“Pro Bono”...it’s a funny sounding phrase that does get used now and again in the professional world. But what exactly does it mean? And what’s so “pro” about it? We define and discuss the nuances of pro bono work and the benefits it can have for client, agency and the community in this episode of Shooting the Shift, featuring Eddie Bell of the Springfield, Ohio Rotary Club, the host of an annual gourmet food truck competition that has become Springfield’s “Must Taste Event of the Summer.”

Episode Links:

• Learn more about Springfield Rotary Club
• Lean more about the Springfield Rotary Gourmet Food Truck Competition
• Blog: The Pros of Pro Bono

Rapid changes in communication technology have drastically changed the way we all work, especially those of us who work in communication. In a world where the next big things emerge faster than courses can be prepared to teach them, how are colleges working to equip the next generation of communication professionals? In this episode of Shooting the Shift, Melanie Wilt connects with a communications professor to learn how academia keeps pace with the trends reshaping the industry, and what has to be done to ensure students have the proper hard skills and soft skills needed to succeed in this ever-changing field.

Episode Links:

• Learn more about Mary Sterenberg
• Get tips for busy moms of tweens and teens at SALTeffect.com
• Preparing the Next Generation of Communication Professionals

A web management specialist, a preacher and a parks and recreation director all walk into a bar… It’s not really a joke, but there’s plenty of fun when they all get together! We’re reuniting with three of our past employees to learn what they’re up to, how Shift•ology impacted their careers, and to reminisce about the old days. That’s all ahead in this episode of Shooting the Shift.

Episode Links

• Where's Brad Boyer now?
• Where's Tyler Hall now?
• Where's Sara McKinniss now?

With Christmas spirit in the air, now’s a good time to make sure your gifts and greetings are grammatically on-point; that your communication efforts don’t fall asleep while you’re away; and hear how Christmas tree farmers spread Christmas cheer throughout the year. That’s all on this holiday episode of “Shooting the Shift.”

Guests:

• Shift•ology Account Manager Emily Bennett
• Shift•ology Agriculture Account Manager Cassie Jo Arend
• Ohio Christmas tree farmer Jeff Reese

Episode Links:

• Naughty & Nice Ways to Communicate around the Holidays
• Preparing for Seen & Unseen Communication During Time Off
• Looking for assistance in building a crisis communication plan or general communication strategy? Contact us!
• Learn more about Jeff's family farm at KaleidoscopeFarms.com or the farm's Facebook page.

What goes through the brains of those who host over 40,000 students on a visit to a dairy farm at one time? For our guests today, it appears to be nothing more than a casual one-on-one stroll through the parlor, but there’s a lot happening behind the scenes.

We're going to learn how (and why) a very small team from Syracuse, NY has come to entertain and engage a very large live virtual audience from across the country, and what they do to keep it fresh and relevant on today's episode of "Shooting the Shift”.

Guests

• Emma Andrew-Swarthout, Director of Dairy Industry Image, American Dairy Association North East
• Kelsey O'Shea, Industry Relations Specialist, American Dairy Association North East

Episode Links

• Learn more about ADANE's virtual trips
• Discover dairy recipes and more at SavorRecipes.com
• Explore FREE, LIVE and ENGAGING Virtual Farm Trips
• A chat with a Dynamic Dairy Duo on Virtual Engagement

What the heck is a Virtual Farm Trip? Whether you call them virtual farm tours, virtual field trips or something else…Why would you want to host one? And what needs to be considered when planning to do so?

We’re Shooting the Shift with Digital Engagement Manager Alex Miller to break down the basics of Virtual Farm Trips on today’s episode of “Shooting the Shift”.

Episode Links

• VirtualFarmTrips.com
• Shift-ology.com
• 6 Tips for Highly-Engaging Virtual Farm Trips

What happens when a farm girl with a lifelong passion for biology, science and communication decides to step out of the comfort of being employed by others to start her own agency, during an economic recession nonetheless? 

We’re Shooting the Shift with the boss of Shift•ology Communication, Melanie Wilt, to learn the story behind her business; the unique philosophy that guides the company’s work, and what it’s taken for her to make it work for 15 years and beyond. That’s all ahead in today’s episode of Shooting the Shift.

Episode Links

• Shift-ology.com 
• Defining Public Relations & Marketing through a Happy Meal