A new “Jason Bourne” movie will hit theaters July 29.
If you’ve seen the trailer, you’ll recall an intense car chase scene on the Las Vegas Strip. There are explosions, crashes and edge-of-your-seat theatrics.
Brittany Harris helped make that happen.
Harris graduated from High Point University with a communication degree in 2011. Today, she’s the public relations manager at MGM Resorts International in Vegas, where she oversees the company’s domestic and international media visits and interactions.
MGM Resorts owns some of the most iconic resorts on The Strip including Bellagio, MGM Grand, The Mirage, Mandalay Bay, Circus Circus and more. It’s a multi-billion dollar corporation that was named one of the world’s most admired companies by Fortune magazine.
Managing media for such a renowned company is no easy task, yet Harris’ time at HPU prepared her to shine.
Life in the Fast Lane
So, what does it take to shut down the entire Las Vegas strip for nearly 12 hours?
Just ask Harris.
During filming for “Jason Bourne,” she worked with MGM hotel partners and the Clark Country traffic team to shut down the strip on multiple evenings from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. the next morning. During that time frame, security officers redirected traffic while the movie’s camera crew ran multiple takes of the crash.
“There were so many meetings, phone calls and text messages that led up to that scene,” says Harris, a native of Orangeburg, South Carolina. “It was my job to coordinate with the appropriate departments at each resort to ensure Security was in place, all exterior lights on our resorts were on so that they looked great on camera, various signs were removed from the valet area, and holding visitors and guests so that they weren’t in the line of fire. We also worked diligently to keep guests from taking photos and videos so as not to spoil the surprise of the movie.”
Working in public relations brings new challenges each day, Harris says. She constantly fields requests from various media outlets that want to feature MGM Resorts in their magazines, newspapers, TV shows and movies. She also manages PR efforts for Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, The Fountains of Bellagio and the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at Bellagio.
From Competence to Confidence
In order to help portray a positive image to the media, part of Harris’ job includes touring media outlets around MGM properties. During her first week on the job, she had to learn tour scripts for each of the 10+ resorts on The Strip.
However, the task didn’t daunt her; she was already used to giving tours to potential freshmen and families as a student ambassador at HPU.
“Immediately I thought about my time as a student ambassador and learning the tour script and routes for campus,” Harris says. “It may seem small, but it made such a difference in how quickly I was able to pick up the route and information because I had been exposed to it for three years prior. As a 22-year-old working for a Fortune 500 company and trying to prove my worth, it was an awesome feeling.”
That’s not the only way Harris’ time at HPU has helped her excel at MGM.
She also gives credit to her mentor Dr. Wilfred Tremblay, dean of the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication. He gave her a simple piece of advice that she continues to come back to.
“I remember our first meeting like it was yesterday,” Harris says. “Dr. Tremblay said, ‘Put down your phone and pick up a newspaper. If you want to work in this field, you need to know what’s going on around you.’ To this day, that advice helps me with crafting timely and effective media pitches, knowing when to and when not to distribute a press release based on what’s happening in the news, and implementing new ideas within my department. I will forever be indebted to him for his support, guidance and candor.”
A Future Framed with Success
So, what does it take to land a job at a top company like MGM Resorts International?
“Complete an internship every year or summer,” Harris recommends. “Having a degree is simply not enough. Employers want to know that you’ve taken the initiative and have worked in a professional setting, even in entry-level positions. It shows that you’re hungry and devoted to putting your studies into practice.”
Harris took the initiative. And she’s constantly reminded of how it’s paid off.
Like during one of the most recent events at T-Mobile Arena: the Canelo vs. Khan pro boxing match.
From the floor of the arena, Harris turns on her walkie radio, puts on her flats and prepares for a night of screaming fans and hundreds of media stories and requests.
She also loves watching the city transform as the sun goes down. She finds the bright lights, neon signs and constant hum of crowds, cars and casinos invigorating.
Yet she doesn’t forget her roots – her family back home in South Carolina, or the four years at HPU that gave her wings to soar in this hectic lifestyle.
“From the moment I stepped on campus at HPU, I was treated like an adult; responsible for my own decisions and their outcomes, given the opportunity to prioritize tasks, studies and extracurricular activities on my own. I really think that that helped me grow up and prepared me for life on my own, now over 2,000 miles away from my family and friends.
“HPU gave me the courage to chase my dreams, because I was constantly instilled with the ideal that nothing is impossible.”
Because of that ideal, Harris thrives.
Shining bright indeed.