Ear on Careers – Mary Dann-McNamee, Wedding Planner
June 23, 2010
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In this episode of “Ear on Careers,” we are pleased to welcome Mary Dann-McNamee, founder of Mary Dann Wedding & Party Coordinators located in Manhattan Beach, California. Mary is one of the most sought-after event coordinators in Southern California, as well as on-air talent for the Style Network’s “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?” and “Married Away,” and the WE Network’s “Platinum Weddings.” She also is a published author and contributor to many prestigious wedding magazines.
Mary Dann, Wedding Planner
Mary graduated from Fullerton College in California, a two year junior college, with an Associate in Arts degree in Visual Merchandising. She went on to study at California State University, Chico (commonly called Chico State), and majored in business administration. Mary worked as a waitress in order to put herself through both Fullerton College and Chico State. After working in the hospitality industry and starting her wedding planning business, Mary went to graduate school at Antioch University in Marina del Rey, CA, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology.
In the podcast, Mary explains her path to becoming a wedding planner, which began at the tender age of 5 when she wanted to make something special for her guests! Mary’s first stop after college was at the Ritz Carlton, where she made wonderful contacts and learned about the wedding business from the perspective of the venue. She started Mary Dann Wedding & Party Coordinators in 1991, with weddings being her specialty. In order to be able to give the tools for emotional support to her brides, Mary became a licensed marriage therapist. She feels that college prepared her well for being an entrepreneur, as she learned skills in multitasking and finance, as well as gained her independence.
Listen as Mary describes a “typical day” for her, balancing her family and work lives. She shares a war story from her early days as a wedding planner, and another one captured on the television show “Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?” In addition, Mary expresses her surprises in the field and offers tips for budding wedding planners. We hope this very informative podcast gives you insight into the exciting and fun – but also challenging and stressful – career as a wedding planner.
Mary’s book, “Wedding Wisdom” is available at www.amazon.com. If you prefer to receive your hardcover book autographed by Mary, go to www.marydann.com/book.
Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s premiere “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.” This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.
We welcome your feedback and ideas. Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.
The Benefits of Private Tutoring
June 16, 2010
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In this podcast, Mike Rivera, co-founder, tutor and college counselor with Top-Tier Tutoring, discusses the benefits that can be achieved in one-on-one tutoring.
During the podcast, Mike gives a historical overview of private tutoring as mainly for the affluent members of society. In today’s world, many students are taking advantage of private tutoring as a way to either help understand topics taught in class, or to stimulate academic challenges, or to help achieving students score even higher on standardized tests ranging from the SAT to the ACT to AP exams. Having a tutor is seen as a cool, status symbol.
Listen as Mike offers insightful questions that you should ask any prospective tutor before making a hiring decision. One of the most important questions to ask is the teaching methodology of the tutor, or the tutoring center, you are considering. Specifically, you will want to know if the private tutoring is curriculum-based or is constructed around your child’s exact needs. Simply because tutoring is going to be one-on-one does not necessarily mean that the sessions will be tailored to the student’s needs.
Mike provides you with great information when you are starting to search for a tutor. The benefits of private, non-curriculum based tutoring, such as offered at Top-Tier Tutoring, are well documented and, in many cases, dramatic. Of course, the tutor cannot do the student’s homework, but working together as a team, superior results can be achieved.
As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas. Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.
Ear on Careers – Marketing and PR Professional, Abe Kasbo
June 9, 2010
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Abe Kasbo, Marketing & PR Professional
In this episode of “Ear on Careers,” we are pleased to welcome Abe Kasbo, founder and CEO of the integrated marketing and public relations firm Verasoni Worldwide located in Fairfield, New Jersey. Verasoni delivers meaningful strategies and campaigns across traditional and new media for its clients located in the United States, Canada and the Middle East.
Abe was born in Syria and emigrated to the United States at the age of 10. He holds both a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in English, as well as a Masters in Public Administration (health care track), from Seton Hall University in New Jersey. Abe decided upon his undergraduate major because he was always interested in political discourse to understand why things work as they do in a society. An undergraduate professor guided him to his post-graduate area of study. Notably, Abe worked full-time on Wall Street while attending graduate school full-time.
In the podcast, Abe explains his circuitous path to the founding of Verasoni, which included stops at Wall Street, teaching, a technology firm and the marketing departments at a couple of hospitals. Essentially self-taught in marketing and PR, he approaches each project both as a professional and a student in order to become the best client advocate. His experience has given him a perspective on how a business ought to communicate with its customers, and Abe builds campaigns based on business objectives.
Listen as Abe describes a “typical day” for him as a marketing and PR professional. He shares a hair-raising war story about how he turned “get the Hell out!” into a positive experience. In addition, Abe expresses his surprises in the field and offers tips for those contemplating following in his footsteps, including how his formal education has been brought to bear on his current vocation. We hope this very informative podcast gives you insight into the dynamic field of marketing and public relations, and perhaps sets you upon a new course for your career.
Top-Tier Tutoring is very excited to bring you the web’s premiere “career day” podcast series – what we call “Ear on Careers.” This series of podcasts is designed to introduce our listeners to successful leaders in a variety of different fields, including business, industry, medicine, the arts, and so much more.
We welcome your feedback and ideas. Please submit a comment below, send us an email or give us a call at 973-243-1212.
What Is College Counseling?
June 2, 2010
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
In this podcast, Mike Rivera, co-founder, college counselor and tutor with Top-Tier Tutoring, discusses what is, exactly, college counseling – and what it is not.
Mike Rivera, college counselor, with student
You probably have heard the term “college counseling” bandied about in several different contexts. During this podcast, Mike discusses what is encompassed by this term – guiding high school students through the college application process, understanding the student’s interests, goals and ambitions, recommending classes, extracurricular activities and volunteer work, crafting a college list, counseling about the required essays, obtaining recommendations, coordinating college visits, preparing for the college interview – the list goes on and on! College counseling also includes managing expectations and setting reasonable goals, both for the student and the parents. The best part of college counseling, Mike admits, is celebrating acceptances.
During the podcast, Mike does offer a word of caution. No college counselor can offer a guarantee of admission to a particular college or university. Please keep this fact in mind when looking for a qualified college counselor!
