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Behind the Scenes Blog Queen

angela
Adventurer C
 pb-sweetgirl.jpg When I left Public Relations a year ago, the blog had launched just two months earlier and was still an infant. It was hard to leave my "baby" behind to take on a new job role in Marketing, but I left it in very capable hands. I know most of you know Brian, a.k.a. "Blog Boy," but I'd like to introduce you to the other person who works tirelessly, day in and day out, to make sure this blog is fun, interesting, and a bit wacky. Paula Berg is our behind-the-scenes Blog Queen and I recently went behind her back and asked some of her friends and Coworkers, "Who is Paula Berg?" Paula Berg is... ...the most real person you will ever meet, the first person people put on their guest list when throwing a party, adorable, honest, creative and brilliant! Submitted by Brandy King, Coworker and PR Manager ...passionate about this relatively new concept--the blog--that allows Customers and Employees to connect on common interests.  She is tireless in her efforts and understands how important it is for companies to be transparent in their communications with Customers. Submitted by Ginger Hardage, Sr. VP of Corporate Communications paula-smile.jpg...Paula is a true friend and the best person in the world to travel with.  I don't think I could trek through Iceland, get stranded in Frankfurt, or get left by the bus in Vienna with anyone but Paula.  She makes every moment count...  Submitted by Marilee McInnis, Coworker and PR Manager ...nice enough to post my jokes so she can't be all that bad. Submitted by Jill Howard-Allen, Manager Business Support Projects and "Nuts" Blogger paula-and-whitney.JPG...the best story teller that has ever walked the Earth.  No one else has her cornucopia of knowledge about waxing, ethnic men, jalapenos, Central Market, body wraps, drinking, political movies that only air at 2 am, and making friends with strangers.  Can't wait to read her book! Submitted by Whitney Eichinger,Coworker and PR Manager ...wacky, off-the-wall, immensely talented, big-hearted, dedicated, and the perfect 'audience' for my puns.  When she gets this certain twinkle in her eye, I know that she is about to share one of her unusual "Paula" stories that almost always leave me LMAO. Submitted by Brian Lusk, "Blog Boy" paula-and-ice-cream.JPGand Manager of Customer Communications/Corporate Editor ...a future President of the United States Submitted by Chris Mainz, co-worker and PR Specialist  ...the best storyteller you will ever meet. No topic is taboo, and she's not afraid to laugh at herself, which makes her an immensely enjoyable person to be around (and here at Southwest, we work a lot, so we're around her A LOT!!). Submitted by Linda Rutherford, VP of Public Relations and Community Affairs I posted some pics of Paula so you can buy her a drink if you ever run into her at a Southwest airport. I promise you that it will be entertaining. You'll leave with some great stories and a new friend. Thanks, PB, for keeping the blog alive behind the scenes. You rock.  paula-and-angela.JPG
28 Comments
Steven9
Explorer C
Girl! You are awesome! Keep up the great work!
drew
Adventurer B
Paula Berg is... ...blessed with her own page'o'quotes at thinkexist.com (http://thinkexist.com/quotes/paula_berg/). What's next? A Wikipedia entry? A fan site? (paulaberg.com is already taken -- we might need "Malice in Dallas II" with the similarly-named Boston attorney to settle that issue) Inclusion into Bartlett's Familiar Quotations? 😄
Rick_Sauter2
Explorer C
Kudos to Paula, Angela and the entire communications team down there at Southwest for making this an enjoyable as well as informative place to stop by. You would like to know that at the New Media Summit event that we put on last week with Cisco, this blog was brought up several times in conversations and SWA was one of the companies that "gets it" when it comes to New Media. Keep up the great work!!
FriendofBlogBoy
Frequent Flyer B
Paula, You're awesome, smart, fun and a neat person to know! You definitely deserve this "shout-out" from Angela, and I'm honored to be your friend! Best wishes always, Kim External Blog Boy 🙂
Anonymous3211
Explorer C
I would like to see a blog about what cities people here would like to see Southwest fly to that they don't already go to now. I fly to MSP a lot but wait for DING specials to Chicago's Midway from BWI or IAD then switch to another airline but it would be nice if SWA went there. I'm stuck paying taxes twice but it's still less than other airlines charge sometimes.
pberg
Frequent Flyer B
Oh you guys! I feel so LUVedÃ
pcerda
Adventurer B
Paula Berg is... Absolutely a FUN luving girl! She has this incredible aura around her and a glow that lights up a room as soon as she enters. Her hospitality is awesome, her sense of humor is impeccable, and she is an incredible conversationalist. Jedi Blog Master
Francisco_Delga1
Adventurer A
Can I have your autograph?? Whenever you are in SAN and i am actually there i will have to buy u a drink....keep up the good work.. this blog has brought me new friends..... USS BLOG BOY
Scott5
Adventurer A
Paula Berg is a person whose name I use to obtain news on Southwest that doesn't always come in under Southwest Airlines. I also use Whitney's name to do the same thing. Great job both of you.
Scott5
Adventurer A
Soooo... who is going to be the first author of the Paula Berg Wikipedia entry?
Dan_Smith2
Explorer C
I'm enthusiastic about blogging but my 'day job' company is not yet. Any studies at Southwest about blogging having an impact on employees? (It's of course more than 'academic' interest.)
cadams
Adventurer B
Why has no one mentioned her BEAUTY? She has a Meg Ryan quality. In the few times I've been around her she makes me feel like a true friend! Here's a toast to Angela - CHEERS! Carole
Tania_Sotomayor
Explorer C
Those who get the chance to meet her are truly lucky....She is a friend for life!
Tim15
Explorer C
Start up the doubles and triples again or it will be time to hit the road. I am a loyal, but nearly gone, customer. I might as well start collecting International miles on a different airline at this rate.
klk_in_okc
Explorer C
Paula was a fabulous speaker. I just heard her speak today at a conference and she was awesome. I can see why this blog and SW is so successful. Thanks for coming to OKC!
kfrancis1
Adventurer C
I've been around Paula a little and she's electric!!!! Nice shout out Angela!
Tiffany_Monholl
Explorer C
I'd have to say that after meeting her, Paula is definitely the type of person who's an immediate friend. Thanks for taking the time to travel to OKC and talk to us about this blog. And thanks for the cookbook!
JerrGrobe
Explorer C
Paula, I love SWA, everyone who works for them are special to me. Three and a half years ago I lost my best friend, my daughter , Lindsay Kent. She was a flght attendent for SWA. Lindsay, her boyfriend, and two other friends were klled in a boating accident. Part of me died that September day, but I have to tell you SWA were so good to Lindsays family and friends. I could never thank them enough for their genuine concern for us. They really are a family. Some of Lindsays best friends are SWA flight attendants, and they come visit me four to six times a year. I feel like part of Lindsay lives in them, and it is a comfort to know how much they love her too! I will always be partial to SWA, and I do public relations for them all the time. Whatever SWA does to make the closeness between their employees, keep up the good work. I like to believe they only hire the greatest people. Lakendra Harper and Pam Ralls are what SWA is made of. Thanks again for the compassion SWA has. Sincerely, Jerri Grobe
Juan_F__Fernand
Explorer C
Paula is incredible. I was fortunate enough to sit in the cube next to hers back in the days when she used to work for Customer Relations. She will always have a happy face, nice smile despite of what she would be going through that day. She is a person you want to be around with. I have not seen her for probably a year or so, even though we work at Headquarters. Can you believe it? Anyway, she is a keeper. Sincerely, Juan F.
martha_whitesel
Explorer C
hey paula. just an old friend from high school who stumbled upon this sight. it sounds like you haven't changed a bit! glad to see that. you were always the spunkiest girl on the cheer squad. love ya martha (ball)
John_J__Tormey_
Explorer C
Never mind "wacky", and "off-the-wall" - "behind-the-scenes Blog Queen", and "Nuts about Southwest" really say it all for me. To Paula Berg of Southwest Airlines, their apparent "behind-the-scenes Blog Queen" as quoted above, who herself says, regarding the events of March 6-7, 2008 and the record US$10,200,000 in fines racked up by Southwest: "...this situation was never and is not now a safety of flight issue". Nonsense, Paula. Cracks in airplanes? Nonsense, Paula. I've been around publicists and other entertainment folk for over 20 years, and I have heard better publicity emanating from self-plugging screenwriters on acid. And Paula, as for "[t]he FAA approved our actions and considered the matter closed as of April 2007". Nonsense, Paula. It's not "closed", until WE the PUBLIC say it is closed! Take that back to your superiors for me - and tell them that we are just getting started. John J. Tormey III, Esq. Quiet Rockland
Kitty_Costa
Explorer C
Hey Paula! Ned and I will be flying Southwest for the first time in June. I accidentally found this site when trying to acquaint myself with SWA. I enjoyed reading all of the comments from your co-workers - you haven't changed a bit. You are still the same Paula that I knew as a little girl and I am thrilled to see how successful you are - although I am not surprised. Would love to see you the next time you are here to see your parents. Hope that SWA will live up to it's reputation. p.s. your smile is the same "Paula" sparkle I remember
PDX_Mama
Explorer C
Paula- I was looking for your email address but found this page, and hope you receive my comment. I am deeply distressed about flying with my husband and our 2 year old son tomorrow. This will be our first flight on SWA in years, since we've become avid ORBITZ customers, generally getting great fares and service through them on other airlines. Before using Orbitz, I flew with SWA frequently. Our parents bought us tickets to fly from Portland to Salt Lake City tomorrow for a family reunion, and after learning more about your lack of pre-boarding for families, I am dreading our flight. Flying is a big deal for us- it's not something we get to do very often as a family. We want to share a 3 seat row and talk with our son about what he is seeing out the window. Kai needs both his father and me with him- We've been talking about this flight with him for weeks- and he expects that we will all be flying together. Now I didn't know that SWA had switched to the ABC group system. The confirmation email we received said NOTHING about obtaining a boarding pass online 24 hours before the flight. It really, REALLY should have. As it stands we are in group B with no guarantee we are going to be able to get 3 seats together tomorrow. Here's what you need to do- reinstate family pre-boarding. If you want families further back in the plane, then tell them they have to go there- but put changing tables in the rear restroom, for goodness sake! Or, how about informing your passengers, CLEARLY, on their confirmation emails that if they want to sit together, they need to check in online 24 hours in advance. That would be a nice disclosure. Tomorrow, we're going, we'll do everything we can to make it work. If we get on that plane and can't get 3 seats together, we will enlist the aid of a flight attendant, and we will not sit down until we have seats with our son. Now on the return trip, we'll be sure to check in 24 hours in advance. But on this trip, what can we do but stand our ground? And I will feel terrible about holding up the plane potentially, or inconveniencing other passengers- but at this point, what else can we do? This was your chance to win old customers back. My son and I fly frequently together- it's just a rare treat for us to bring Daddy with us. Instead, we will use every means available to us to either recommend or warn off other families from your airline, depending on how the flight goes for us tomorrow. Please email me if you can possibly make arrangements for us, for tomorrow's flight.
pberg
Frequent Flyer B
Dear, PDX Mama - I’m afraid I may be responding to your message after your flight. If that is the case, I apologize, and I certainly hope it was better than you anticipated. We have made many enhancements to our service since you last traveled with us, and I regret that those changes may have left you feeling uncomfortable or uncertain. Flying can be such an exciting experience for a child, and I certainly understand the importance of sharing a row with both your husband and your son! With our current boarding system, that should never be a problem. While we have always boarded our aircraft in groups (previously 1-30, 30-60, etc., and now groups A, B, and C), we have refined the process to be more streamlined and comfortable for our Customers. And, families traveling with small children are still encouraged to pre-board our aircraft prior to Customers in our B and C boarding groups. Clearly, this information was not made clear by the confirmation email that we sent you, and for that I do apologize. If you refer to the bottom of the email, you should find a gray box titled “Additional Information for Travelers.” In that box there are hyperlinks to the following information: Online Checkin; Free Baggage Allowance; Checkin Requirements; Print Security Document; Inflight Service; Travel Tips; Refund Information; Privacy Policy; and Southwest Airlines Destinations. There is also a link that let’s you know that we can notify you of your flight departure or arrival status via text message on your cell phone, pager, PDA, or email. Again, although you mention that you obtained boarding passes in the B group, as a family boarding with a small child you are permitted to board before both the B and C groups. As such, you should have had no trouble finding seats with your family. That said, in the unusual situation that the requested seating is not available; our Flight Attendants are more than happy to accommodate our traveling families. If you still have questions or concerns, please check out this video, which offers several tips for traveling with your child on Southwest Airlines: http://www.blogsouthwest.com/video/baby-board I hope that your experience today was smooth and has allayed any concerns you may have had about traveling with us. We certainly appreciate your business and would love to see you onboard anytime you travel! Paula Berg Southwest Airlines
Brent_Miller
Explorer C
Paula helped me get my lost luggage back! Thanks Paula.
paula_berg1
Explorer C
SWA is my favorite airline and low and behold I googled my name and ther was another Paula Berg. What a great discovery to see I sharemy name with a wonderful and loved person such as you. Keep up the good work and doing our name justice. Paula Berg Colorado
pberg
Frequent Flyer B
Paula - OMG...how bizarre. I've gone my enitre life without hardly meeting another Paula or another Berg, and now you're the third Paula Berg I've met in the past year. CRAZY. And, I'm actually moving to Colorado at the end of the month, so there will now be two of us in the Rocky Mountains. 🙂
blusk
Aviator C
My turn to say OMG. I can't imagine being in a room with two Paula Bergs. Blog Boy