Whether on Capitol Hill or in Manhattan’s Financial District, Zef Vataj ’14 is on the fast track in his career. Currently in a paid internship at the NYC-based PR firm BerlinRosen, Vataj handles six accounts, mostly real estate, managing their day-to-day media. His work includes writing press releases, pitching stories to media outlets, and monitoring the media for any mentions of clients.
“It’s exciting work and the culture is fantastic! I didn’t have a background in real estate PR before coming to BR, but have really enjoyed it. It’s an area I’d like to explore further,” comments Vataj.
To be sure, his current work is a definite shift from previous career endeavors, which were focused solely in the political arena. A recent graduate of Saint Anselm College with a BA in political science, Vataj had devoted much of his time interning in local, state, and national government. His resume boasts experience in the offices of the New York State Attorney General, the US Senate office of New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, and in his junior year, a 5-month full-time internship in the Washington, D.C. office of Senator Chuck Schumer.
“My time on the Hill was definitely a high point for me. I was able to see firsthand how a congressional office is run — with responsibilities that involved everything from attending committee meetings, to lobbying for specific agendas, to constituent outreach. It was truly a capstone experience in my college career,” Vataj explained.
Although he continued to pursue politics right out of college (Vataj’s first “real job” last summer, was to run the campaign finance portfolio for New Hampshire Secretary of State candidate Colin Van Ostern), he was beginning to feel a call to other pursuits, which led him directly to New York City and BerlinRosen. While Vataj does have one client in the political arena, his real estate accounts comprise the bulk of his workload, and he is glad for the expansion in his skillset and experience.
When asked about Trinity-Pawling, Vataj states: “My time at the School has influenced every single aspect of my college and work experience. I give all credit to Trinity-Pawling, and to Mr. Mead, who ignited my love of government.”
Godspeed Zef, as you race onward in your career! We look forward to following your success.
by Kate Vengrove