All Lights on a Local PR Agency, See.Spark.Go
by Charlotte Madden
Eli Banzon, apprentice at See.Spark.Go
The following interview is with Eli Banzon, an apprentice at See.Spark.Go, a PR agency in Athens, GA. Banzon interned with See.Spark.Go and now works as an apprentice. Banzon graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Public Relations and Political Science and is now working toward his master’s in Integrated Advertising and PR. During his time as an undergrad at UGA, Banzon was also a part of the UGA PRSSA Executive board.
Q: What are some everyday tasks you complete at See.Spark.Go?
A: “There are two paths in apprenticeship. One path is more PR focused with copywriting captions and writing press releases, and the other is social media focused on creating graphics to post and monitoring social media. As apprentices, we also work on putting out a social media strategy each month for our clients.
For interns, there are 3 main areas they work in: research, writing and reporting. In the research section, they monitor the media, find influencers for clients and research podcasts where our clients could gain exposure from. For writing, the interns draft press releases, write blogs and create pitches. Finally, the reporting section is where interns gather metrics. For example, each week, we have weekly performance overview meetings to determine how many views a client has on different platforms, and we put those metrics on a document to communicate our work to the client.”
Q: What has your journey been through See.Spark.Go. ?
A: “Last summer, I started as an intern, and as I continued to work, I received positive feedback from account managers and other staff members. Thus, I got promoted to apprentice. The best way to get promoted is receiving good feedback from those you work with, and thankfully I received that.”
Q: Is there a difference between being an intern and being an apprentice?
A: “Both interns and apprentices fall under the umbrella of “support staff”. While both have similar tasks, apprentices have a larger responsibility. For example, interns might write a pitch or press release, but apprentices will actually send it out. Also as an apprentice, I lead apprentice groups which consist of a group of interns. I go over the week with them and suggest improvements for the client work.”
Banzon and members of the See.Spark.Go team
Q: Do you feel there are a lot of opportunities for PR work in Athens?
A: “When I think of agencies, I only really think of See.Spark.Go. While there is so much work for PR in Athens, in general, there aren’t many agencies that come to mind. See.Spark.Go has been in Athens for years and we have been able to accumulate a lot of local clients. Our company also has offices in Atlanta and Nashville.”
Q: What is your favorite industry you have been assigned to?
A: “I have enjoyed learning about the organic agriculture industry. I have no previous exposure to agriculture, especially organic farming. I have learned that organic farming and foods aren’t just good for someone’s health but for the environment. The positive effect of organic agriculture is really fun to be a part of because you feel like you’re actively helping the environment.”
Q: Do you have any advice for students who are trying to get involved locally in PR?
A: “If you want to get involved in PR in Athens, See.Spark.Go is the way to do it. They are very involved in the Athens community.”
Q: Do you have any last advice for those job and internship searching?
A: “Networking is key. You can be very qualified in terms of classes, grades and involvement, but knowing someone can definitely help you. Getting your food in the door is the best way to start the process of getting into the interview, and then in the interview you can harp on your accomplishments and involvement.”
