Alumni Profiles
Read about a few of our recent graduates and what they did with a degree in Communication Studies from Merrimack College.
McKenzie Ridings, Class of 2007
Communications Specialist – Public Relations, Marketing, Graphic Design
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Network
As a Communications Specialist at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, I am responsible for coordinating, managing, and implementing all aspects of public and media relations relative to the mission of the hospital. I act as liaison between both national and local press and the Spaulding staff to coordinate stories and interviews. When a patient or a patient’s family is involved, I represent the family by advocating for their best interest and protecting their privacy. Furthermore, I am responsible for creating press releases and organizing photo shoots throughout the Hospital’s network, including 8 outpatients’ sites throughout Eastern Massachusetts. My office carries out website updates and publications for all sites. I also design, write, and publicize the “Spaulding Spotlight,” a tri-weekly internetwork publication that informs the staff about upcoming events, news, and announcements. Designing logos, banners, print and television advertisements, posters, and other publication materials, such as our Annual Report and a Quarterly Newsletter called "Spaulding Now" for the SRH community also falls under my job description. The bulk of my tasks are done in an attempt to market the hospital to other facilities. Finally, I plan and coordinate special events, such as the Channel 7-Partners HealthCare Health Expo and the Teddy Golf Tournament as well as smaller events such as conferences and VIP speakers at the Hospital.
Before each show goes to air, Content Screening is responsible for ensuring the show meets ESPN's standards. We screen shows for inappropriate content and/or language, misspellings and grammatical and/or factual errors. We also watch every game and revise it to fit a particular format. It is the Associate who makes the final decision on how the game will re-air.
Nicholas Apostolides, Class of 2007
Fairmont Gold Supervisor/Private or Personal Concierge
The Fairmont Copley Plaza
We are responsible for all aspects of guest service in daily operation of the Fairmont Gold Department, ensuring the highest levels of guest satisfaction. We see them through from check-in to check-out and make sure their stay with us was everything it could be. We make moments into memories. We develop and maintain strong guest relationships while providing exceptional concierge information. It's up to us to network with the resources of the city be it restaurants, services or attractions. As a concierge, seeing that every guest is different, we must be able to provide tailored recommendations for individual desires. We must establish strong and effective communication with all other departments and supervise all contributing colleagues which includes assuring that the food presentations we offer are held to standards, fully stocked and presentable at all times and promoting the idea of "Going Gold". I am also responsible for the training and development of the Fairmont Gold Team.