From Student to Professional

Diana Rogers is a communications specialist for the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, a non-profit organization that is a public trust that helps to place people in homes. Rogers is an alumna of the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord College, where she was active in Public Relations Student Society of America and wrote for the Oklahoma Daily. She also has a Master’s of Education from OU. Rogers has spent her entire professional career with OHFA, working there since 2005. Her college experiences were very important for her future career. “It got me pretty prepared for writing, especially considering how much I do now,” she says. She also interned with OHFA during her time at OU, a move which later turned into her career.

As a communications specialist for OHFA, Rogers writes press releases, plans events, produces internal and external communications like newsletters, and oversees production of OHFA’s annual report. Public relations, especially for a smaller non-profit, is not limited to simply producing media tactics such as these. Rogers says the true value of public relations for any organization is its management and long-term planning functions. “It’s strategic, not just tactical,” Rogers says.

Experience during college is crucial to a public relations student’s future. “It’s so important to have internships. It’s a way to get your foot in the door and to get experience for your career later on.”

Roger’s advice for success as a public relations professional is to know your organization and know your audience and their needs. “We try to find out what the media needs are, and make sure that our communication plan tries to align with what our business objectives are,” she says of OHFA’s PR philosophy.

As with any career, drive, passion and intelligence are also vital.

“You have to be passionate and involved. It’s all about thinking critically and strategically.”

Houston reports presence of real-life "Wonder Woman"

Cher Weldon, The Lee Group - Partner, Director of Operations, Account Manager

Laid-back, yet professional. Flexible, yet always on time. Balanced, yet works 24/7. Sophisticated, but country.

By Christa Stewart

These are things that make up the ideal public relations and communications professional, and Cher Weldon of The Lee Group embodies exactly those attributes. The Lee Group takes pride in working by the mantra, "why not?" So does Cher. Ms. Weldon has accomplished much in her 12 years in the advertising and public relations industry by treating possibilities as probabilities and using her impeccable wisdom to differentiate between the two.

Cher earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing from the University of West Florida. Her professional career originally began with The Lee Group, working primarily in account service and print production management. In between early morning status meetings and late night press checks, she rode outdoor locations for the areas largest financial institution, concepted weekly television and radio spots for a large furniture and appliance retailer and developed grassroots public relations and marketing strategies for local and regional accounts.

Then, as part of an experimental phase, Cher spent a short time as a financial analyst for the Pepsi-Cola Company.  However, her passion for advertising brought her back to the advertising and public relations industry…and back to The Lee Group.  Cher’s experience ranges from executive management and new business development to strategic planning and tactical implementation.  Her research, planning, negotiating and production skills span across all print and broadcast mediums.  As partner and account supervisor at The Lee Group, she ensures that all clients are consistently captivated with The Lee Group’s creative and communication services.

After more than 30 years, The Lee Group attributes their success to a grounded commitment to service excellence, sound marketing and communication strategies and unparalleled creativity. With offices in Houston and Beaumont, they have partnered with companies of all sizes and within diverse industries. Through their work with more than 900 banks and credit unions across the country (including the 1^st Bank Oklahoma), The Lee Group has developed an expertise in the financial services industry that is second to none.  

In 2009, The Lee Group garnered five Gold Addys, six Silver Addys, three Bronze Addys and two Judges Awards at the local AAF competition, the first of a three-tiered national competition conducted annually by the American Advertising Federation (AAF).  At the district level (includes the four-state area of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas), The Lee Group was honored with a bronze Addy Award.  The AAF Awards Competition is the creative industry’s largest and most representative competition for creative excellence.  The Addy Awards celebrate the finest and most innovative work in advertising, public relations and marketing communications.

Cher has “worn many hats” over the years and encourages young professionals to seek out and accept every opportunity presented early in their career.  “Demonstrate your commitment, take initiative, hone your personal relationship marketing skills and NETWORK, NETWORK, NEWTORK.”

She also recommends keeping up with industry publications and Web sites.

For instance, check out Jesse Ferrell's book, "How You Leave Them Feeling: Your Ultimate Key to Personal & Professional Success," on which Cher worked as a contributing editor. 

Cher’s hobbies and pastimes include reading, horseback riding, traveling and listening to country music.   She enjoys spending my time with people who are always aspiring to increase their quality of life.

Also, feel free to find Cher on LinkedIn to make sure you are staying connected and building your professional network. 

Photograph courtesy of The Lee Group. 

Living the Dream

"Living the Dream"
By: Natalie Vaughn

When we join the ranks of the professionals, we can only hope to love our jobs as much as Kerry Howe does hers. Howe is the Assistant Media Relations Director for the Arizona State University Athletics Department. She also serves as the Sports Information Director for several individual sports, including the 2008 NCAA Champion softball team. Beyond that, Howe is also affiliated with Atlantic Records as the Marketing Representative for the Phoenix area.
Overall, Howe has been in the public relations field for nine years. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Arizona State University in Journalism and Mass Communication with an emphasis in Public Relations in 2005 and is currently working on her Master's degree. Howe has also worked with other organizations including the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Cardinals, the Phoenix Roadrunners, and the Public Information Office for the City of Phoenix.
Because she has held so many positions, Howe has a lot to say about the most important things to know as well as skills to have in order to be successful in the public relations field. The first is to know how to utilize technology. "The PR world today is technology heavy, from using InDesign to writing code to something as simple as Twitter," Howe says.
Another important thing to know when practicing public relations is the demographics of your target public. "In Phoenix within the sporting world, it's hard to battle because it's one of the most over-saturated sports markets in the country," Howe explains. "But if I hone who I'm sending release and information to, I get a better response from those who would be actively interested in my sports stories."
While some people choose to be an expert in only one field, Howe suggests being a "jack-of-all-trades" instead. She learned this after her stint in the Phoenix Public Information Office. Even though she did not enjoy her job there, it helped her in her role in the sports arena. Howe says, "It sharpened my writing and AP style while forcing me to constantly write out of my comfort zone."
The last two skills that Howe suggests for public relations professionals are a solid work ethic and sense of humor. Howe says that since public relations is more of a 24 hour a day job rather than nine to five not just anyone can make the cut. She explains, "it's not just your job, it's someone's reputation, livelihood and business that's on the line." As far as sense of humor, Howe says that something is always going to go wrong. It is better to laugh if off and find a solution instead of being weighed down by negatives.
In closing, Howe gave me one piece of advice for aspiring public relations professionals: "Just because one section of PR isn't for you, like government wasn't for me, doesn't mean every section of PR isn't for you. Try it all!"

For more tips on how to be successful in public relations, please visit:

Successful Media Relations
http://aboutpublicrelations.net/ucpotvina.htm

The Public Relations Career X Factor
http://aboutpublicrelations.net/ucmckeever1.htm

The Perfect Public Relations Personality Type

http://rock-star-pr.com/the-perfect-public-relations-personality-type/

Getting the Media Attention You Deserve

http://www.absolutelypr.com/id8.html

From a PR Intern to a PR professional: Tackling the Transition

http://platformmagazine.com/article.cfm?alias=From-a-PR-Intern-to-a-PR-Professional-Tackling-the-Transition

The Personal Side of Public Relations

The Personal Side of Public Relations

By Lacy Barnes

“Just keep trucking.”

This simple, yet direct and to the point statement was the best advice Cassie Gage had for graduating seniors wanting to pursue public relations careers. In the whirlwind that is my last semester college, it is comforting to hear something so easy. With graduation growing near, my final classes lingering over my head and multiple people asking what I plan to do with my life come May, simple advice is refreshing to say the least.

Gage is an Assistant Director of Communications at The University of Oklahoma where she works in OU’s athletic department in media relations. As the media contact for both volleyball and softball programs at OU, Gage is never in one place for long. Having my own career aspirations of working in athletics, getting the chance to sit down and talk with Gage was both encouraging and helpful.

Working in big-time Division I athletics, Gage has gained public relations experience unique to most other work environments. Cassie travels full-time with the softball team and part time with the volleyball team in order to cover their games and regulate media coverage. This type of public relations on the fly has taught Gage how to be efficient, thick-skinned and accepting of change.

The biggest changes during her career in public relations have been personal, in order to adapt to her environment.

“What surprised me the most about public relations was how much I had to change to survive,” Gage said. “Five years ago, people could run over me and make fun of me and I would just take it. I’ve had to learn how to step up, speak my mind and be confident in myself and my work.”

Growing up in a family surrounded by athletics, Gage said she always knew she wanted to work in sports.

“As a senior in high school I received the opportunity to write for a high school Web site network called iHigh.com which led to a position as a sports correspondent in the local paper,” Gage said. “From there I was offered a sports information scholarship to East Mississippi Community College and the rest they say is history.” Gage went on to earn her Bachelor of Art in Communication with an emphasis in public relations from Mississippi State University.

After being in the profession full-time for four years now, two at OU and two as the Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations at Mississippi State, Gage says the majority of her job involves writing.

According to Gage, “The top skills students who want to pursue public relations need are writing to get the job along with desire and passion to keep you there. It’s important to know your audiences as well because I need to write for an audience that’s critical of what I’m saying about my team.”

Gage also touched on the importance of timeliness in her career, “It’s really important to make deadlines in public relations. We live in a world where everyone wants information as soon as it happens.”

With all the technical advice that could be given about finding and starting a career in public relations, Gage finds it’s the simple life-lessons that are most useful when trying to succeed in a profession.

“If you want it, go for it and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. When people knock you down, and they will, dust yourself off and keep going. And when you do fail, which you will, learn from it and make yourself better. I’ve always been a believer in remembering where you come from. There’s a difference between being arrogant and being confident and distinguishing that can be the difference in getting what you want or having everyone hate you.”

Picture of Cassie Gage is courtesy of the University of Oklahoma Athletic Department