Introducing Michelle Bauer, President and Founder of Common Language in St. Petersburg, Florida. With more than 20 years of experience, Michelle founded Common Language with the hope of putting diverse skills, connections and knowledge she has gained over the years to work. To gain more insights on Michelle’s wealth of knowledge continue reading below!

Getting to know you…
Name:  Michelle Bauer

Agency:  Common Language

Position: President

First job in PR: Joanne Creveling Public Relations, NY, NY, 1987

Your insights…

Most loved thing about being in PR:  Doing strategy with clients

Best source for breaking PR news: twitter

Number one recommendation to new PR professionals: Know how to sell.  Because if you can sell your ideas, your agency, your clients, and eventually yourself (as an entrepreneur or freelancer – because we all seem to end up in these roles at some point in our careers) – you’ll always have work to do.

About Counselors Academy…

Most valuable aspect of being a Counselors Academy member:  Face to face interaction at the Conference with some truly smart people whose experience I want to soak up.  What a terrific group of people who are so generous with their guidance and ideas!

Role on the planning committee:  Not sure what specifically…I believe I’m providing general support, where I might be needed…

Best thing about the Counselors Academy conference:  See my answer about being a Counselors Academy member…

Most fun memory of a Counselors Academy conference: Having a drink at a hotel bar in New Orleans last year where this truly world class group of musicians – who all must have been in their 70s – played one of the most remarkable live jazz sets I’ve ever heard in my life.  That was an amazing, unexpected, and truly memorable evening.

 

Counselors Academy Member Spotlight Blog Series: 

Our very own Dana Hughens is the PRSA’s Counselors Academy Conference Chair for the 2013 conference June 9-11 in Austin, Texas. As conference chair, she has the privilege to work with other members of the conference planning committee, which consists of senior-level PR counselors and agency owners from across the United States and Canada. We caught up with these PR pros to find out their secret to success and what they love most about Counselors Academy.

Welcome Martin Waxman, Principal at Martin Waxman Communications.  A Toronto resident, Martin is involved in all things digital and has co-founded three agencies during his career. Keep reading to find out what Martin will be up during the 2013 Conference!

Getting to know you…
Name: @MartinWaxman

Agency: Martin Waxman Communications

Position: Principal

First job in PR: Doing publicity for a comedy club in Toronto (and also being one of the MCs…and I wanna tell you…)

Your insights…

Most loved thing about being in PR: I’m a media junkie  – now I guess you’d say I’ve turned social media junkie.  And I still get a thrill about seeing a story I helped develop come to life whether in digital or traditional outlets.

Best source for breaking PR news: These days for me it’s Twitter.  I found out pretty much everything there from hard news to bizarre cultural trends.  I also get personal news and updates from friends and colleagues.

Number one recommendation to new PR professionals: Participate.  Get active in whatever you do and that means work, professional organizations like PRSA, social networks, your communities – and learn by testing, adapting and seeing what other people do.

About Counselors Academy…

Most valuable aspect of being a Counselors Academy member: The most valuable aspects of being a CA member – I hope I can include two – are the content and the community.  Counselors gives us an opportunity to meet and build strong relationships with some of the smartest and open people around who trade stories, share insights and ideas, talk about business dreams and challenges, and yes – eat, drink and act merry, too!

Role on the planning committee: Last year, I was conference chair.  This year, it’s in Dana’s more than capable hands and because of that, I know it’s going to be the best event we’ve had.  I’m helping with programming and specifically breakouts and keynotes.

Best thing about the Counselors Academy conference: I think I answered that one above.

Most fun memory of a Counselors Academy conference: Um – this is for publication.  So even though we don’t have it in Canada, I’ll take the Fifth Amendment.  I will say one word: prom.  Oh  – and the content, it’s all about the amazing content.  Did I mention that?

 

Counselors Academy Member Spotlight Blog Series: 

Our very own Dana Hughens is the PRSA’s Counselors Academy Conference Chair for the 2013 conference June 9-11 in Austin, Texas. As conference chair, she has the privilege to work with other members of the conference planning committee, which consists of senior-level PR counselors and agency owners from across the United States and Canada. We caught up with these PR pros to find out their secret to success and what they love most about Counselors Academy.

Say hello to George Rosenberg, Founder and Principal at the Rosenberg Group. George is a professional speaker on leadership and management issues at leading PR conferences across the states. Find more information on his involvement with the Counselors Academy below!

Getting to know you…
Name: George Rosenberg

Company: The Rosenberg Group, advisor to owners of public relations firms

Position: Principal

First job in PR: Junior Account Executive at Alec Jordan Associates

Your insights…

Most loved thing about being in PR: I love the hunt for new business.

Best source for breaking PR news: The Holmes Report

Number one recommendation to new PR professionals: Be curious about everything and always anticipate what may come next.

About Counselors Academy…

Most valuable aspect of being a Counselors Academy member: The relationships I have made over the years.

Role on the planning committee: Helping create some fun in Austin.

Best thing about the Counselors Academy conference: Sharing my insights and experience with new firm owners that I meet or owners that I have not met before.

Most fun memory of a Counselors Academy conference: They’re all fun – but the pool at Cabo, the jazz bars on Bourbon street, hanging out late at La Quinta, singing with the gang in Savannah, and the old Late Night with David Grant stand out.

 

Counselors Academy Member Spotlight Blog Series: 

Our very own Dana Hughens is the PRSA’s Counselors Academy Conference Chair for the 2013 conference June 9-11 in Austin, Texas. As conference chair, she has the privilege to work with other members of the conference planning committee, which consists of senior-level PR counselors and agency owners from across the United States and Canada. We caught up with these PR pros to find out their secret to success and what they love most about Counselors Academy.

Introducing Lisa Gerber, Founder and Owner of Big Leap Creative in Sandpoint, Idaho. An avid blog follower and lover of technology, Lisa will assist with marketing and programming for this year’s Conference. To learn more about this PR pro continue reading!

Getting to know you…

Name: Lisa Gerber

Agency: Big Leap Creative

Position: Founder and owner

First job in PR: Harbor Properties – (downtown Seattle mixed-use developer)

Your insights…

Most loved thing about being in PR: Making connections, networking. Using technology to help clients connect with their audience and grow their business.

Best source for breaking PR news: I follow a number of blogs such as Danny Brown, Convince & Convert, Deirdre Breakenridge and of course Spin Sucks.

Number one recommendation to new PR professionals: Be continually curious. Our industry and our jobs are evolving daily. We must continually stay at the forefront of trends so we can not only provide sound counsel to our clients, but it’s also the best way we can manage the reputation of PR itself, which doesn’t always have a great reputation.

About Counselors Academy…

Most valuable aspect of being a Counselors Academy member: Being on Counselors gives me much needed support as an agency leader of a growing agency. It’s no secret that it’s “lonely at the top,” at being able to call on colleagues in similar situations whom I call friends and confidants cannot be matched nor can a value be placed on it. It’s my business therapy.

Role on the planning committee: I help with marketing and programming.

Best thing about the Counselors Academy conference: The vast amount of knowledge and ideas.

Most fun memory of a Counselors Academy conference: Sorry. Some things at Counselors Academy Conferences have to stay there.

 

Counselors Academy Member Spotlight Blog Series: 

Our very own Dana Hughens is the PRSA’s Counselors Academy Conference Chair for the 2013 conference June 9-11 in Austin, Texas. As conference chair, she has the privilege to work with other members of the conference planning committee, which consists of senior-level PR counselors and agency owners from across the United States and Canada. We caught up with these PR pros to find out their secret to success and what they love most about Counselors Academy.

Meet Ken Jacobs, Principal and Founder of Jacobs Communications Consulting in New York City. Ken boasts over 25 years of experience and will be bringing the laughs as he helps out on the Welcome Committee at this year’s Conference.  For insights from Ken and more about his experiences with the Counselor’s Academy keep reading!

Getting to know you…

Name: Ken Jacobs

Agency: Jacobs Communications Consulting, LLC

Position: Principal

First job in PR: Assistant Account Executive, Dudley-Anderson-Yutzy Public Relations, New York, NY

Your insights…

Most loved thing about being in PR: Having a positive impact on the businesses of my clients (the owners and leaders of public relations and communications agencies), helping their teams build their skills, and assisting my coaching clients become better leaders and communicators.

Best source for breaking PR news: PR Week Online

Number one recommendation to new PR professionals: Build your career network while you’re young, before you need it!

About Counselors Academy…

Most valuable aspect of being a Counselors Academy member: The relationships with the wisest group of communications counselors I’ve ever met in 30 years in the business.  I know that I can call any of them, and get rock-solid counsel.  The only thing greater than their wisdom is their generosity in sharing that wisdom.

Role on the planning committee: This year I’m working on the Dine-Around and Welcome Committees, but I believe that part of my role on each planning call is to get the group laughing!

Best thing about the Counselors Academy conference: Each year I get a keen understanding of the challenges agency owners and leaders face, what keeps them up at night, if you will.  Since I see part of my job as helping them get a better night’s sleep based on my counsel, this understanding is priceless.

Most fun memory of a Counselors Academy conference: No question, the Sixties-themed party celebrating Counselors Academy’s 50th anniversary, at the Asheville Spring Meeting in 2010.  I can’t imagine anything topping the outfits, the dancing, and Abbie Fink and friends channeling The Supremes!  But we’ll give it a try in Austin!

 

Counselors Academy Member Spotlight Blog Series: 

Our very own Dana Hughens is the PRSA’s Counselors Academy Conference Chair for the 2013 conference June 9-11 in Austin, Texas. As conference chair, she has the privilege to work with other members of the conference planning committee, which consists of senior-level PR counselors and agency owners from across the United States and Canada. We caught up with these PR pros to find out their secret to success and what they love most about Counselors Academy.