 years down the road? Any personal and/or professional goals you want to share?
Amanda Jones: Ultimate goal is to serve as President of a Super Bowl Planning Committee. I hope I can get there in 10 years.
Vox Voices: Speaking of goals, what do you hope to focus on as a PR professional at Vox Optima?
Amanda Jones: Perfecting my PR skills and continuing to grow. Working with more clients will allow me to experience new challenges and learn.
Vox Voices: Hall of Shame moment — your funniest or most embarrassing moment (at least the one you’re willing to have published)?
Amanda Jones: Although it was a while ago, I think it has to be as a little girl sliding across a wet tarp over a football field, because I fell at a practice for the Pro Bowl, in front of my celebrity crush (at the time) Nick Lachey and 800 other cheerleaders. I’ll never forget it.
Vox Voices: You can’t be focused on work all the time, so what are Amanda’s usual unwinding activities? Hiking? Pro sports games? Murder mystery train rides? Just hanging out watching TV?
Amanda Jones: Other than attending as many Washington Capitals and Wizards games as I can, watching sports on TV and working out!
Vox Voices: What account or project would you like to bring to Vox Optima or work on during your time here and why?
Amanda Jones: Although I don’t have a specific project in mind, I’d love to gain more social media clients and contribute to the company’s growth.
Vox Voices: You’re getting close to finishing your first year with Vox Optima, so what do you think we need to work on to make the company more appealing to current and prospective customers and clients?
Amanda Jones: Prospective customers need to realize, we are diverse and have a lot to offer, we can help clients outside of the Navy as well.
Vox Voices: As a condition of employment, everyone needs a favorite wine. What do you claim as your favorite wine?
Amanda Jones: Merlot. Absolutely.
You can find Amanda’s staff page here and since she’s big in social media, you can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. She’s a really great person, so if you want to go old school with email, she won’t hold it against you … ;-D
Tagged: amanda jones, social media, sports fan, public relations, vox optima, virginia tech, staff
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