Name: Ashley Kitchel
School: University of Georgia
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Journalism – Public Relations and Master of Arts in Advertising

Describe yourself in one word.
Enthusiastic.

What’s your personal motto right now?
“Normal is an illusion, what’s normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.” I’m pretty sure that’s from a really old episode of The Addams Family. It helps me remember that everyone is different, all clients are different and their needs will be unique. It also helps me remember to embrace differences in people.

If there’s one place on earth that you could visit, where would it be and why?
I want to go everywhere, but recently I’ve had a yen to go to Africa. I love animals, so anywhere I can experience animals in their natural habitat is thrilling. I visited Australia for a month during college and got the chance to hold koalas and pet kangaroos, but I would definitely keep my distance from the African fauna.

What was your favorite thing to do as a child?
I have always been an avid reader but I don’t think I had one favorite activity. I grew up in Gainesville, so I spent a lot of the time on the lake, playing with my friends or reading Harry Potter. When I was really little, my friend and I would put on “talent shows” for her family… I hope they don’t have any pictures!

What led you to this industry?
To be honest, my older sister was a communications major so I sort of followed in her footsteps. But I fell in love with Grady College at UGA. I kept going and got a master’s degree because I wanted to learn more about the public relations and advertising industry. You have to be strategic and creative in this industry, which are two aspects of work I enjoy.

What living creative person do you admire most? Why?
I probably admire the minds behind creative campaigns more than one specific creative person. This past year my two favorite creative campaigns were “Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables” by Marcel for Intermaché in France and “Color for the Colorblind” by FCB Chicago for Valspar. They showcase their clients in intriguing ways that make the audience want to learn more.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
So far, probably getting my master’s degree, I took an accelerated program so I could finish in a year. It was incredibly difficult but I’m really glad I fought through it.

Do you have a favorite all-time ad campaign? If so, which one?
It’s hard to pick just one…but this past year my favorite campaign was Honey Maid’s “This is Wholesome” campaign. It highlights the restructuring of what is considered a wholesome family by breaking down the traditional stereotype.

What’s your favorite jam to listen to while working?
This sounds weird but I tend to want to sing along and dance when I have music playing…so I usually have old episodes of Gilmore Girls or Grey’s Anatomy playing in the background when I work.

If you were awarded a yearbook superlative this year, what would it be and why?
Well in high school I was voted Best Personality my senior year and I still think that’s applicable because I like forming and maintaining new relationships with different people. If I had to pick a specific superlative for this year, it would be Most Tenacious because I want to learn and experience as much in our industry as possible.

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