Tag: Raleigh PR

PR People: Travis Bullard

Sarah HattmanBlog, PR People, Public Relations, , , , , , ,

Travis Bullard

Job title and function: I am a director with APCO Worldwide, a global communications consultancy. In this role, I get to work with a variety of clients around the world, around the U.S. and here in North Carolina. Our Raleigh office is one of the fastest growing offices in our global network, and I get to lead a team of communication professionals to build APCO’s global, regional and local offering in corporate, public affairs and strategic communications.

Most rewarding thing about working in PR today: I’m fortunate to have worked with some of the world’s biggest and most innovative companies, and I’ve always found it rewarding to help people and organizations share their stories and build relationships.

Every company, at some level, has a purpose. How well an organization is able to communicate that purpose with its key stakeholders — including employees, customers, partners and investors — is critical. As PR professionals, we get to help drive that focus on communicating an authentic purpose.

Our work impacts bottom lines, creates and protects jobs, defines issues important to society, improves workplaces and communities, gains visibility for and gives voice to those who may not typically be heard and much more. Simply put, our work is impactful, meaningful and can either help solve a problem or help create an opportunity.

Craziest/most challenging thing you’ve done in PR: The great thing about PR is the opportunity to mix a little crazy with the ordinary. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to watch the start of the Spanish Grand Prix from inside the Ferrari Formula One garage, get iPhone tips from Steve Wozniak, ski indoors in Dubai, run into Bono at the World Economic Forum in Davos, walk along the Great Wall of China and rebuild a school in Thailand.

I’ve also been fortunate to work on some complex and challenging projects. One of my favorite experiences was launching GlobalFoundries in 2009 as a joint venture between Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Mubadala Development Corporation of Abu Dhabi. Starting as a spinoff of AMD, GlobalFoundries quickly developed into one of the largest and fastest growing semiconductor technology companies in the world with manufacturing campuses in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Advice for new PR pros: It’s all about relationships. I’m not referring to that old adage, “it’s who you know.” I’m referring to the fact that life is about building positive relationships. If you keep that as your North Star everything else tends to fall into place.

Be sure to remember that your clients are people. Obviously you’ll get to know their business or product and goals very well, but take the time to get to know them on a personal level. Some of my favorite people in the world are clients I’ve gotten to know over the years. Not only are they great friends, but knowing them on a deeper level is really beneficial in helping their business or product succeed.

Are you interested in being featured in “PR People?” Send us a message on Facebook to share your story!

Sarah Hattman, APR is president-elect for the North Carolina chapter of Public Relations Society of America and has been working in PR since she left television news. She grew up in North Carolina and was excited to move back to her home state in 2012 and join Clairemont Communications, a Raleigh PR agency. 
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PR People: Lindsay Priester

Sarah HattmanBlog, PR People, Public Relations, , , , , , ,

Lindsay Priester

Job title and function: I am the Senior Manager of Client Relations for Rountree Communications, a boutique PR agency in Raleigh. My job, like most in PR, hits on a little bit of everything! On an overarching level, I develop and lead PR strategy for our clients, which ranges from technology startups to retail brands. Each day is so different for me (which I love!), but on any given day I could be drafting press releases or other media documents, writing client blog content, creating and managing social media campaigns, meeting with clients or working at a client event. Basically whatever my clients need to get done in the PR realm (and sometimes not in the PR realm – I’ve been known to be an excellent supplier of coffee during an event), I do!

Most rewarding thing about working in PR today: There is no better feeling than landing your client coverage that is truly valuable for them. What that looks like varies. For some it may be a piece in the local newspaper; for others a white paper in a trade publication or a mention on a national news show. When we secure coverage that reaches a client’s target audience and helps move them closer to their goals, it feels great! Accomplishing that in today’s digital world where people are constantly bombarded with messaging from every direction is even more rewarding.

Craziest/most challenging thing you’ve done in PR: Oh goodness, I know every PR pro has a million crazy stories to tell, especially in those crunch-time hours right before going out with an announcement or putting on a media event! One that immediately comes to mind – I was working at a press event for a race track where we offered the media ride-alongs in race cars with professional drivers. In order to be able to ride, you had to wear long pants and closed-toed shoes, and this particular member of the media had on shorts and sandals. Not wanting her to miss the chance for a ride-along (or the chance for my client to get some great coverage), I quickly asked her if she’d be willing to trade clothes for the ride. Luckily, we were about the same size and pulled off a quick change in the bathroom! I may have looked a little silly in my professional top with jean shorts and Tevas, but she had a fantastic time and even referenced our costume change in the article!

Advice for new PR pros: PR, on every level, is about people. Get to know the PR pros in your area and learn from them as much as you can. When I first started out in PR, I joined the Raleigh Public Relations Society and now serve on the Board of Directors as Vice President. I can’t begin to express all of the things I’ve learned from the people in that group.

Be sure to remember that your clients are people. Obviously you’ll get to know their business or product and goals very well, but take the time to get to know them on a personal level. Some of my favorite people in the world are clients I’ve gotten to know closely over the years. Not only are they great friends, but knowing them on a deeper level is really beneficial in helping their business or product succeed.

Are you interested in being featured in “PR People?” Send us a message on Facebook to share your story!

Sarah Hattman, APR is president-elect for the North Carolina chapter of Public Relations Society of America and has been working in PR since she left television news. She grew up in North Carolina and was excited to move back to her home state in 2012 and join Clairemont Communications, a Raleigh PR agency. 
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Newland Scores Developer of the Year

Cherith AndesBlog, Clairemont Client News, Real Estate PR, , , ,

We shined our shoes, donned our glam-est gowns and walked the red carpet with Newland Communities (client)! Hosted by the Home Builders Association of the Triangle, the 2017 MAME Awards honored the Triangle’s most successful and stunning leaders in real estate — from creative marketing campaigns to innovative builders and developers. After an evening of toasts, we celebrated some big wins for Briar Chapel and Wendell Falls — Newland’s two Triangle communities.

Briar Chapel by Newland Communities
Best Overall Advertising Campaign for a Community

Wendell Falls by Newland Communities
Best Social Media Ad by a Community

Newland Communities (Briar Chapel and Wendell Falls)
Developer of the Year

Congratulations to the wonderfully talented staff at Newland! We’re privileged to be a part of your team!

Check out some of our fun projects in the real estate industry!

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Marketing in a Post-Truth Era

Cherith AndesBlog, Marketing, Public Relations, , , ,

It’s no secret that America’s climate is undergoing a political, economic and social redirect. In fact, researchers claim that we’re entering into a new cultural era, one of the first shifts of this kind since the mid-1960s.

For example, recent findings by the Kantar Futures Group reveal a resurgence of the populist mindset. For the first time in decades, Americans place a premium on a sense of community and social ties rather than a sense of individualism. While self-expression still exists, it is couched within a context of smaller worlds, shared allegiances and common interests. People are willing to give up a small portion of our “lone ranger” mentality to stay connected to the group.

In addition, recent developments have launched us into a “post-trust era” (or the “post-truth era“) where we no longer trust experts or leaders. It’s not that we don’t see them as credible; we just believe they’re pursuing their own agendas. Interestingly enough, this mindset spans political parties and socioeconomic strata.

As with any cultural ebb, America’s shift affects branding, marketing and public relations. A cursory overview shows how these concepts have already manifested on social media.

– Mastodon: A Twitter clone that appeals to the “old Twitter crowd,” as it were. It sidesteps features that users perceive interrupt their experience — such as a stream of ads or ranked content. Users felt incensed that some “untrustworthy” governing authority regulated their timelines. Mastodon offers organic, real-time experience unfettered by the influence of “the man” along with several privacy options.

– HaterDater: While many apps connect users based on common interests (Match.com, MapleMatch, you name it), app developers have gone so far as to launch forums that connect people based on their dislikes. From those who loath certain politicians to people who hate slow walkers, users can find a like-minded friend on HaterDater. Our desire for connection has prompted us to connect with small communities in some very unexpected ways.

How should marketers respond? Demonstrate that you have your audience’s best interests at heart. Support and enable small communities. Back off of rampant fact sharing, and provide ways for people to strengthen their relationships with others. Heck, sponsor a local tee-ball team! (Okay, not necessarily, but you get the point.) Invest in personal, local and connected as the new currency to strengthening a brand.

What other strategies should you explore to strengthen your brand? Check out our post on Communicating Your Brand.

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PR People: Eva Hornak, APR

Sarah HattmanBlog, PR People, Public Relations, , , , , , , ,

Eva Hornak, APR

Job title and function: I’m the communications manager for S.T. Wooten. In a nutshell, we build highways, do commercial site work, and produce asphalt and ready mix concrete. We have approximately 950 employees. We’re also a private, family owned, third-generation led company.

I’m a department of one, so I handle anything related to PR, communications and sometimes marketing. I focus mostly on employee communications and corporate communications. This includes writing the 24-page company magazine three times a year, as well as two monthly newsletters and a benefits newsletter three times a year. I also work on various special projects as needed, such as recruiting materials, PowerPoint presentations, the website, corporate communications, etc. I also oversee the PR firm we hired in 2016 that works on such projects as our social media, blog and trade media relations.

Most rewarding thing about working in PR today: Our employees range from managers with advanced degrees to field employees without a high-school degree. We have employees who can’t read or read very poorly (making it a struggle to take a survey or fill out paperwork). Now – imagine trying to teach that person about health insurance. That stuff is confusing for most people with college degrees! I try to keep most communications written on a sixth-grade level. In the past few years, we’ve really worked on educating our employees about how our benefits help them, and I love it.

Craziest/most challenging thing you’ve done in PR: Produced an event almost single-handedly on a very short timeline. Don’t do that. Get a team. Just stop, take a breath and get a team.

I also survived some very bad bosses. (See the next section for more on that.)

Advice for new PR pros:

1) Explore what’s out there. There are a lot of facets to PR, and you don’t know what job/setting/speciality you might like until you try it.

2) Make connections (within PR and the larger business community) and get a mentor(s). All of my jobs came from connections. All of my trusted peers came from previous jobs, the Raleigh PR Society and NCPRSA. Peers can help you get your next job, and they are your cheerleaders during the good times and your shoulders to cry on during difficult times. They will help shape and defend your reputation. And your good name is everything.

3) Have ethics. See #2 above regarding reputation and good name.

4) Always look for the right match in a job (or a boss). Yes, you’ll have to pay your dues. Yes, you’ll have jobs (or parts of jobs) that you learn are not for you. You’ll even have a job you love that has some tasks you hate. But don’t settle for a place that is a horrible match. Don’t stay somewhere (or with someone) that truly abuses you or actively blocks you from learning anything. Need a gut check? Ask your peers. See #2 above. And never, ever compromise your ethics because a job or a boss tells you to do so. See #3. You can always find another job. Seriously. Do I need to mention #2 again!?

Are you interested in being featured in “PR People?” Send us a message on Facebook to share your story!

Sarah Hattman, APR is president-elect for the North Carolina chapter of Public Relations Society of America and has been working in PR since she left television news. She grew up in North Carolina and was excited to move back to her home state in 2012 and then join Clairemont Communications, a Raleigh PR agency. 
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