Newhouse School of Communications
Ad Man
October 26, 2009
by Deaundra Cash
Eric Mower, CEO of the Syracuse-based advertising and public relations firm Eric Mower and Associates (EMA), visited the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications on Tuesday, October 20. His lecture, “How to Get Your Name on the Door,” helped students understand the two career paths they can take in the advertising industry.
Mower received his Master’s Degree in Public Relations from the Newhouse School. Shortly after, he started Eric Mower and Associates. “It takes people to run the company,” Mower said of his successful firm, which has been in business for more than 40 years. “We have had the ability over the years to attract people that will make us a better company.”
There are 15,000 advertising agencies in the US offering media, advertising, public relations and other services for their clients. Mower and Associates is a fairly mid-sized company with eight locations throughout the east coast.
Mower discussed some of the effects the recession is having on the advertising business and cited the closing of J Walter Thompson's Chicago office this past April. “The recession continues to take its toll,” he said. “The job cuts keep coming.”
But don't worry, advertising majors, there are still jobs out there, Mower encouraged students. “Are you still interested?" he asked as the audience laughed.
He discussed the two career paths for advertising majors, joining an established company or starting your own business. Mower pointed out five critical things students should understand when considering a job in advertising. His five points included being a sore loser, the theory of chaos, legal and ethical issues, life is not fair and being good at your talent.
Mower warned students about the issue of agency size. “Once an agency gets really big, it's hard to run it,” he said. But he also suggested students consider some of the perks of owning one's own business: you will have no defined job, your name will be on the door, and you will grow from your successes and failures.
Watch Eric Mower's speech, "How to Get Your Name on the Door" by clicking on the links below:
