One year went by and I was still struggling to find an internship. The quest to land a professional opportunity in the communications field as an international student tested my nerves and shook my confidence deeply. Up to this point, leaving my home, entering a shark cage without knowing how to swim, and jumping out […]
Category: Perspective
Unleashing Business Insights: The Power of Power BI
For the last 15 years, I have supported Federal agencies and businesses of all shapes and sizes. And the one thing they have in common is siloed data systems. Each system has a story to tell, but until they are connected, the story ends with a cliffhanger. Before Microsoft’s Power BI, analyzing an organization’s […]
Around the Table with Shelley Scalzo Brown
Welcome to Around the Table, a regular series where we talk to fascinating people in our network and share the incredible work they are doing in their community. Pull up a chair and join us for conversation and connection. Name: Shelley Scalzo Brown, Operations and Risk Management Leader, specializing in Corporate Safety, Environmental Management, Business […]
The Impact of Masterful Marketing and the Legacy of the ‘85 Chicago Bears
For some, watching the Super Bowl is synonymous with eagerly anticipating these marketing mini-masterpieces, some of which linger in the minds of millions for a lifetime – I’m looking at you, Coca-Cola Polar Bears! Hailing from Illinois, my unwavering loyalty lies with the Chicago Bears, a football team forever etched in the chronicles of NFL […]
The Crucial Role of Public Engagement on Transit Equity Day
Transit Equity Day, observed on February 4, underscores the crucial need to champion inclusive public transit solutions accommodating users of diverse backgrounds, irrespective of socioeconomic status, geographic location, accessibility requirements, or demographic traits. It simultaneously honors Rosa Parks’ courageous act in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1955, emphasizing the imperative role of community engagement in acknowledging and […]
Embracing the Unknown
When I came to Avid Core, not only was I starting a new chapter in my life, but I was also at a crossroads. I had just started my first semester of graduate school at American University working towards a masters in a completely different field than either of my undergraduate degrees. I started living […]
Reflecting on Avid Core’s 4-Day Workweek
Virginia Quiambao Arroyo and Amanda Roberts are co-founders of Avid Core, Inc, a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Small, Woman, and Minority-owned (SWaM)-certified communications firm based out of Woodbridge, Virginia. As a “people first” company, Avid Core consistently tries to explore ways through which to improve transparency in the things we do—both in terms of […]
Striking the Right Tone on Social Media
There is no clear guidebook for how to create social media content in the communications field. This is simultaneously one of the hardest aspects of this career path and one of its best. The lack of a clear guide allows for more individual creativity and expression. But it is not just about finding your own […]
Finding Support for My Internal Struggle
My internship with Avid Core started in April 2022 and when it started, I didn’t have a real idea of what a communications firm did. I had a vague idea that it was to “spread information to others” and once time came to start my role, it was very overwhelming for me. Not necessarily because […]
Ready for My Next Stage
Reflecting on my time at Avid Core, I’ve realized this is one of those experiences that has deeply formed me and prepared me for the next stage of my life. I was provided with an amazing opportunity to produce, create and collaborate on meaningful work in the communications field with a diverse set of clients […]