Member Spotlight: Kelsey Hanson
Tell me a little about yourself.
I am an accidental Iowan by way of Texas (and Kansas, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Germany), and have lived in Des Moines for the past nine years. I moved here to start my career in PR, and met a handsome Account Supervisor at my first agency who eventually became my husband.
In addition to my current role, I’m actively involved in the community, serving as a Big with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa, and am currently a member of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute’s class of 2025.
What drew you to public relations in the first place?
When I went to college all I knew was I liked reading books, writing and talking to people. I was fortunate to get my first chance at a public relations role right out of grad school and quickly learned that a career in PR meant getting to do all my favorite things! While there are many nuances to working in public relations, I strongly believe that if you’re good at building relationships, talking with people to get to the heart of a story and can translate those stories to the page with good writing, you’ve got everything you need to be successful.
What has your career path looked like? What is your current role?
I kickstarted my career in graduate school — I took on three part-time roles to explore every career path available to me. I worked as a writer for the Iowa State University Foundation, a freelance contributor for the Des Moines Register and as a research assistant at the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. While I found traditional journalism intriguing, the relentless deadlines weren’t quite the right fit. On the flip side, the slower-paced, long-term projects at the university level didn’t align with my energy or goals either.
My first full-time role as a PR Specialist at Two Rivers Marketing turned out to be my “Goldilocks” moment — it was just the right mix of deadlines, creativity and variety. Since then, I’ve carved out a dynamic career working with both B2B and B2C clients. Today, I lead initiatives in business development, team leadership and client relationship management as the Director of PR at Anthologic. While I specialize in media relations, trade shows and strategic communications, at the end of the day, I’m a storyteller — always looking for compelling ways to share and amplify our client’s stories.
How did you get involved with PRSA Iowa?
What better reason to become a PRSA member than the opportunity to slip out of the office to enjoy a delicious lunch at the Botanical Garden and learn from peers during the PRSA Quarterly Luncheons? I became a member after my first luncheon and have enjoyed many opportunities to attend PRSA events and meet other talented PR professionals in Central Iowa since.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?
I’ve always lived by the advice “people will remember how you make them feel” — like most timeless advice it holds true in both work and life. Whether it’s a challenging client meeting or a tough conversation with a friend, I focus on finding the positive in the situation and making sure it shines through. No matter how daunting the challenge, it’s often the small, uplifting moments that leave the most lasting impression.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I love all the little things that make life enjoyable and try to work them into each day — waking up with a good cup of coffee, reading a book, cooking a good meal and being outside. I live near the trail system and my favorite way to start or end any day is with a long walk on the trail with my husband Kyle and our golden retriever, Willie.
