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Meet Janea Laudick, KDC’s Resident Bungee Jumping Expert

April 9, 2013 in Uncategorized | No comments

Janea and friends after bungee jumping off a bridge in Costa Rica during a rainstorm

Janea and friends after bungee jumping off a bridge in Costa Rica during a rainstorm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As part of KDC’s recent ‘Getting to Know…’ blog series, I had the pleasure of chatting with Account Coordinator Janea Laudick. I didn’t know much about Janea prior to our chat, and despite the fact “she really, really hates talking about herself” (that’s a direct quote), it was great to learn so many interesting details about this New Mexico native who will celebrate her one-year anniversary with KDC this June. From her affinity for green chiles and peanut butter cup ice cream to bungee jumping adventures in Costa Rica, get to know a little more about Janea below!

  • What has been your most memorable Las Vegas experience thus far?
    • There are SO many already, but I’d have to say Halloween at KDC is the most memorable so far. It was an insane week of decorating and plotting and such a fun experience. We even won the competition and Wayne Newton came to our office. It’s just one of those things I’ll never forget, and I’m sure every year moving forward will be just as memorable.
  • How did you end up in Las Vegas? Did you always want to live here?
    • I moved here for the job at KDC. I didn’t always plan to live in Las Vegas, but it’s turned out to be an amazing place to live. I absolutely love it.
  • What are some things you do to make Las Vegas feel like home?
    • My freezer is stocked with green chile. I’m a New Mexico girl, so it’s a necessity in every meal. I always make sure to steal some from home when I’m there.
  • What’s your favorite part of working in PR?
    • It may sound cliché, but I really love that no two days are the same. I love juggling multiple projects and different clients on a daily basis. It keeps me on my toes and makes every day exciting.
  • Who’s your biggest inspiration?
    • I have a lot of mentors and people in my life who I look up to, from bosses to family members to college professors, but my biggest inspiration is definitely my mom. She is the most genuine and compassionate person I know, and everything I have learned from her has had a major impact on my life personally and professionally.
  • What’s one thing about you that people never believe when they hear it for the first time? 
    • I bungee jumped off a bridge in Costa Rica (see picture!). I guess I don’t seem like much of a daredevil. People also find it shocking that my personal phone is still a Blackberry.
  • What are a few of your favorite hobbies?
    • Reading, crafting and shopping.
  • You have to listen to one song/album, watch one movie and eat one food the rest of your life. What are they?
    • Song: “Breathe” by Michelle Branch. This is one of those songs that I’ve listened to for years and I’m still not sick of it. It’s my favorite to blast in the car with the windows down.
    • Food: EASY. Peanut butter cup ice cream.
    • Movie: Dirty Dancing

 

Interviewed by Matt Guidish.

 

 

 

 

 

Matt Guidish | Account Executive

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Meeting with Mr. Merkle

March 22, 2013 in Kirvin Doak News | No comments

fall 2011-summer 2012 019In our recent efforts to introduce our blog readers to the faces behind Kirvin Doak, I was lucky enough to pull one of my favorites for my assignment, Mr. Jeff Merkle.

Jeff works with our marketing division, and I have teamed up with him on several clients in the past. We were even in a near-death experience on a flight back from a client in Sonoma once where our little plane with propellers skidded across the runway… (Ok that could be a dramatic interpretation but seriously – we bonded.)

In addition, Merkle and I have a common tie in that we both love Notre Dame football. This makes sense considering his parents moved from South Bend, Indiana, to Florida, where he was born, but brought their Fighting Irish pride with them. His favorite ND moment was the 1993 1-vs-2 matchup with Florida State in South Bend. Notre Dame ended up winning that game by a TD, but in bittersweet fashion, lost the very next week in the last game of the year to Boston College. Even though the Irish only had one loss, FSU went on to win the national championship.

“That title’s more tainted than a Barry Bonds urine sample,” said Merkle.

The ’93 game is something no Irish fan will forget. My own father proudly displayed a bumper sticker reading, “Notre Dame: 20; National Champions Florida State: 13” for years to come.

Beyond the Fighting Irish, Jeff has a passion for sports and playing golf. You won’t find him at a roller rink however, as one of his most embarrassing moments as a kid was the first and only time he threw on skates, he fell 10 seconds in, breaking and dislocating his ankle.

“A perfect day on a summer weekend would consist of 18 holes, a large piece of red meat on the grill, watching the Mets sweep a double-header with the Braves to take 1st place in the NL East on their way to the World Series, then capping it off by getting my butt kicked by my 2 year old daughter in a game of Candy Land,” said Merkle.

He has been married to his wife Monica for five years, and they have a two year old daughter, Hannah.

When it comes to the job, he says there is no typical work day at KDC, which is what keeps him on track.

“Every day is different with its own unique challenges, and it really forces you to always be thinking and prepared.“

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The Kirvin Doak Melting Pot Continues to Boil

April 18, 2012 in Kirvin Doak News | No comments

As I gallivant ever closer to my eight month anniversary at Kirvin Doak on April 22, I’m reminded of how far I’ve come since my fateful start date back in August.  I’m carrying larger responsibilities, building up my relationships in and out of the office and I’ve even rearranged my desk and workspace quite a bit from when I started (I love feng shui).  But nothing reminds me more of the strides I’ve made like showing the ropes to a new KDC employee.

That’s right – we’ve got a new addition to our team: Eleni Stylianou (five dollars if you pronounce that right on the first guess).  This is not the first time I’ve helped a new team member get acquainted to the Kirvin Doak life though; back in September we added Wendy Sloan.  But I was just one month old then, still a baby really, and Wendy and I did a majority of our growing up and learning together.  Now fully flourished PR professionals, Wendy and I have the great pleasure of helping out Eleni as she gets used to her life in Las Vegas and on our team at KDC. 

Eleni, you see, is from Maryland (which is practically in the Eastern Hemisphere, as far as I’m concerned).  She comes from a village named Annapolis, where I hear they have an abundance of fresh seafood.  She’s visited Las Vegas before.  As everyone who lives in Las Vegas knows, however, visiting here and living here are two entirely different experiences.  Nonetheless, Eleni has surprised me with how quickly she’s adapted.  She’s learning our day-to-day tasks at an extremely fast (and highly efficient) pace, never sacrificing the quality of her work.  Her eagerness to integrate herself into the Las Vegas community is astonishing.  She’s already ventured to many of the properties on the Strip, engaged in Vegas nightlife, seen a big-name show and will be attending the prestigious Passport to Paradise event hosted by HELP of Southern Nevada in two days – and this is only her first week on the job!   Surely, she will only continue to great things on both personal and professional levels. 

Teaching Eleni about our clients and various everyday tasks is a humbling experience because it reminds me of the steps I’ve taken in such a short period of time.  I’m both gratified to know I’ve accomplished so much and excited to help Eleni out as she grows into her new profession here. 

For those who aren’t following Eleni on Twitter just yet, I highly recommend doing so.  You can follow her @PRLeni.  It’s going to be a blast watching her journey from here!

˜Ryan Marquardt

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My 5 top memories and 4 things that are irreplaceable from Studio 54

January 31, 2012 in Client news | No comments

As Studio 54 comes to its last week of business at MGM Grand, I have become extremely nostalgic for the venue that gave me my start in nightlife PR. As I look back on the nearly three years I spent with the 54 team, I reflect on my five favorite memories and four things that will be irreplaceable by this iconic venue. 

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Thanks for the memories….
5. An obvious favorite has to be my first night working at the club. I was somewhat of a newbie still when I got pulled in to help with the Kirvin Doak nightlife accounts before Studio 54 was officially bestowed upon me as my new “baby”. My big debut took place at 54 Below – the 10 year anniversary – which was also my first red carpet. My inexperience showed as I ended up pinned in a corner, hiding behind Kid Rock’s giant fur vest so to not get in any photos.

4. Holly Madison’s first Holly-ween event was one of my favorite Halloween parties to date. Crazy costumes, a packed crowd, and Holly making a grand entrance from the ceiling on a swinging chair will always be etched in my mind.

3. When you’re on the job, stay alert and always keep your head up was a valuable lesson to learn when Vanilla Ice performed for his birthday. The rapper loves to spray the crowd with water, and as I tried to duck behind a group of tall clubgoers while escorting a photog, I looked up at the exact wrong moment and was decked in the face with a water bottle that must have gotten loose during the shower. Painful yet valuable lesson!

2. Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev’s 21st birthday stands out as not only do I love the series and the full cast attended the party, but this was my last night working on the account before I accepted a new position. I love, love, love this show, and the young cast hadn’t realized just yet how big they were about to make it.

1. Steve Tyler… my dear sweet boyfriend. One of the best memories of my career to date and probably always will be, I will never forget standing in the VIP sky box, watching him take the mic and break into “Walk This Way” before turning, smiling for the camera, kissing me on the cheek and walking out. That’s a story I will tell for the rest of my life.

Why 54 is irreplaceable in my heart…
4. The personal touches throughout the club were immeasurable. From the original photos of celebrities at the New York venue, everyone from Michael Jackson to Farrah Fawcett, up to the original 54 sign, and of course, the Man in the Moon with the cocaine spoon. The spoon, of course, was hidden way up in the rafters where you could only see it if you knew where to look. All of these pieces equaled a piece of pop culture history, a moment in time that made you feel like you were part of something bigger than just your average night out on the town.

3. The first venue to introduce aerialists, I could have watched these performers for hours. My first time to Studio 54 was actually when I was visiting over a college break and I remember being totally mesmerized by the talent in these girls. To this day, it is still one of my favorite parts of any Vegas nightclub.

2. Studio 54 was like my Las Vegas Cheers… It’s where I knew everyone’s name, and they knew me. And I know I wasn’t the only one that felt this way. It had such a different feel if you were a regular, like it was your own personal playground any given night of the weekend.

1. The memories I have at the club are irreplaceable. It has been the spot where I’ve developed some of my best friendships, some great career achievements, and even some memories that were so great I can’t remember them after all. When the doors close for the last time, a part of my life in Las Vegas will close with it. A part that can never be substituted by another.

 

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Flexing For Fitness at Bellagio

December 28, 2011 in Client news | No comments

During my first week at Kirvin Doak I had the opportunity to attend a JUKARI Fit to Flex class, the latest workout created by Reebok and Cirque du Soleil, located at Bellagio. Since it was my first week at a new job, most of my days were filled with confusion and blank stares, but I knew this class was something I could conquer without bewilderment and I was excited about it. 

  
When I arrived at Bellagio, I was given a tour of the spa.  I couldn’t believe my eyes, this was amazing.  It was luxury and relaxation at its finest and I had never seen anything like it.  Once I had settled in, I headed over to the gym where I was greeted by the instructor inside a room that looked like a dance studio.  Once the class started, the instructor introduced us to the JUKARI band, a piece of elastic about five feet in length and developed to improve flexibility, balance and muscle endurance.  We stretched with the band, wrapped it around our bodies, created resistance with it and swung it around in every which way.  I did not look glamorous, but I knew it was working because I could start to feel my heart pumping.  As we continued using the JUKARI band, I could feel myself stretching further and further and by the end of the class I was feeling like a Cirque Du Soleil performer. 

When most people think about Las Vegas activities, health and fitness it not usually something that comes to mind.  I’m now learning that not only are there many fitness opportunities in Vegas, but they are some of the most unique and refined. 
Spa & Salon Bellagio offers the 50-minute class Wednesday – Friday at 9 a.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. Classes are $40 per person and include a day pass for the cardio center, spa vanity, wet areas and lockers. To find out more about JUKARI Fit to Flex at Spa & Salon Bellagio, visit Bellagio.com/spasalon/spa-fitness-center.

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JERSEY BOYS Continually Show Support for the Troops

November 14, 2011 in Uncategorized | No comments

Jersey Boys Cast Performing National Anthem at “Aviation Nation”

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to escort the cast of Jersey Boys to Nellis Air Force Base’s “Aviation Nation,” where they performed the national anthem. It seemed like such an appropriate “finale” of sorts, as the cast has becomevery involved with Nellis Air Force Base over the past few months.

Cast at Nellis Air Force Base in the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Hanger

It all began when Major General Bill Hyatt and his wife Becky attended Jersey Boys andinst antly became huge fans. Following their experience at the show, the Major General invited the cast to a VIP tour of the air force base, including a tour of the renowned U.S. Thunderbirds hanger. The boys were so blown away by his generosity that they in turn invited the Major General and his wife back to the show and presented him with a framed, signed Jersey Boys poster on-stage in front of a full house.

This weekend, eleven cast members performed the national anthem to a crowd of more than 30,000 and then enjoyed the riveting display of talent by the airmen in a mind-blowing air-show. I even witnessed some of the cast members becoming emotional as “Proud to be an American” played in sync with an air display.
When I thanked the cast for coming out early on Sunday morning, after they had performed until Midnight on Saturday, one cast member said, “It’s pretty safe to say that if the Major General invites us to participate in something—I’m there.”

Cast Presenting Major General Bill Hyatt with Framed Photo On-Stage

It really is touching to witness such a unique friendship between the cast of Jersey Boys and the United States Air Force and even more so to see how genuine they are in their commitment to not only the Las Vegas community, but to the community of our armed forces. 

Air Display at Aviation Nation

My experience at Kirvin Doak has allowed me to do some pretty awesome things, but I have to say that these experiences with Nellis Air Force Base are at the top of that list.

 

 

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It’s Boys Nite

October 31, 2011 in Client news | No comments

Each year, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas host their annual Boys Nite Out celebration. I started participating in this event last year and couldn’t wait for it to come around again in 2011. Well, last Wednesday, Oct. 26 was the big day as more than 150 boys were paired with men from throughout the Las Vegas community for a night of entertainment, sports and great memories.

My partner in crime for Boys Nite Out 2011 was Andrew, an 8-year-old who spends his time at the Lied Clubhouse when participating in Boys & Girls Club activities. While slightly shy at first, Andrew came out of his shell as soon as we started playing the various games set up throughout the gym. His favorite game was the soccer challenge where

First prize in the “Wiffle Ball Shot Put”

he even showed me a few tips on properly kicking the ball. It’s always humbling to get your butt kicked by an 8-year-old! In fact, he beat me in quite a few of the events, and together we brought home first prize in the “Wiffle Ball Shot Put.”

A lot of us often read and hear how Las Vegas has no sense of community pride and spirit, but with events such as Boys Nite Out, anyone can see that those detractors are so wrong. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas host an amazing event every year (they also host Girls Nite Out every spring) for hundreds of boys who are in need of positive influences in their lives.

At the end of the night, Andrew left with a new friend, a few goodies and a smile, and that smile is what makes Boys Nite Out such a great event.

Andrew & Matt at Boys Nite Out 2011

P.S. A quick shout out to my fellow Kirvin Doaker, Brad Seidel, who was on the planning committee for Boys Nite Out 2011. Another awesome example of how leaders in the community are stepping up for a great cause.

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My Week in New York City

August 4, 2011 in Client news | No comments

Last week, I had the pleasure of being shipped off to New York City to attend the annual PR conference for my client Tiffany & Co. on behalf of Kirvin Doak. This was my first real visit to NYC (my only other visit was for a one-day job fair in college) and the experience was unbelievable.

One of Central Park's many welcome centers

The conference gave me the opportunity to meet Tiffany & Co. PR representatives from all over the world (from Switzerland to Germany to Japan) and we all got to enjoy some great meals while learning about each other’s cultures. While most of my time during the trip was filled with guest speakers, seminars and meetings with my client (all excellent and thought provoking by the way), I did manage to get out and explore the city for a few hours during my last day there.

From Central Park to what seemed like the never ending vertical reach of the city, I was in hardcore tourist mode while admiring the small section of the city I had the opportunity to explore. I have always been amazed by the creativity and intelligence it takes to design amazing architecture, and it seemed like every building I saw was an architectural marvel.
 

Well worth the wait.

Prior to my arrival in the city, I had made it a personal goal to find a delicious, authentic New York City pizza shop. Nothing goes better with the world’s premier jewelry than greasy slices of authentic New York pie! Am I right? Most of the people in the office give me a hard time for constantly trying to eat healthy, but no self respecting pizza lover can go to NYC without embarking on a quest for great pizza. So, for my last meal before departing the city, I found a small pizza shop near the south end of Central Park and enjoyed two amazing slices of authentic New York-style pizza. It was greasy, delicious heaven.

 

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JABBAWOCKEEZ Remind Us Why They Were They Were the Original America’s Best Dance Crew Champs!

June 7, 2011 in Client news | No comments

I was recently offered the opportunity to work on the public relations efforts for world-renowned dance crew and Monte Carlo headliner, Jabbawockeez.  Being a huge fan of the show and having great respect for their craft coming from a dance background myself, I jumped at the opportunity.  One of my very first projects was to go to Los Angeles with them last Thursday to facilitate interview requests while filming the season six finale of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew. I’ve had some great “moments” happen to me while working here the last five years, but this experience might just be my favorite 24 hours at Kirvin Doak. 

As I arrived at the Warner Brothers lot, on one of those perfect 80 degree California days, I was quickly whisked into Stage 21 to watch dress rehearsals.  There, I had the chance to see the two finalists, IaMmE and ICONic Boyz, as well as all five past season champions take the stage.  I was eager to see the Jabbawockeez routine as I knew they had been working hard on a performance that included 30 extra Jabbawockeez to complete their vision. I was blown away.

After rehearsals were done, we all got a short break for dinner and ran through a series of TV interviews. Before we knew it, it was show time!
The hustle and bustle backstage was exciting! Costumes were flying, sets were being moved and the crowd was warming up. Soon enough, the Jabbawockeez were ushered out of their dressing room and all 37 of them flooded the stage for a performance that gave the audience a glimpse into their critically acclaimed show at Monte Carlo.  The surprises for the fans didn’t stop there. Just when you thought it was over, they pulled out their secret weapon, the “baby-wockee,” out of a massive stereo prop and she (yes, a 6 year-old girl!) stole the entire show.

When the crowd gave multiple standing ovations and started chanting “Jabba! Jabba! Jabba!” it almost brought tears to my eyes.  I haven’t worked on them very long, but knowing their passion for what they do and how hard they’ve worked to get to this far in five short years, I am very proud of them.  As we all packed up and drove off the studio lot, I found myself feeling very thankful that they brought me in to see their world first-hand for this special day.

To see their performance on the season finale of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew, click here.

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Las Vegas didn’t just walk like a man, it showed up at the crack of dawn, waited patiently and then gave generously like one, too.

September 2, 2010 in Uncategorized | No comments

Saturday was the 1,000th performance of JERSEY BOYS at the Palazzo. It’s a remarkable show enjoying a remarkable run. Check out Trip Advisor’s ratings here http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g45963-d1081728-Reviews-Jersey_Boys-Las_Vegas_Nevada.html if you don’t believe us.

To celebrate the milestone, the show held the Walk Like A Man Shoe Drive to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Nevada. The plan was to give away 1,000 tickets to Saturday night’s show for 1,000 pairs of shoes to benefit underprivileged kids in Las Vegas.

The first ones in line arrived at 5 a.m. Seven hours before we started passing out tickets. By 10 more than 1,000 were in line, which began snaking into the Palazzo casino. By 11:30, it wrapped around the casino and headed into the Venetian. More than 3,000 turned out for the tickets. Many showed up, saw the line, handed over their shoes and said, “Thanks for doing this. We’ll try next time.”

Shoe Drive Benefit for Boys and Girls ClubThe initial 1,000 tickets were gone in 38 minutes. Then the producers of JERSEY BOYS did something extraordinary: they gave the green light to another 1,000. Then more after that. Las Vegas has embraced JERSEY BOYS since opening night, so it was the show’s turn to embrace it right back. If you brought shoes to help a child, you were getting a ticket. Maybe not Saturday night, but some night.

The spirit of giving carried over into that night’s performance. The crowd was electric and the show ran long because the applause after each song wouldn’t stop.

The officials at the Boys and Girls Club said that very often self esteem starts with shoes. It’s hard to feel good about yourself in old, worn-out shoes. Beginning this week, at least 3,000 kids will start feeling better about themselves, thanks to Las Vegas and JERSEY BOYS.

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