JP Faiella, G'02

"Emerson was a place where I was humbled by the talent teaching and surrounding me."

Were you an undergraduate or graduate student, or both?

Graduate student.

Why did you decide to come to Emerson?

Emerson was a place where I was humbled by the talent teaching and surrounding me.
 

How is Emerson a part of your life today?

The agency, which I now run, was recently invited to be part of a grad class run by James Rowean (one of the best instructors I have ever had the pleasure of learning from). We let the class use our clients as the subject of a communications campaign and came in to give our feedback. Also, we are always on the hunt for talent from Emerson!

Describe a favorite Emerson memory.

There are too many to recall! I just remember how truly talented all my fellow classmates were and how amazing the staff and instructors were. Theory is important, but can get mired in academia. Our instructors were in the field working at successful agencies. This made the entire experience for me.

Tell us about an "Emerson Connection."

I cannot say enough about the Emerson staff, especially James Rowean. I was pushed to think out of the box and was given room to express my ideas. As a working professional at the time, I would bring in real-world issues as topics of discussion; I cannot think of a better place than Emerson to learn the classic communication models and the new concepts in the marketplace.

Describe a notable achievement in your career.

Beyond creating successful campaigns with real ROI and securing coverage for our clients in outlets such as the New York Times, The Food Network, Washington Post, Travel & Leisure, and all three major networks to name a few, it all boils down to why you do what you do.

We had a client make two phone calls: one to a bankruptcy attorney and one to our agency. We took on the challenge and that client succeeded due to our efforts. This is a direct result of the skills I learned at Emerson. The same skills we teach to our employees.

What are your goals for the future?

Our growth has been overwhelming. Clients do not want to pay for five different agencies doing five disconnected communication tasks working in isolation. Our second office opened in Philadelphia January 1, 2011 and we plan on opening a new office every three years if this growth model continues.

Describe Emerson in 3 sentences or less.

For me, Emerson was a place where I was humbled by the talent teaching and surrounding me. A place where my voice could be heard and I was treated as both a student and a peer. I would not be where I am today without Emerson.

What advice do you have for incoming students?

Get everything you can out of your time at Emerson. Engage your instructors and your fellow students.

What advice do you have for recent graduates?

Do not come looking for a job trying to show how much you know. As employers we can read a résumé. Demonstrate that you're willing to learn your employer’s way of operating and that you'll work as hard as you can to succeed.

What else should we know?

We're always hiring!