MavPR adapts to COVID-19

Photo by Sydney Schneider

MavPR adapts client services through COVID-19

by Rebecca Kisicki

Mask-wearing MaverickPR members met on Tuesday afternoons in Arts and Sciences Hall, Room 101, a large lecture hall that allows for proper social distancing. This allowed the firm to continue working together to best serve clients.

Students continued to meet their clients through Zoom on Thursdays and worked virtually in break-out rooms or independently.

Founded by Karen Weber in 2007, MaverickPR is one of PRSSA’s nationally affiliated chapter firms. MaverickPR has earned national recognition as well, earning PRSSA’s top national chapter award for student firms in 2019 and 2017.

The firm is run as a student business instead of a class, but students can earn credit as an Advanced Communication Practicum or Applied Journalism. “It’s an opportunity where students can gain a variety of experience in creating assets for real clients,” Weber says. “This results in an impressive portfolio and resume that makes the student more marketable to the job force when they graduate.”

Weber says she has much evidence that the agency experience prepares students for the job market from contact with MaverickPR alumni who work in a variety of communication fields.

“MavPR provides a team-oriented, supportive environment because we are surrounded by other like-minded students with the intentions to learn from one another and grow as young professionals,” says Makayla Roumph, firm director.

The clients and tactics for the spring 2021 semester:

Designed brochure, website and social media content for Balanced You, a medical esthetics practice.

Wrote articles for CommUNO alumni magazine.

Created social media content for DGMD Medical, a hair restoration and medical esthetics company.

Designed new branding and website for Laura McIntosh massage therapy.

Produced video to promote FASFA for Metropolitan Omaha Educational Consortium.

Created new branding and website for Moxie Mo, a content creation company that specializes in SEO, social media, ghost writing and corporate events.

Designed series of social media advertisements for Omaha Collegiate Consortium.

Created “Quarantine Cocktail” book for Dr. Patrick Kelsey and successfully pitched a Sunday Living section front-page feature in the Omaha World-Herald.