3 minute read
SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHT
38 | KRNL LIFESTYLE + FASHION hris Poore, former student publications director for the Kentucky Kernel, now uses his knowledge from being a journalist to run his own targeted marketing company called Great Stories LLC.
Advertisement
After graduating from Western Kentucky University in 1991, he worked in the newspaper business for several years before coming to UK, where he worked as a student publications director for the Kernel for 17 years. “Student advisers do everything, from designing, publishing, editing, printing,” Poore said. “Everyone in the organization is getting that experience and it really opens up a whole world of things to learn. My job as an adviser for students taught me that I could do anything.”
He said it’s hard to pick just one favorite memory from his time at the Kernel. Poore now works for his own digital marketing company, which helps businesses develop targeted marketing strategies that help drive sales and business to different companies.
“I like that every day is different, and that I’m challenged to do new things,” Poore said. “The freedom of it is what I like most. It’s not entirely different from what I’ve done before. Journalism helped me learn how to tell a story and celebrate successes, and now I help companies tell their story through different forms to help drive business.”
His job now includes everything from posting social media to paper clip advertisements to attending events such as the Lexington Boat Show.
Poore had lots of great advice for students about the benefits of working for KRNL and the Kernel. “Working for the Kernel and KRNL is amazing for students. Trying everything and putting in as much effort as you can, because it’s giving you the opportunity to have a front row seat to every event on campus,” Poore said.
He said he worries most about the students who aren’t getting involved. If he could go back to his college years and change one thing, he said he would’ve walked into the student newspaper at WKU on the first day, instead of waiting a few semesters to get involved.
Poore had two pieces of advice for students looking for their first job after graduation.
“First, you must make sure that you work for student publications...” Poore said. “Secondly, you need to treat your job search as a job itself. Everything from your resume to your cover letter must be good.”
Poore said he would be happy to hire students who worked for the Kernel or KRNL. In fact, his first hire at Great Stories LLC was Tracey Staley, who was editor-in-chief of the Kernel in 2002. Aside from owning and working for Great Stories LLC, Poore is also a dad, a former farmer and a former owner of a fishing magazine. • BY GRAYSON DAMPIER CHRIS POORE C
BY COURTNEY CAVALLO TRACEY STALEY
s an undergraduate, Tracey Staley held a variety of positions at the Kentucky Kernel. In 2002, she became the editor-in-chief, and she developed not only her journalism skills but also her leadership skills.
Originally from Hazard, Kentucky, Staley has lived in Dayton, Ohio, since 2004. She currently works alongside Chris Poore with his targeted marketing company, Great Stories LLC.
The skills she acquired from her time at the Kernel have allowed her to work with newspapers and non-profit organizations and in a variety of communication roles.
Depending on the client, she finds herself working on digital advertising and content development. However, her workdays are diverse— she could be working on a Facebook campaign for one client and increasing search engine optimization for another.
“Keep learning,” Staley said to undergraduate students interested in fields related to student media like the Kernel and KRNL. Those fields are rapidly changing, she said, so it’s important to watch what “really great storytellers” are doing.
“Keeping your skills sharp just in the core areas that you’ve learned from either working at the Kernel or KRNL magazine and being curious will help you grow and learn as you figure out what your career is going to be.” • A
