Matt Tarro  Communication Technology, '08 Media Networks Inc. Ad Services Coordinator

COLLEGE MAJOR
I was a Communication Technology major and I had NO clue what I wanted to do career wise while I was going to SHU. I just knew I wanted to graduate with a degree from a great program.

CURRENT POSITION
I am an Ad Services Coordinator for Media Networks Inc. I am the middle man for the ads that are going to be placed in national magazines in local markets. I check everything from color to layout to make sure the ad is ready for print. I also place online ads and check the creative for that as well. More or less I do trafficking to the company hosting the sites.

TYPICAL WORK DAY
My work day starts at 8:30am when I arrive in Stamford. I grab some coffee and go over what I need to do that day. Check my emails and our new Ad Portal where advertisers upload their work. I take down any of my clients ads and process them, this usually takes a few hours to go through all my clients for the week and make the right phone calls and write some emails. Throughout the day I make phone calls to clients running in the next week’s group of magazines and make sure they are ready to get their stuff in on time.

POSITIVES
The people I get to work with. I feel like my job is pretty different from day to day regarding work loads. I work around the magazine dates and when clients get me their ads. I rely a lot on time management and organization to keep things running smoothly.

NEGATIVES
If material is due on Wednesday and a client in California is behind schedule, I can not do anything about getting their ad completed. I have to wait for them to get me what I need. Other than that I would consider myself one of the luckiest people in the industry, I love going to work everyday.

LIFESTYLE
It fits perfectly with my lifestyle. I work with all young and upbeat people who have a great passion for what they do. I have made lifelong friends in a tough industry and hope for the best in the future. I am still the same kid from SHU doing all the same things I love. My weekends are not flooded with work and I can enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.

COLLEGE PREPARATION
I would not do a single thing differently. I was perfectly educated in the various forms of media. I got training for Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop by taking several art classes, I learned Adobe Flash by taking Video Game production, how to work a camera and how to edit what I shot in TV production, and everything else from the Media Studies/ Communication classes I took. However, the greatest part about Sacred Heart is the professors. Taking advantage of their skills and knowledge was the smartest thing I ever did.

CAREER ADVICE
Print Media is a difficult field to get into right now, TV production and Video production are two things I took classes that I really enjoyed. I would look into any form of mass Media and make sure you apply yourself 110%. Everyone reads or watches the news, every company needs branding and logos, and every video needs cameramen and people to edit.

SHU EXPERIENCE
Amazing. I had the best teachers, got hands on experience, and loved every second of it. I also partied like every normal college kid and made the best of everything handed to me.