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.

Introducing Tom Garrity, President at The Garrity Group Public Relations. As co-chair for the Conference planning committee, Tom will be side by side with Dana to provide assistance throughout the conference. Keep reading to learn more about Tom’s career and public relations insights!

Getting to know you…
Name: Tom Garrity

Agency: The Garrity Group Public Relations

Position: President

First job in PR: Director of Communications for the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau (1994)

Your insights…

Most loved thing about being in PR: Having a passion to counsel clients through challenging times; making the complex simple; helping clients to be successful.

Best source for breaking PR news: Twitter

Number one recommendation to new PR professionals: Find a mentor, someone who has “been there and done that” to complement your passion for public relations.

About Counselors Academy…

Most valuable aspect of being a Counselors Academy member: Iron sharpens iron, the ability to talk about firm operations, industry trends, new business development and client service in a safe environment.

Role on the planning committee: I am a co-chair for the Conference planning committee working to help secure keynotes.  However, my key role is to keep Dana smiling by providing conference assistance when possible.

Best thing about the Counselors Academy conference: The professional development.  Senior level discussions take place here, we all speak the same “PR Firm Owner” language.

Most fun memory of a Counselors Academy conference: It is a memory captured in a formal picture.  A group of us, dressed in 1970’s attire (it was a themed CAPRSA Dinner), saw there was a high school prom.  We decided to commemorate the evening by getting a formal group picture taken by the official “prom photographer.”  The picture is in my office and fun memories of the evening are engrained in my mind.

 

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.

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 Dennis Winkler, Co-owner of Winkler Public Relations in Houston, Texas. Dennis  has been achieving great things in PR for 35 years and will assist with planning the dine-arounds for the 2013 Counselors Academy Conference. Keep reading to find out a little more about this Texan:

Getting to know you…
Name: Dennis Winkler

Agency: Winkler Public Relations

Position: COO and co-owner

First job in PR: Director of PR and Assistant Director of Development and Alumni (I also taught English),  Brother Martin High School, an all boys Catholic high school in New Orleans – a great first job!

Your insights…

Most loved thing about being in PR: There are so many great things to love about PR – the most stimulating is working with clients on media or crisis communications issues and watching their immediate feedback of accomplishment when interviews and crisis situations go well! It is the next greatest sense of pride and fulfillment to that a parent feels when your own child succeeds.

Best source for breaking PR news: As a news junkie, I tune in constantly to news radio and have a television playing in the office – but now that is “old school”. Today Twitter is a constant source of breaking news. Does anyone else panic when Twitter is over-loaded, such as during Super Bowl XLVII media day?

Number one recommendation to new PR professionals: Remain eager to learn and adapt! The Public Relations business is changing, and we must be the ones leading change for our clients. At the same time, find a mentor who will share successful PR principles because the core principles remain.

About Counselors Academy…

Most valuable aspect of being a Counselors Academy member: I continue to be in awe of the successful members of Counselors Academy and that they so openly share and assist each other with knowledge and issues. It is such an honor just to be around these successful PR pros. Every year during Spring Conference I feel like I am in my favorite college class soaking in every bit of knowledge I can from the best professors!

Role on the planning committee: The past two years, Spring Conference has been scheduled in cities where my wife and business partner, Kathy, and I spend considerable time. Thus, we offered to assist with planning events. This year we hope to have a role in the “dine-around” program to introduce our colleagues to some of the uniquely Austin culture. Our son Adam, who is the CBS affiliate (KEYE TV) weekend sports anchor in Austin, is providing great “ATX” insight!

Best thing about the Counselors Academy conference: As great as the speakers and content are during every conference, the one-on-one discussions and the relationships established are the most valuable and lasting benefits of each conference.

Most fun memory of a Counselors Academy conference: I do not know how we could ever top the overall setting in Cabo San Lucas (my first conference, which certainly adds to the allure of Cabo). My favorite individual moment was at the New Orleans conference watching all the PR professionals do the “second-line,” the New Orleans traditional funeral parade to the sounds of a marching jazz band.