Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Philly2Philly’s Chenoa Greene is a finalist for the 2010 Miss USA Pageant on NBC
Turns out we have a celebrity in our midst at Philly2Philly.com And no, not you Steve Olenski!!
The crew at P2P is extremely proud to have our own Chenoa Greene (Miss New Jersey 2010) as a finalist for Miss USA 2010!
The pageant will be broadcast live from the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 16th at 7pm ET. on NBC.
Before she left for Vegas, Chenoa sat down with our own Jen Sherlock to discuss the pageant as well as her future endeavors.
You can follow Chenoa on Twitter @MissNJUSA2010
Also, VOTE for her to win Miss Photogenic at www.MissUSA.com
Philly2Philly’s Jen Sherlock talks about her Blue Cross Broad Street Run experience
So now that I am fully recovered from the run, I can fully explain in detail what it was like this past Sunday.
First, let me just say it was hot as hell. (Excuse my language.) But this was my sixth year running, and I’ve only gotten better as far as my personal record every year, so what could possibly ruin my training this year? Well you guessed it- the heat! It was the hottest year that I’ve ever run it with temperatures reaching in the 80’s during the run. I knew it was going to be brutal around mile three when I looked at my friend Morgan. I never struggle at mile three, but the heat was exhausting with the sun beating down. But I wasn’t about to give up trying to beat my best personal record yet! My goal was 1:20.
Last year, I ran the race in 1:24, and I knew I could do it! The race organizers warned the runners of the heat and opened every fire hydrant along Broad Street as a pseudo-sprinkler. And you better believe I hit every one! I literally zig zagged across Broad Street in order to hit every little drop of water sprayed on me that I could get. I didn’t want to overheat. I was remembering a time in high school when I ran track and I over heated so badly that I felt nauseous and got the chills, and felt so cold during a hot day. I didn’t want that to happen, so I also drank water and Gatorade along the way as well. At times, I was psyching myself out, but I knew I had to do it. I wasn’t about to ever give up, even though the thought had crossed my mind.
On top of the race to the finish line, my iPod kept going out one speaker at a time. The fire hydrant sprinkler system was getting the best of it. And although I love to run to music, I didn’t care. At around mile seven I was still on par for a 1:20 finish, but around mile eight, I saw one man being carried away on a stretcher and that scared me to push myself to the max even though I was still going hard. But I have to say it was getting tougher and tougher, so at this point I just wanted the finish line and I knew I wasn’t making my personal best.
Once I reached closer to the Navy Yard where they took our photos, I knew I didn’t have too much to go. The end was in sight like a person in the desert hunting for water! I just kept thinking, “Where is the finish, it seems farther down than last year?!” But there it was, and at this point, I was probably going slower than usual. Most runners push themselves faster at the end, but I just wanted it over! Even though I finished at 1:25 and 5 minutes off what I had wanted, I was still extremely happy with my time despite the blazing conditions.
At the end, I was in such a zone, I immediately just wanted the shade and somewhere to sit and zone out and gain my momentum back. Once I did, I went on the search to find my sister, brother, brother-in-law and friends. We were all very proud and happy we defeated Broad Street once again!
Jen Sherlock is the President of Jenna Communications, LLC. You can contact Jen at jsherlock@jennacommunications.com
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Alumna, entrepreneur shares success advice with PRSSA
Courtesy: The Villanovan
Speaker discusses founding of public relations firm
By Julie Balzarini
The University’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America welcomed Jennifer Sherlock, president of Jenna Communications, LLC on March 9. Jenna Communications, founded by Sherlock in 2007, provides public relations, event planning and media training services.
Sherlock, a 2001 graduate of Villanova, majored in communication and always wanted to be a TV reporter.
The summer after graduating, she was hired at NBC 40 in Atlantic City and was an anchor within six months. Sherlock cites her persistence for this early success. She would contact stations and ask for a meeting even if they did not have any current job openings.
After holding several other anchor positions, Sherlock was hired as the PR Manager for the innovation team at Advanta Corp., a company that issued credit cards to small businesses.
When Advanta Corp. went bankrupt, Sherlock was laid off, but she turned this change into an opportunity and started Jenna Communications.
“It was always a dream of mine,” Sherlock said, whose experience as a reporter has been useful in the PR industry. “Being a reporter, I know all the aspects a PR person wants to know. Now I can deliver that.”
She discussed all the aspects that must come together to create a successful event, including catering, photography, publicity and even props.
“Sometimes I haul the props in myself,” Sherlock said. “Being a startup, sometimes that’s what you have to do.”
One of Sherlock’s recent events, “Laid off and Looking for Love,” combined career networking and a singles dating auction. A portion of the proceeds went to ’Nova Nation Project Haiti.
Sherlock provided some PR tips, including how to maintain good relationships with reporters, how to get press coverage and how to utilize social media.
She also offered tips for anyone looking for a job.
She suggested that students and young professionals should attend industry-specific networking events whenever possible.
Sherlock encouraged students to obtain leadership positions and develop good writing skills.
She said she is always drawn to hire people who are active and outgoing.
“You can’t be shy,” Sherlock said. “You have to get out there.”
She emphasized the importance of being persistent and following up after sending a résumé to an employer.
She also suggested contacting an employer for a “meet and greet,” even if they aren’t hiring at the moment.
“Jen’s tips were very helpful,” said PRSSA Event Planner Allison O’Donnell, a junior. “PRSSA likes to welcome alumni back to speak to our members because they have been in our shoes and know what advice will be useful to us.”
Sherlock encouraged students to reach out to Villanova alumni.
“There’s such a camaraderie here,” Sherlock said. “Villanovans want to help other Villanovans.”
PlaySay.com reinvents how to learn new languages, and its founder lives in Philly!
Have you ever wanted to learn a language besides having to be forced to in school? 
Have you ever bought a language learning book to fine tune some words for that trip to Spain?
Well now you can learn whether you are literally on a plane, train, or automobile. Philadelphia resident, Ryan Meinzer is the founder of PlaySay.com. He says he needed to learn Japanese fast, but hardly had any free time.
“I wanted to learn Japanese in the many sporadic idle minutes of my day, one word at a time, one minute at a time,” says Meinzer, “…and I didn’t have the $300 for those attractive yellow Rosetta Stone boxes.” Two years later, and two years more proficient in Japanese, Meinzer now runs his own language learning software company. “PlaySay empowers busy people to unlock value from any idle minute with the most practical language learning on the go,” says Meinzer. Before PlaySay, Ryan Meinzer led the international business of a Japanese marketing firm in Tokyo, Japan with Fortune 500 and major multinational clientele.
See a video demonstration of PlaySay on the Philly2Philly flipcam:
Through its private beta, many language departments of major universities across the United States have been rapidly integrating the products into their curriculums for students. With the ability to trash their paper flashcards, students around the world are raving about PlaySay.com: “I have been searching for what you have done for years. This is great!” says a PlaySayer from France.
Over 10 major universities in the USA have integrated PlaySay’s platform into their language departments through PlaySay’s private beta “Student Rewards Program”. In the recent Mid-Atlantic Mobile Monday DEMO, PlaySay won 3rd place and publicly opened their platform to be white labeled by universities across the USA. With its eclectic team, PlaySay is expanding into new languages each month.
Briefly, PlaySay empowers busy people to learn their dream language on the go. Anytime. Anywhere. On any mobile device. PlaySay turns cell phones into sexy walking, talking foreign language teachers. Try it at http://playsay.com.
PlaySay is currently collecting success stories from its more than 4,000 registered users. If PlaySay helped you fine-tune a few words to woo a loved one, or helped you pass a test (i.e. JLPT), get your dream job, start your own business, or get around a foreign country, etc., they want to hear from you!
You can send an email with your profile and a brief story to contact@playsay.com
PlaySay was launched in 2008, and is fully sustainable. It was initially funded by a PayPal Japan Executive, and has been featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Tokyo Metropolis. PlaySay has 4,000+ users with 3,000+ products sold to date, and is currently seeking funding to continue its sustainable and profitable expansion (invest@playsay.com)
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BRINGING NEW MEANING TO A FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR
BRINGING NEW MEANING TO A FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR
“Drink a beer, donate a dollar”
PHILADELPHIA, PA, MARCH 2, 2010 — Jenna Communications LLC, a Philadelphia based Public Relations and Special Events firm, has announced today a series of 12 First Friday events that start this week at The Raven Lounge. The ultra happy hours taking place on 17th & Sansom Streets kick off on March 5 from 6-9pm. Donations will be accepted at the door, and will go towards Nova Nation Project Haiti to help the victims of Haiti.
The Raven Lounge will host a different charity that supports a different cause every First Friday of every month. The goal is to promote local charities and to raise thousands of dollars for each one.
Owner, Jonathan Hunter, said “I want to work towards 52 weeks of helping 52 charities, and what better way than on a Friday night happy hour. We already have 12 charities locked down, and we want to expand that over time.”
Some of the 12 charities lined up include Nova Nation Project Haiti, Young Variety, Students Run Philly, Project H.O.M.E., SHARE Food Program, and ShareUrMeal.
The Raven Lounge has been featured in Philly.com, Yelp, Philly Weekly, and is known to be a celebrity favorite hangout when in town. Come dance and party for a good cause as DJ Ronnie D spins Philly’s hottest music! You don’t want to miss this!
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Media Contacts
Jennifer Sherlock
Wharton MBA Venture Capital Winners Choose PlaySay Inc.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wharton MBA Venture Capital Winners Choose PlaySay Inc.
“$1 million mock investment with a $2.5 million post-money company valuation”
PHILADELPHIA, PA, February 2, 2010 — Judged by four esteemed venture capital investors from NY and PA, the investment team which won the 2010 Annual Wharton Sustainable Venture Capital Investment Competition chose to invest $1 million in PlaySay Inc. with their mock investment fund with a $2.5 million post-money company valuation.
PlaySay Inc. was one of four companies selected to present in the prestigious annual competition at Wharton on January 29th, 2010. According to Alexander Perevalov, Director of the Wharton MBA Venture Capital Club, 25% of companies who participate in the competition receive venture capital funding within a year of the competition.
The winning investment team of the annual Wharton Sustainable Venture Capital Investment Competition will move on to participate in the national annual Sustainable Venture Investment Capital Competition. The winning investment team this year at Wharton impressed the real venture capital investment judges with their overall performance and choice of investing in PlaySay Inc. with their mock investment fund.
The Wharton Journal: The competition is a whirlwind of activity, forcing students to make thoughtful investment decisions in a 24-hour span. Teams play the role of venture capitalists, evaluating business ideas using a triple bottom line of financial profitability, environmental integrity, and social equity to determine whom to support. They interview the entrepreneurs, asking tough questions under the watchful eye of VC judges who assess team dynamics, insight into the financials as well as the rapport with entrepreneurs. Then, the real work begins – developing an investment framework, writing a term sheet, and creating a PowerPoint presentation to share their vision for these companies.
Founder of PlaySay, Ryan Meinzer is ecstatic with his two latest accomplishments including winning 3rd place in last week’s 3rd Annual DEMO Night. “MoMo is truly spearheading the mobile technology movement. I was very honored to be selected as a winning presenter in their sold-out DEMO event, and am forever grateful for the investment traction in PlaySay which has followed,” said Meinzer.
“The caliber of applications for our 3rd Annual DEMO Night was exceptionally high,” said Lisa Allen, Mobile Monday Mid-Atlantic Board Director. “PlaySay stood out from the crowd thanks to its simple yet innovative application and polished presentation performance, earning a well deserved commendation in live voting on the night.”
About PlaySay Inc.
PlaySay empowers busy people to extract value from any idle minute with the most practical language learning on the go. The company was launched in 2008, and is fully sustainable. It was initially funded by a PayPal Japan Executive, and has been featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Tokyo Metropolis. PlaySay has 10+ million free products in use by 4,000+ users with 3,000+ products sold to date, and is currently seeking funding to continue its sustainable and profitable expansion (invest@playsay.com).
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Media Contacts
Jennifer Sherlock, 609-369-3482, jsherlock@jennacommunications.com
Double your shot at love & money
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Find LOVE in the New Year ~~ Just in time for Valentine’s Day!
“Double your shot at love & money”
PHILADELPHIA, PA, February 2, 2010 — Jenna Communications LLC, a Philadelphia based Public Relations and Special Events firm has announced today its second Laid Off Looking for Love event on Thursday, February 4 at Public House located on 1801 Arch Street. The popular event took on the Delaware Valley in September, and Manhattan in October, and it’s back just in time for you to find a date this Valentine’s Day.
If you are laid-off, bored with your job, or love the job that you have, spice up your life with Philly’s sexiest singles! This time the charity-dating auction is two hours long at people’s requests!
Come out and bid for a date with a hot new someone! Dozens of sexy singles will be auctioned off by CELEBRITY EMCEES like WMMR’s Marissa Magnatta, and Miss New Jersey 2010 Chenoa Greene.
For those who are unemployed, PhillyJobFest.com is sponsoring the event and will be on site to help those looking for work find that job they’ll love!
There’s no charge at the door, and every attendee will be given one free drink ticket.
There will be career networking from 7-8, and the dating auction starts promptly at 8 and runs until 10pm. A portion of the proceeds goes to Nova Nation Project Haiti. It’s a charity relief program set up by Villanova University for the earthquake victims from Haiti.
Event organizer Jennifer Sherlock says her goal is to scale these events nationally one city at a time. “Unemployed or not, people will always be in need of finding jobs. Plus, my events also give you a shot at finding love,” said Sherlock. “You never know who you’ll meet, so don’t knock it until you see what it’s all about!”
Comcast Dating On Demand will also be at the venue shooting dating profiles for an upcoming show. Laid Off Looking for Love has been featured on CBS 3, and KYW Newsradio 1060.
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Media Contacts
Jennifer Sherlock609-369-3482, jsherlock@jennacommunications.com
Laid Off Looking for Love Bio Details
Please send these details to jsherlock@jennacommunications.com
if you're interested in participating!
- Name
- Age if you choose
- Sign if you choose
- What you do or did for a living
- Perfect date
- Something fun you want people to know about you
PlaySay Inc. Transforming the World of Language
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PlaySay Inc. Transforming the World of Language
“Learn to speak your dream language anytime and anywhere.”
PHILADELPHIA, PA, January 26, 2010 — PlaySay.com, the popular language learning software company inspired by PlaySay Inc. announced today that its 4,000+ users worldwide may become much bigger in a flash. This week at the 350+ attendee sold-out Mobile Monday Mid-Atlantic DEMO Night, PlaySay won third place out of ”…10 of the most exciting mobile-related firms in the region,” initially selected by the global MoMo organization. At the venue, PlaySay officially released its popular platform to be private labeled by high school and university language departments as well as language textbook publishers. On Friday, January 29 it will be showcased as one of four presentations selected in the Wharton Sustainable Venture Capital Investment Competition.
PlaySay empowers busy people to learn their dream language on the go by using their iPod, cell phone, PDA, or any mobile device. The company has served more than ten million digital flashcard files to 4,000+ users, and offers products to learn Japanese, learn Chinese, and to learn Spanish, with many more languages to come.
Philadelphia resident, Ryan Meinzer is the founder of PlaySay. He says he needed to learn Japanese fast, but had hardly any free time. “I wanted to learn Japanese in the many sporadic idle minutes of my day, one word at a time, one minute at a time,” says Meinzer, “…and I didn’t have the $300 for those attractive yellow Rosetta Stone boxes.” Two years later, and two years more proficient in Japanese, Meinzer now runs his own language learning software company. “PlaySay empowers busy people to extract value from any idle minute with the most practical language learning on the go,” says Meinzer.
Through its private beta, many language departments of major universities across the United States have been rapidly integrating the products into their curriculums for students. With the ability to trash their paper flashcards, students are raving about PlaySay.com: “I have been searching for what you have done for years. This is great!” says a PlaySayer from France.
Meinzer doesn’t deny that competitor, Rosetta Stone’s language learning method is superior to PlaySay.com’s. He simply argues that practicality is lost due to the intimidating amount of discipline, time, and money needed for Rosetta Stone. “We’re The Betta Rosetta! The majority of people buying the pricey yellow Rosetta Stone boxes end up allowing them to collect dust after a few weeks, just as those pricey exercise machines they purchased for a New Year’s Resolution,” says Meinzer.
About PlaySay Inc.
PlaySay was launched in 2008, and is fully sustainable. It was initially funded by a PayPal Japan Executive, and has been featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Tokyo Metropolis. PlaySay has 10+ million free products in use by 4,000+ users with 3,000+ products sold to date, and is currently seeking funding to continue its sustainable and profitable expansion.
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Media Contacts
Jennifer Sherlock/609-369-3482/jsherlock@jennacommunications.com
PR Tip of the Week- Newsworthiness
In my public relations class this past semester, we talked a lot about writing news releases and in particular, what makes a story newsworthy. Here are six important qualities that make a story newsworthy:
- Oddity
- Conflict
- Known Principle
- Impact
- Proximity
- Human Interest
When writing a news release, we want to make sure many outlets are interested in our story, because this will lead to publicity. If a news release includes one of the six qualities, we can ensure our story is newsworthy.
Oddity refers to something unusual that occurs; something that doesn’t happen everyday.
An example of conflict in the news is the debate over stem cell research, or the recent debates over a health care reformation. When there is a conflict, we can guarantee that it will be all over the news.
An example of known principle is the president. His every move is newsworthy.
Impact refers to something that impacts many people, the community, or the nation. An example of this is the economy.
Proximity refers to local news. Because self-interest is often high, if you can find a local angle in your story, it will make news.
An example of the human-interest component is ‘cute, nice, light-hearted stories’. If someone overcomes a controversy, or turns something negative into positive, the public will be interested.
*The most important news value is where you will distribute your release. It is crucial to know your audience and which media outlets meet the needs of your target audience.
