Tell me a little about yourself. I grew up in Northwest Florida and am the oldest of three girls. I graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, received my master’s degree in journalism from the University of Alabama and am Accredited in Public Relations. My husband Greg and I live in Grimes with our daughters, Norah (7) and Hannah (3), and Typo, our 9-year-old French Bulldog.
What drew you to public relations in the first place? Truthfully, public relations was not my goal career. I had taken a few PR classes in college, and probably knew I could enjoy it, but I love writing and telling stories and journalism felt like more of a natural fit in the very early states of integrated communications. Social media wasn’t even really a thing. I had never done anything in the media relations/crisis communications space. I was a writer/editor at newspapers and magazines for about seven years, and then in late 2009 received a call from Jeff White (who was at Two Rivers Marketing at the time) asking me if I would be interested in pursuing a career in public relations. They had a position open, and I was familiar with the client accounts through my time as an editor in the construction/landscaping industry, so I flew up to interview and I fell in love with Des Moines. I moved here in April 2010 and have loved almost every minute of the public relations work I’ve done since. 😊
What has your career path looked like? What is your current role? I joined Syverson Strege in 2022 as Director of Communications & Marketing after spending the previous 12 years in corporate communications roles at large companies in the grocery and construction industries, including Hy-Vee, Inc., and Caterpillar, and leading client accounts at marketing agencies Two Rivers Marketing in Des Moines and Zenzi in San Diego. I love to create and implement strategic communications and marketing campaigns.
How did you get involved with PRSA Iowa? Initially, it was Jeff White who encouraged me to join the chapter in 2011. I started out attending meetings, then went through the APR Prep Course in 2012. I even completed my APR Panel Presentation in 2012, but life is wild and ultimately, I put APR on the back burner for a few years until I completed it in 2018. Over the years, I’ve held a variety of PRSA Iowa and PRSA Midwest District board and committee roles and am most proud of the 2023 Midwest District Conference that our chapter hosted this fall. I had such an incredible committee, and the programming was fantastic.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve received? “Don’t be afraid to just go for it. You can always change your mind or do something different. You’ve done that before.” My sweet friend, mentor, and PR powerhouse McGavock Edwards, APR at Eckel & Vaughan told me that when I was making the decision to move to San Diego in 2013. I’m so glad I listened because it changed my life and I’m the wife, mom and communications professional I am because I made that move.
What do you like to do in your free time? I enjoy running, hiking, reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. I’m excited to serve as the 2024 PRSA Iowa chapter president and am looking forward to all the good we will do to continue to advance the public relations profession, and all the fun we will have in the process!
