Common Time encourages students to meet one another across Fine and Performing Arts programs, build new relationships, discuss projects and learn about resources and opportunities.
Each Friday session meets virtually from Noon – 1 p.m. at this link. Links to join are also below.
Friday, August 30, 2024 | Noon – 1 p.m.
Podcasting: How to Conduct and Record an Interview
Create your own podcast featuring an interview. Rob will cover the basic, and surprisingly easy technical elements, as well as how to conduct an engaging interview.
HOST: Rob Thomas is the Broadcast Media and Technology lead instructor and advisor for the Owens OutComm Student Media Center. He has over 35 years of experience as a multimedia producer in the broadcast, marketing, and communications industries, working with both for-profit and not-for-profit businesses.
Friday, September 13, 2024 | Noon – 1 p.m.
Resume Remix: Decoding the Secrets of Successful Job Applications
Crack the code to crafting your standout resume with this comprehensive virtual workshop. Through a detailed analysis of real resumes that led to job offers, learn the proven strategies and best practices for creating a persuasive resume that gets you noticed by employers and accelerates your career.
HOST: Valerie Thompson is the owner of Leap Graphics, a graphic design firm. She is the current President of the AAF (American Advertising Association) Toledo Chapter, and the Mosaic (DEI) Co-Chair of the Ohio/Kentucky District. Valerie is a native Toledoan, an alumna of the University of Toledo and a strong advocate for the arts and social justice. In addition to AAF Toledo, she also serves on the boards of the YWCA of Northwest Ohio and TASC (Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities). She is also a member of The Girl Friends, Incorporated – Toledo Chapter, a social organization for professional African American women. Valerie has a love for art, advocacy, public speaking, mentoring and business development.
HOST: Amy Fitzenrider is a partner and the SVP, Account Services at Communica, an integrated advertising, marketing and public relations agency. In these roles, she focuses on providing exemplary service and strategic thinking to clients through team development and integration across Communica’s disciplines. She also serves as a senior strategist on the public relations/communication team.
With nearly 30 years of experience as an integrated marketing and strategic communications specialist, Amy is passionate about developing teams into next-generation marketers and helping clients move the needle by clearly and effectively communicating their unique stories.
Amy joined Communica in Fall 2018 after running her own consultancy in Chicago for nearly a decade. Previously, Amy was vice president of an integrated marketing firm across advertising, media, digital and public relations. There, she started the firm’s PR practice and developed the integrated account team across disciplines, while managing clients predominantly in the healthcare, device and pharmaceutical sectors.
She also has experience as a sr. account supervisor and media relations specialist at global public relations agency, Golin for brands such as Amazon, Sprint and Texas Instruments. In addition, she co-managed the Chicago office of a tech-focused, boutique public relations agency.
Amy is a graduate of The Indiana University School of Journalism, now part of The Media School, with a focus on marketing and business. After living in Chicago for 22 years, she moved to Ottawa Hills, OH, just outside of Toledo. She is the mother of two daughters and one fur baby. In her free time, Amy loves spending time with family and friends at Clear Lake, IN and generally, spending time outdoors.
HOST: Laurie Drerup is the VP of Operations at Communica, an integrated advertising, marketing and public relations agency. Laurie’s role at Communica involves a broad and impactful range of responsibilities aimed at optimizing the agency’s performance. Laurie works with the Leadership Team to identify and implement strategies to boost overall productivity within the agency. She assists in assessing staffing requirements and ensuring the agency has the right talent to meet its goals. Part of her role includes developing and implementing processes that make the agency’s workflow more efficient, and she focuses on strategies to better integrate the agency’s various services.
Laurie’s expertise and passion is in Organizational Leadership and Operational Excellence. After working at large global companies, where she managed top-performing departments for most of her career, she joined Communica.
Laurie graduated from the University of Toledo with a focus on marketing and management. Laurie continues to be local to Toledo, where she was born and raised. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, especially her eleven grandkids. Her hope is to inspire others and create an environment that is rewarding to everyone involved including herself.
Friday, September 27, 2024 | Noon – 1 p.m.
Making the Most of Your Interview
During this session, participants will learn about the interview process, types of interviews, and how to best prepare for job and internship interviews, including using the STAR method when answering questions.
HOST: Angie McGinnis is the Manager of Career & Transfer Services at Owens Community College. Angie has been at Owens since 2001 and has held several roles within Student Services. Angie has her M.A. in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University and her B.A. in Psychology and Spanish from Hiram College. In addition, Angie is a Certified Career Services Provider and has managed the Career & Transfer Services Office since 2019.
Friday, October 11, 2024 | Noon – 1 p.m.
Career vs. Side Hustle
Herbey will discuss the similarities, differences, pros and cons of a career vs. a side hustle.
HOST: Herbey Atkinson graduated with honors from Owens’ Music Business Technology program, served as an intern with OCCR, and he is now the full-time OCCR Manager. Herbey was awarded an Intercollegiate Broadcast System nomination for best celebrity interview.
Herbey is a two-time award-winning podcast producer and the host of Radio Picoso, a Latino music program that airs on Sundays from 1 – 5 p.m. on 103.9 WLEN in Adrian Michigan. He also is the lead producer, audio engineer and audio editor for The Conversations Podcast with Owens President Dr. Dionne Somerville. Herbey is the owner of Impact Media Group of Michigan, specializing in audio production, live sound and mobile DJ services.
Friday, October 25, 2024 | Noon – 1 p.m.
Hey, Job Search! Eat My Dust!
You’ve probably heard the expression, “It’s not what you know. It’s who you know.” If college teaches you the what, then networking connects you to the who. However, just like a good resume is the product of many drafts, networking skills must be acquired, practiced, and honed to land the perfect job. Learn networking etiquette and strategies, experiment with some cool tools, and identify places to practice your craft. You’ll blow past the competition with this turbo-boosting power!
HOST: Lori Owens is an Advisor for Owens Career & Transfer Services. She has worked in higher education for over 30 years, mostly at Owens Community College. She’s been an English composition instructor, a GED teacher, a student mentor, and lately a career services advisor for health and business programs. In her spare time, she enjoys reading fiction, birdwatching and geocaching.
Friday, November 8, 2024 | Noon – 1 p.m.
Mastering Your Time and Studies
Looking for practical advice about how to stay on top of your homework and projects? In this session, Adam will review some specific strategies to organize your schedule, create helpful study rituals, and become a master of your time so you can succeed in and out of the classroom. (We will talk about managing time in online classes, too!)
HOST: Adam Wagner is an Academic Advisor at Owens Community College. He has a BA in English from Cedarville University and an MA in Literary and Textual Studies from Bowling Green State University. Adam has worked in Advising at Owens since 2019 and is proud to have been born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. In his free time, you can find Adam exploring the Metroparks, listening to Taylor Swift and consuming all the latest Star Wars media.
Friday, November 22, 2024 | Noon – 1 p.m.
The Mystery of Copyright
When is your creative work considered copywritten? you created something you would like to publish? Would you like to register your work with the US Government copyright office? Are you wondering what ‘fair use’ means? Facts and myths about copyright will be discovered.
HOST: Denise Grupp-Verbon is the Internship Manager for the School of Liberal Arts. She has placed over 180 students in internship experiences. She is a working harpist, and has published dozens of arrangements, compositions, and instructional books for the harp. She performs and records with her husband Michael in a harp and acoustic guitar duo called TAPESTRY.