Member Spotlight - Christine Zrostlik
Tell me a little about yourself.
I'm a Northeast Iowa native now living in Des Moines with my partner and our beloved dog, Bernie. I like spending time outside, whether that's having dinner on our patio, going for a hike in Central Iowa or working on our garden. I also love going to concerts - there is something about live music that just can't be beat.
What drew you to public relations in the first place?
I've always been a strong communicator and natural negotiator. As a young kid I was usually the default spokesperson when we were trying to persuade our parents for something, ha! In college, I gravitated towards communications and ultimately landed on PR because it felt like the perfect mix of creativity and structure. I've enjoyed it ever since.
What has your career path looked like? What is your current role?
After college, I spent about a year or so working as a marketing coordinator at a small business. I have to admit, it took longer than I wanted to get that first job and at the time, I wasn't sure it was the best fit for me. But I'm glad I did it and in the end, I learned a lot. It also helped set me up for my next role at a public relations and public affairs agency. I started at an entry level position there and over the course of 5 years, worked my way up to a senior account position. If you're in PR, I highly recommend working at an agency early in your career. You get to work on dozens (if not hundreds) of clients and projects, which is an excellent way to learn what you like (and what you don't).
After the agency, I switched to corporate PR for a couple of years, doing media relations for a large health system. I was eight months in when the pandemic started. As us upper Midwesterners like to say, "uffda!". While challenging, it was a learning experience unlike any other. I left that job feeling very satisfied about how I served my community during a difficult time (not to mention I left with some serious crisis communications chops).
I’m currently at Practical Farmers of Iowa, a non-profit focused on helping farmers use regenerative practices to farm more sustainability. We're big on healthy soil, healthy food, clean air, clean water, resilient farms and vibrant communities. As the senior marketing and communications manager, I manage the day-to-day operations of our eight-person (and growing!) team. We've got some very talented folks on the team, and it's been a lot of fun to get to know them and help them grow professionally.
How did you get involved with PRSA Iowa?
After joining PRSA Iowa, I was looking for a way to meet more folks in PR and give back to the chapter. I volunteered first for the programming committee, where I helped plan and run events. I enjoyed partnering with other committee members to host events and just generally get people excited about the chapter and our profession. It was an excellent entry point to volunteering for the chapter. I also joined the OctoPRfest planning committee a couple of times. I highly recommend volunteering on a committee soon after you join the chapter. It's one of the best ways to meet others and get to know them on a deeper level.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?
When I was young, my dad always used to say, “Be good or be careful” before we left for school. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. Later on I realized it was his way of saying it’s okay to deviate from the “good” path (or what other people think is good, anyway) and to instead take risks – just be careful when you do it. He probably didn’t intend it to be career advice, but I’d say it counts!
