Today is the 23rd of January and how could I be mistaken? I’m back from winter break and for the entirety of those few weeks I have been asked by family and friends alike when I head back. Over and over again I tell them when I’ll be leaving home and heading for school to start my new internship. While I was home I tried to catch up with everyone I could, all while looking forward to starting my last semester as a college student. The 23rd of January has finally arrived and during one of my very first tasks here at Caster Communications I had to check the computer for the date. Maybe I was just too excited to think for that split second.

This will be my second internship but my first time dealing with public relations. Already this is looking better than the Providence Bruins, as I have a chair that I can call my own. But seriously I’m ready to get going. I do not pretend to know much about PR. Sure, I’ve picked up a few things about it by just living and going to school but now I get to see how it works first hand. I’m at the beginning of my professional career and am very eager to learn the ins and outs of the public relations business.

So far is it what I expected? Well when I go into new things I like to try and not expect anything. I like to take it as it comes and judge it slowly. There’s nothing worse than thinking I know the world is flat and finding out its round, too much mental backtracking going on there. With that said, I have enjoyed my first few hours here and am starting to see how we carry out our jobs to benefit our clients. The staff has made me feel very welcome and I’m ready to learn a bunch of new things every day. I’ve always been told to set goals and I think to some point I do mentally but I never really say them out loud to anyone including myself. I never really write them down or type them out either. Since it’s the 23rd of January and I’m starting a new internship and a new semester I might as well do something else new and state some goals and what I hope to accomplish.

My first goal will be to not disappoint anyone around me that I’ll be working with. I play a lot of sports and it’s not a good feeling letting your team down, especially when it counts. I’d also like to stay consistent with my work effort and self motivation. Not that I particularly struggle in those areas but it remains a goal none the less. My last few goals are to learn as much as I can about public relations, unlock more of my potential, and grow as a person both professionally and just as a guy. Just another fun thing to note, this is my first blog I have ever written so today is an exciting day! I’m sure there will be lots more but for now I’m off to get some more work down. I almost forgot…LET’S GO PATRIOTS!

“There is nothing in life that does not require PR.” – Where I first heard that statement, I can’t recall. However, what I do know is that nearly everywhere I went, I continued to be greeted with that phrase. And, little did I know, I’d soon be living that ideal each and every day.

As a fairly recent graduate from Roger Williams University, living on my own in the heart of downtown Bristol, Rhode Island, I’ve learned a lot about myself. For one – I’ve always loved to write. There’s something about the written word, complex vocabulary and the notion of stringing well thought-out ideas into sentences that has always appealed to me. From my early days on the Hawks campus I pushed myself to communicate beyond paper; that’s when I began to discover my obsession with PR. It all began with a very outspoken and ingenious professor who, when told I wanted to pursue journalism, kindly corrected me; explaining that in fact it was her Public Relations class I was interested in. With minimal persuasion, I signed up for PR: Principles and Practices and within 1 hour of having the textbook in hand, knew that I had found my calling.

From there I dabbled in various forms of marketing and strategic promotions – I tried my hand at some advertising courses, creative writing and eventually garnered some Internet and HTML knowledge through e-Business and graphic design electives. I wanted to understand all aspects of strategic communications, both the business side and the creative, before setting down some PR roots. I interned in radio, participated in national consumer- PR competitions and even established myself as a freelance blogger; leveraging my love for writing to dig a little deeper into the world of social media and integrated-marketing trends.

At first glance, my early post-grad career has been a collection of experiences which has shaped my work ethic and professional goals today. Beginning as an Event Assistant at local non-profit, The American Cancer Society, I got my first real taste of the intricacies of event promotion and dynamic nature of fundraising. I later found my niche in the web content realm, developing my writing further and deciphering effective SEO strategies as the Blog & Content Manager at the Warwick-based Astonish Results. At Astonish, I helped to grow a one-man (yup, just me!) content team into a 6-employee content management division; helping to establish a results-centered keyword strategy for all onsite copy, blogs, press releases and link building articles for the company’s 350+ independent insurance agency clients. My work at Astonish Results helped to shape my current marketing and branding philosophy because it enabled me to help these independent agents establish their own, authentic voice. To me – you are your own best weapon—it’s all about being genuine and real.

Which brings me to Caster.

Caster embodies just that – authenticity. It’s an atmosphere where I know that I can learn and grow as a PR professional, while also remaining me. I’m a Type A, that’s a fact. I love organization (I’ve been known to color code) and I live for setting high standards for myself. I love a good challenge – be it creating a catchy blog title or pitching a new consumer product to a leading, tech trade journal. I am an avid newspaper-reader (yes, the real stuff, where the ink rubs off on your hands) and grew up watching the nightly newscasts with my father. I believe in the power of social media and the new wave of word-of-mouth marketing. I’ll always stop to read a new Brian Solis post or respond to a Chris Brogan tweet; and furthermore, I’ll always believe Content is King.

I am an avid blogger and lover of good, high-quality caffeine (hazelnut mocha with soy, has been my recent favorite). I long for lazy beach days and outdoor dining; well really any dining – I can’t get enough of local, foodie fare. But most of all, I love thy vibrant nature of communications.

Public Relations can be seen and felt everywhere. The world relies on PR. Our businesses partnerships, decisions and relationships all, to some degree, depend on strategic marketing and communications. That’s what makes Public Relations so intriguing – and that’s what drives me. I couldn’t be more excited to join the Caster Communications Team!

IOGEAR, a leader in convergence through connectivity products, brings new innovation to the KVM category with the introduction of the Dual Mini DisplayPort USB KVMP with Peripheral Sharing (GCS1924). Designed with the same dimensions as the new Mac Mini; four Mac Minis can be stacked directly on top and accessed with a USB keyboard or other computer peripherals from the GCS1924. What’s more, the KVMP also supports PCs with Windows and Linux, saving desk space and allowing more advanced connectivity.

IOGEAR -GCS1924

As a KVMP switch, the 4-port USB 2.0 Mini DisplayPort Dual View KVMP Switch allows users to access four computers from a single USB keyboard, USB mouse, and dual-view Mini-DisplayPort console monitors. The built-in USB hub permits each computer to access connected peripherals, such as printer, scanner or storage drive. GCS1924’s independent switching feature allows the Dual View KVM product to focus on one computer while the USB peripheral focus is on another. This eliminates the need to purchase a separate USB hub as well as the need to purchase a separate stand-alone peripheral sharing switch.

IOGEAR’s newest KVMP product also improves on previous KVM designs with the latest Mini-DisplayPort and Mini-TOSLINK connectors. The connectors ensure ultra-high resolution audio and video performance for dual-link 2560 x 1600 resolution and ultra high resolution up to 3840 x 2400, with vivid picture quality and convenient surround sound. For added functionality, the built-in USB 2.0 hub also charges smart mobile devices.

DisplayPort is designed to replace Digital Visual Interface (DVI) and Video Graphics Array (VGA), as well as replace internal digital LVDS links in computer monitor panels and TV panels. Produced by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), the DisplayPort standard provides IT, consumer electronics, and related technology manufacturers with a high-performance digital interface — enabling advanced features to be delivered to business, consumers and A/V professionals.

“The combination of a USB hub and DisplayPort KVMP switch brings computer peripheral sharing and switching together in a way that’s never been done before,” said Bill Nguyen, senior marketing manager at IOGEAR. “Independent switching on the GCS1924 creates a flexible user experience while the hub adds convenience through advanced connectivity options, while saving space.”

The Dual Mini DisplayPort USB KVMP with Peripheral Sharing is a CES Innovations Award Honoree in the computer accessories category, and is available now with an MSRP of $879.95.

For more information on IOGEAR and its connectivity solutions, please visit: www.iogear.com. Follow IOGEAR on Twitter, the company blog, and become a fan on Facebook for additional industry, company and product details.