A handful of NC students showed their drive to succeed by volunteering at one of the largest automotive expos in Canada.
On Feb. 14, six Public Relations graduate students joined members of Enterprise Canada, a public affairs, public relations and digital agency, at the Canadian International AutoShow to help host the auto show’s media preview day.
PR students Alexandra Rankin, Serena Stewart, Kevin Koudys, Katie MacCabe, Jessica Smith and Pragati Zanwar helped direct over 800 media members through 16 exhibits spread across eight floors of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
(L-R) Alexandra Rankin, Serena Stewart, Enterprise Vice President and NC professor Stephen Murdoch Kevin Koudys, Katie MacCabe, Jessica Smith pose after another successful media preview day at the Canadian International AutoShow.
“There is no better learning experience than hands-on experience, and the Canadian International AutoShow is the perfect show for gaining an understanding of working in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment,” said Kalvin Reid, senior consultant at Enterprise Canada.
Media members, ranging from bloggers and small publications to major outlets such as CHCH, GlobalTV and CTV, had seven to 12 minutes at each exhibit where they saw never-before-seen vehicles in Canada or North America and heard from the CEOs of major companies.
Enterprise has drawn on NC students each year they have worked on the Canadian International AutoShow. This is the third year that NC’s Public Relations students have participated.
“We rely on the students to help move a crowd of media in excess of 800 individuals from one presentation to the next, and they have done so with professionalism, expediency and courtesy,” said Reid.
With more than 1,000 new cars, trucks and SUVs on the show floor and over 30 vehicles making their Canadian debuts this weekend, NC students faced the challenge of keeping each media member on track and on time to the showcased exhibits. The auto show gave students hands-on experience, allowing them interact with media and witness a large-scale event with a schedule timed down to the minute.
“Despite only having six volunteers, Kalvin from Enterprise let us know that we may have set an AutoShow record by helping the media tour stay within just five minutes of their schedule,” said Smith.
So proud of our NC PR students @prgirlalex @serenastewart_ @KevinKoudys @katiemaccabe_ @_jessasmith
@Pragati_Zanwar who volunteered for the @torontoautoshow Media Day with their prof @canadianprguy of @EntCanada . Thanks to @KalReid for giving them this amazing learning opp! pic.twitter.com/jbHR3HbB0o— Niagara College PR (@niagara_pr) February 15, 2019
