Eyebrows usually raise skeptically when comparing a small community like Clarkston with Washington, D.C.
Elly Spinweber, of Reingold Inc., works in Washington D.C. and has experienced those parallels. Before launching her career in public relations, she traipsed around Independence Township covering meetings and other community events as a Clarkston News intern in the summer of 2000.
‘The internship was really getting into the way the city works and getting to know the business owners. It was a very positive, hands-on experience,? said Spinweber.
Spinweber interned after her sophomore year at Penn State University, spending three days a week at The Clarkston News and two days at The Davison Index. She covered features, stories about area businesses and board and planning commission meetings; gaining insight applicable to her work now.
‘Being at Clarkston and Davison was a really good experience? that summer gave me a feeling of how communities operate,? said Spinweber.
Working in public relations for Reingold Inc., Spinweber deals with many communities in that area and uses knowledge gained during her internship in Clarkston to navigate the intricacies of municipalities and town government.
Upon returning to Penn State University after her internship, Spinweber graduated in Dec. of 2002 with a double major in international politics and journalism. Throughout her college career, she worked at the newspaper, The Collegian, ran by students independent of the university.
‘I was always interested in journalism. I like the structure of talking to sources and putting together a story,? said Spinweber.
While at PSU, Spinweber interned for Reingold Inc., a communications firm that deals with many nonprofit and government agencies. She was hired in Jan. 2003 into a public relations consultant position by Reingold that currently requires her to write, edit and perform media relations.
‘I really enjoy working with nonprofit organizations? you’re helping organizations help people who can’t help themselves all the time,? said Spinweber.
Working with Operation Smile represents one of Spinweber’s proudest accomplishments at Reingold. Operation Smile is an international nonprofit organization that travels to developing countries to surgically correct children’s facial deformities , like cleft lip and cleft palates. According to Spinweber, the project strives to train medical professionals in the target area so the infrastructure to treat the deformation exists long after the organization leaves.
‘It started in the Philippines (in 1982) and they don’t have to go there anymore because now the doctors can perform the procedures on their own,? said Spinweber.
Spinweber’s writing and editing skills have been used in several projects with Reingold.
‘I rewrote the mission statement for Operation Smile and its on all their materials and press releases? they needed it to be less than 35 words, but I enjoy that kind of stuff,? said Spinweber, noting the pride she feels when seeing her work read by many people.
Even with the excitement of Washington, D.C., Spinweber said she misses her family and looks forward to trips back to Clarkston on holidays.
Spinweber’s parents, David and Carol, live in Clarkston. Her sister Allison, 21, attends the University of Michigan, while her other sister Caitlin, 16, attends Clarkston High School.