Haley Downing: Account Manager for Waller & Company

Haley Downing: Account Manager for Waller & Company
By Callie Gillock

Haley Downing, a recent graduate of the University of Oklahoma, found her niche in public relations when she entered college. At a young age, Downing knew she had a passion for writing like none other. After completing her first PR entry class she discovered an industry where writing was integrated with social interaction and client relations, which was what she was looking for.

Downing graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree from Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication in Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations. She is now the Account Manager for Waller & Company, a PR firm located in Tulsa.

Waller & Company is a full-service public relations firm that was founded in 1996. This organization believes having a strong PR firm requires mutually beneficial relationships with all clients. Waller & Company strives to build lasting relationships with clients by creating resourceful ideas and solutions that will satisfy companies’ needs.

Not only does her job allow her to fulfill her passion for writing, but it also permits her to explore different areas in public relations. “I love working with such a diverse spectrum of clients,” Downing exclaimed. “Our firm has restaurant and hospitality, manufacturing, healthcare and technology divisions so we are always busy doing something different and coming up with new ideas for each of the client industries.”

When getting into the PR business you need something that sets you apart from everyone else. “My advice to young PR professionals is to complete as many internships as you possibly can before looking for an entry level position,” said Downing. “The University of Oklahoma adequately prepared me for an entry level PR position, but my internships set me apart from other applicants while job searching.”

For a successful career path, PR professionals should have a creative mindset and a proactive approach with all client relations. Also, Downing insists, “a PR practitioner should have knowledge of AP style writing, familiarity with PR writing, document formats and research techniques.”