This post is for the sole purpose of uploading a portfolio of my professional work, whether through class or through the workplace.
Media Bios_M.Y. China_Grandma Wu CNY Dinner
MEDIA ALERT ZOOWente Chardonnay Pitch
Resume
Joseph F. Gonzalez
2722 Kelly Street, Livermore, CA 94551
Phone: (925) 395-6611
Email: sumokata@comcast.net
Education
San Jose State University 2011-Present. Anticipated Graduate Date: Fall, 2015. BS- Public Relations
Livermore High School 2007-2011
Experience
Trader Joe’s, Crew Member October 2010 – Present
- Assist and delight customers through personable one-on-one attention and service
- Prepare and demo new products, encouraging repeat shoppers to purchase it
- Work the cash register and manage cash drawer balance
- Maintain and document store inventory on a routine basis
Andrew Freeman & Company, Intern January 2015 – August 2015
- Create media content (media alerts, press releases, pitches, client biographies, fact sheets)
- Draft media bios and itineraries in preparation for media and blogger visits at client venues
- Research hospitality, food, and beverage trends
- Target new local, regional, and national writers through introductory and reactionary pitches
- Analyze client media coverage including print/online results, social media posts, and blog posts
Skills
- Proficient at online databases such as Cision and MailChimp
- Well-versed in creation and execution of local event listings to support SEO and ticket sales
- Experience drafting media pitches
- Extensive customer service experience
- Created new media content
- Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Office
- Drafted social media content for Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for 4 clients
- Proficient writer in journalistic, creative, and informative styles
- Extensive background in teaching, facilitating, and practicing leadership
- Great understanding of group dynamics and teamwork
Achievements
- Eagle Scout- 2011
- Livermore High School Varsity Lacrosse Captain- 2011
- Livermore High School JV Lacrosse Captain- 2009
- Completed two-week long backpacking trek in New Mexico- 2009
- Trader Joe’s “Double Bubble” Award Recipient- Spring 2015
Volunteer
- Boy Scouts of America, Youth: 1998-2011
- White Stag Youth Leadership Development, Youth Candidate: 2004, 2005, 2007
- White Stag Youth Leadership Development, Youth Staff: 2006, 2008-2010
- White Stag Youth Leadership Development, Adult Staff: 2013-Present
Writing Samples from PR 190
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 10/9/13
Contact: Joseph Gonzalez
Tel. (925) 395-6611
Email: sumokata@comcast.net
New Exhibit at Minnesota Zoo Has People Bug-Eyed
Apple Valley, Minnesota—October 9th, 2013—The Minnesota Zoo is opening a brand new exhibit on the lives of bugs, insects, arachnids, and other land-dwelling arthropods.
The exhibit will be on display for its grand opening on May 1st, from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., and will be at the Minnesota Zoo at 13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, Minnesota.
Enclosures that will be open for observation include centipedes, scorpions, tarantulas, giant millipedes, zebra cockroaches, and even the world’s largest species of spider.
There will also be a large display of a functioning colony of leaf cutter ants. Their colony is in an enclosure that wraps around the whole arthropod exhibit, giving insight to every nook and cranny of these insect’s lives.
In addition to the large leaf cutter ant display there will also be a butterfly garden. The large walk-in garden will be full of up to 600 free-flying and colorful North American moths and butterflies.
Insects and arachnids are some of the most populous animals on the planet, despite humankind’s abundant ignorance regarding them. Zoo director Lee Ehmke hopes that by watching the live bugs in a simulated natural habitat, viewers might get the chance to “not only be entertained but also learn about the impact they have on all of us.”
NFL and Minnesota Vikings players Jared Allen and Adrian Peterson will be in attendance, in addition to several of the zoo’s head executives and directors, as well as some of the worlds leading researchers of wildlife and entomology.
The Minnesota Zoo, which was founded in 1978, is one of the nation’s most renowned centers for arthropod research. The mission of the Minnesota Zoo is to connect people, animals, and the natural world. They are dedicated to inspiring guests to act on behalf of wildlife and wild lands. To accomplish this, they provide award-winning recreational, educational, and conservation programs, locally, nationally, and internationally.
# # #
MEDIA ALERT* MEDIA ALERT* MEDIA ALERT* MEDIA ALERT
Minnesota Zoo Celebrates the Grand Opening of Its New Exhibit
“Arthropods of the Animal Kingdom”
WHO: The Minnesota Zoo, one of the most distinguished zoos in the United States. Zoo direct Jeff Corwin hopes that by watching the live bugs in a simulated natural habitat, viewers might get the chance to “not only be entertained but also learn about the impact they have on all of us.”
WHEN: Thursday, May 1st, 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
WHERE: Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, Minnesota
WHAT: The Minnesota Zoo is opening a brand new exhibit on the lives of bugs, insects, arachnids, and other land-dwelling arthropods. Enclosures that will be open for observation include centipedes, scorpions, tarantulas, giant millipedes, zebra cockroaches, and even the world’s largest species of spider. There will be a large display of a functioning colony of leaf cutter ants in addition to a walk through butterfly garden. The butterfly garden will have up to 600 free-flying and colorful North American moths and butterflies.
PHOTO OPS:
This is a great opportunity to meet several of the zoo’s head executives and directors, as well as some of the worlds leading researchers of wildlife and entomology. To help unveil the exhibit star NFL and Minnesota Vikings players Jared Allen and Adrian Peterson will be in attendance.
For More Information Contact:
Joseph Gonzalez
Mobile: (925) 395-6611
E-mail: sumokata@comcast.net
Writing Samples from Internship
During the Spring of 2015 I interned at Andrew Freeman & Company, a restaurant and hospitality PR Agency in San Francisco. Below are samples of some of the work I did: pitches and media bios.
Media Bios:
Grandma Wu’s Chinese New Year Media Dinner | Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Name: Amy Sherman
Outlet: Freelance
Twitter: @cookingwithamy
Recent Work:
- http://www.fodors.com/news/san-franciscos-best-new-bakeries-10702.html
- http://www.fodors.com/news/insiders-guide-to-waikiki-honolulu-11146.html
- http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/packages/comfort-foods/on-the-road-comfort-food/where-to-eat-great-meatballs-from-coast-to-coast.html
Bio:
Amy Sherman is a San Francisco–based writer, recipe developer and publisher of the award-winning food blog Cooking with Amy. She has written for Epicurious, KQED’s Bay Area Bites, Fodor’s, 7×7 and Frommer’s and created recipes for clients including Whole Foods, Grocery Outlet, Dannon, T-fal, MyWinesDirect and the California Avocado Commission. She is the author of Williams-Sonoma New Flavors for Appetizers and WinePassport: Portugal, contributed to Creating a Meal You’ll Love and ThinkFood and wrote the new introduction to Jane Grigson’s Vegetable Book.
Name: Sarah McLellan
Outlet: Freelance
Twitter: @sarahmclellanny
Recent Work:
- http://theaussiewhoatethebigapple.tumblr.com/post/109604511611/best-new-cocktail-bar-union-square-sf-the-european
- http://infinitelegroom.com/2014/12/31/greatest-travel-adventures/
- http://infinitelegroom.com/2014/12/30/best-wineries-in-california/
Bio:
Formerly the editor-in-chief for A-TRAK Presents InfiniteLegroom.com, Sarah McLellan recently moved to San Francisco after living and working in New York City for 14 years. She also has her own food and travel site, The Aussie Who Ate The Big Apple, where she has covered various restaurant openings and features her own recipes and at-home cooking endeavors. She previously held positions as social media strategist for Morpheus Media and as the social media/marketing and events director for The Mermaid Holding Company.
Name: James Stolich
Outlet: Nob Hill Gazette
Twitter: @cookwithJames
Recent Work:
- http://www.nobhillgazette.com/wp/2015/02/romantic-dining-options-for-valentines-day/
- http://www.nobhillgazette.com/wp/2015/02/taste-02-15/
- http://www.nobhillgazette.com/wp/2015/01/taste-01-15/
Bio:
James Stolich founded and runs Cook with James, which is an underground supper club catering service. When hired, James will come to your house and cook fantastic meals, give cooking classes, or cater events. He specializes in regional Italian and Spanish dishes, having worked in restaurants in both countries. James also has a history in advertising to go with his Masters in Spanish Literature, obtained at Middlebury College in Madrid, Spain. He speaks Italian and Spanish along with English. He is the editor of the Nob Hill Gazette.
Name: Pete Kane
Outlet: SF Weekly
Twitter: @WannaCyber
Recent Work:
- http://www.sfweekly.com/foodie/2015/02/12/which-haight-st-tikka-masala-pizza-is-better-great-indian-food-or-tikka-masala-and-pizza
- http://www.sfweekly.com/foodie/2015/02/11/five-great-options-for-a-romantic-valentines-day
- http://www.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/dapper-dog-haute-dogs-in-castro/Content?oid=3395924
Bio:
Pete Kane is a freelancer for SF Weekly Peter Lawrence Kane’s work has also appeared on MSN, The Bold Italic among other places. His autobiography “50×30: Misadventures in Every State Before I Turned Post-Young” is his first book. He was born in New York and resides in San Francisco.
Name: Dana Eastland
Outlet: tablehopper
Recent work:
- http://apracticalwedding.com/2014/07/how-to-set-up-bar-wedding/
- http://www.tablehopper.com/lush/agave-girls-dinner-at-copita-january-27th/
- http://www.tablehopper.com/chatterbox/shizen-from-the-tataki-team-now-open/
Bio:
Dana Eastland is the Editorial Assistant for tablehopper.com. She studied English, history, and drama at Tufts University in Boston. She also contributes to apracticalwedding.com.
John Codd, Beverage Director of Bluestem Brasserie
John Codd
Beverage Director
Originally from Monterey, California, John Codd had goals of becoming an EMT after attending Monterey Peninsula College. Eventually following a different route since his upbringing in Monterey, Codd has made a big splash in the Bay Area bar scene. Regardless of his age, he was bound to become the affluent drink-maker he is today, completing Barsmarts before he was old enough to legally drink. He was hired on as a Senior Bartender at 15 Romolo, a high-volume cocktail bar favorited by late-night industry folk, which refined his bar philosophy and trends. Codd took his bartending to a new level while under the tutelage of expert bartender Erik Adkins at The Slanted Door, a Vietnamese restaurant with emphasis on wine and cocktails. Since then, Codd served as the Bar Manager for the late Coachman, a bar that specialized in Victorian and Georgian era British cocktails. Considered to be an expert on early 20th Century British cocktails, Codd also has developed high-end ice programs for hollowed spheres and clear hand ice cubes.
Despite his relatively young age and specialized experiences, Codd is widely regarded as an innovator and contender in the service industry community. In 2014, Codd was named by Zagat to be one of San Francisco’s top culinary professionals under the age of 30 years old in their “30 under 30” special, in addition to being known for creating innovations such as the Blended Negroni, citrus wheel ribbons, and the three-pronged stirrer. He has worked many private events, going as far as to even pass a background check by President Obama’s Secret Service. He is considered a San Franciscan authority on modern mixology practices, such as liquid nitrogen, centrifuges, dry ice, red-hot poker (lagerhead), carbonators, and smokers. His cocktails have been featured in numerous influential publications, including The Wall St Journal, Food & Wine, Forbes, Vogue, Imbibe, Town & Country, Serious Eats, Alcdademics, as well as many San Francisco-based media outlets.
Codd is a Bay Area resident, currently living in Oakland, and can be found playing video games when he’s not delving into the latest drink trends.
Pitches:
Wente Vineyards
It’s commonly known that any day is a good day for a glass of wine. What isn’t so commonly known is that May 21st is National Chardonnay Day, and Wente Vineyards is prepared for the occasion. To celebrate everybody’s favorite robust white wine, Wente Vineyards will be hosting an educational and exciting evening of food and fun. In addition to Cocktail Hour, Fourth Generation Wine growers Carolyn and Phil Wente will be giving a presentation on the history of the First Family Chardonnay and the Wente clone. Recipe pairings to each Chardonnay will be explained as well, in addition to a Sparkling Brut Toast!
The wine celebration starts weeks before National Chardonnay Day, however. In the spirit of spring Wente Vineyards will be offering a Chardonnay flight at all tasting rooms for the whole month of May! This $10 flight will feature some of Wente’s favorites, including Eric’s Chardonnay, Brut, Morning Fog Chardonnay, Nth Degree Chardonnay, and the renowned Riva Ranch Chardonnay. In case you’re enraptured by some of these vintages, Wente will also be offering a 3-Bottle kit of Chardonnays. This $60 value includes Riva Ranch Chardonnay, Eric’s Chardonnay, and Morning Fog Chardonnay and will be offered at Wente Vineyards tasting rooms throughout the entire month.
1313 Main
Outlet: Edible Marin & Wine Country (Spring 2015)
Contributor: Sarah Henry
Article: BAKED AT STINSON BEACH
Hi Sarah,
Reading your article in Edible Marin & Wine Country about the Parkside Café at Stinson Beach made me realize just how powerful of an influence a new culinary resource can be to a community. That’s why I’d like to bring to your attention 1313 Main, an innovative restaurant in the heart of historic downtown Napa. New Executive Chef and rising star Adam Ross is bringing big new changes to Napa for the summer of 2015. After a six month refocus on the offerings at 1313 Main, Chef Ross has created a new, streamlined menu that exquisitely highlights locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients from local farms. His collaboration with these farms, such as Tenbrink & Hennpen Farms and Main Street Culinary Garden (located five blocks from the restaurant), in addition to distinctive herbs and produce being grown onsite in the restaurant’s unique outdoor dining area, gives the new menu a flavor-forward focus that incorporates the community.
The new menu offers a bit of everything, including a la carte small/medium/large dishes one can mix and match to create a bespoke multi-course meal, plus a five course tasting menu highlighting every aspect of Chef Ross’ mastery of technique and understanding of flavors matched up with by Restaurant Director and Advanced Sommelier Jordan Nova’s masterful, surprising wine pairings from their prolific cellar offerings.
Outlet: Plate (March/April 2015)
Contributor: Martha Bayne
Article: Culture Club: Spotlight Yogurt
Hi Martha,
Your yogurt spotlight piece in Plate’s spring issue spoke volumes on the importance of freshness and authenticity in modern cuisine. It would interest you, then, to learn about some of the latest big changes to Napa’s beloved restaurant and wine bar, 1313 Main. The restaurant has developed a re-designed menu for the start of summer 2015 under the influence of New Executive Chef Adam Ross. Ross, who is known for working in the kitchens of renown establishments that include The Restaurant at Meadowood, Alan Wong’s, Chef Mavro, and Ad Hoc, is bringing a sense of freshness and locality to the new menu. Seasonal ingredients from local farms such as Hennpen and Tenbrink farms have considerable influence on the menu, in addition to ingredients from Main Street Culinary Garden (which is within a short walk of the restaurant) and 1313 Main’s own unique outdoor dining area, where they grow their own distinctive herbs.
The new menu offers a bit of everything, including a la carte small/medium/large dishes one can mix and match to create a bespoke multi-course meal, plus a five course tasting menu highlighting every aspect of Chef Ross’ mastery of technique and understanding of flavors matched up with by Restaurant Director and Advanced Sommelier Jordan Nova’s masterful, surprising wine pairings from their prolific cellar offerings.
Outlet: Departures (May/June 2015)
Contributor: Jessica Flint
Article: Copenhagen’s New/Old Grande Dame
Hi Jessica,
I enjoyed your article in Departures about Hotel d’Angleterre, as it well exemplifies the subtle twerks and tricks that can maximize the positive experience people have and expect when staying away from home. Everybody knows that another way to get the most out of a vacation is to eat authentic, local foods, which is why I’d like to tell you about Napa’s 1313 Main. While Napa County is a world away from Denmark, it too has many amenities that make for a great daytrip getaway. 1313 Main, located in the heart of historic downtown Napa, combines the best of what the community has to offer.
Located a short drive from local wildlife preserves, wineries, and picturesque rivers alike, 1313 Main makes for a great dinner destination. New Executive Chef Adam Ross and Restaurant Director and Advanced Sommelier Jordan Nova have combined to present new offerings for the summer of 2015. Together Adam and Jordan have refined the wine and food pairing restaurant concept by offering the finest hyper-local, ingredient-forward dishes and broad-ranging fine beverage options, in a casual yet elegant and sophisticated environment (what Nova aptly describes as “affordable luxury”). Whether it’s fresh and locally-grown ingredients or their extensive wine list (we’re talking about Napa, after all), the restaurant has something for everybody.
Outlet: Diablo (February 2-15)
Contributor: Nicholas Boer
Article: I Hear You: Oliveto’s New Acoustics clearly Keep the Focus on Diners’ Conversations
Hi Nick,
Your article about Oliveto’s new sound system in Diablo spoke volumes about not only the importance of dining camaraderie, but also about the unique qualities of a restaurant that keeps diners coming back for more. Nestled farther up the Bay in Napa is a gem called 1313 Main. It’s the perfect spot for a bite after your daytrip getaway, as it’s located in the heart of historic downtown Napa. With a new summer menu that boasts an emphasis on locally grown flavors as well as an extensive wine list, this community-based restaurant is a slice of Napa in itself.
1313 Main’s summer menu, developed by rising star and new Executive Chef Adam Ross, offers a bit of everything, including a la carte small/medium/large dishes one can mix and match to create a bespoke multi-course meal. If that weren’t decadent enough, the summer menu also profiles a five course tasting menu highlighting every aspect of Chef Ross’ mastery of technique and understanding of flavors, which matches perfectly with Restaurant Director and Advanced Sommelier Jordan Nova’s masterful, surprising wine pairings from their prolific cellar offerings.
Outlet: The Tasting Panel
Contributor: Jamie C. Lewis
Article: The Whole Nine Yards
Hi Jamie,
I noticed in your article in The Tasting Panel about Chef Maegen Loring and the Restaurant at Niner Wine Estates detailed what makes that venue so successful: expertise and locality. It reminded me of 1313 Main, a restaurant and wine bar in another part of California wine country- Napa. Perhaps the best feature of the restaurant is its extensive wine list and bar offerings, fascilitated and maintained by Restaurant Director and Advanced Sommelier Jordan Nova. Nova, whose previous experience includes working with Roy Yamaguchi and Daniel Boulud, is introducing the addition of a new fine Spirits Bar to the prolific, distinctive sparkling and still wines offerings. Additionally, he’s also unveiling new rare offerings that include vintage Madeira, rounding out the exciting updated offerings at 1313 Main.
Outside of the outstanding beverage selection at 1313 Main, they are also introducing a new summer menu, orchestrated by new Executive Chef Adam Ross. It will highlight many local flavors and ingredients, even obtaining ingredients from locally sourced farms and even from their own garden. The latest from 1313 Main highlights every aspect of Adam’s mastery of technique and understanding of flavors and matches up with Jordan’s masterful, surprising wine pairings from their prolific cellar offerings.
Public Relations 199 Project:
HHW Campaign Plan
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