As we all prepare for new beginnings in 2022, we are excited for our own growth here at Eclipse Media Group. A few weeks ago, we introduced our newest member to our PR crew, Polly Hersey. Polly is a fellow Mainer who enjoys life in this great state, but also enjoys seeing the world! Read more about Polly and join us in welcoming her to the team!

Tell us a little about yourself and your background.
I’m a native Mainer and my family on both sides has been based here for several generations, so it’s no surprise that I found my way back after graduating from Emmanuel College located in Boston. During my junior year, I spent a semester abroad in London to study Renaissance Literature. After graduating, I joined the marketing team at a large biotechnology company with a global, business-to-business focus. There, I gained experience with executing paid social media campaigns, writing content, tracking media coverage, and managing projects.

What made you want to consider a career in public relations/marketing?
Reading and writing classes were always my favorite growing up and that continued all the way to college. When I was panicking over what to select as my major, my academic advisor suggested that I choose something I was good at, and the career part would follow. I knew I could write a 10-page paper no problem, but memorizing flashcards for an exam was another story. Therefore, I decided to go with English Literature & Writing. This ended up being great advice. I loved my classes and was able to strengthen my ability to collect information for a piece and tell a story using an ear for language. I am so excited to translate these skills and passions into the working world.

What are you most excited to learn/work on during your time at EMG?
The security industry is brand new to me, so I’m looking forward to learning all about that landscape. Coming from an in-house PR and marketing team, the transition to a full-service agency is very energizing and I’m thrilled to be in a hands-on environment that comprehensively covers all aspects of the profession. Working with such a collaborative and talented team will undoubtedly be an invaluable experience.

What was your favorite part about studying abroad?
London is super rich in culture and I learned a lot there. I visited museums almost daily, my favorites being the Victoria & Albert Museum and Tate Britain. My apartment was a short distance from Kensington Palace, so I would often walk by to see if I could catch a glimpse of a royal (no luck). I also saw a couple of incredible West End shows including Wicked, and Guys and Dolls, and a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Globe Theater. It was easy to catch an inexpensive and short flight to other parts of Europe, so I took weekend trips to visit friends in Spain, and Greece. Getting a chance to see different parts of the world, advance my studies and meet new people had a great impact on me.

What’s a fun fact about you that few people might know?
I religiously attend spin class three times a week at my favorite local studio, I recently completed my 250th ride!

You can read more about the rest of our team and find more PR and marketing tips on our blog.