Member Spotlight: Alexson Calahan, APR

1.Tell me a little about yourself.

I am a business owner, advocate and mom dedicated to sharing the stories of people working to make the world a better place.

2. What drew you to public relations in the first place?

PR is about connecting people who can help each other reach their goals, and that focus on mutual benefit is exactly why I love this work. We are not shouting, demanding or pushing for a sale. We are looking for ways to help each other.

3. What has your career path looked like? What is your current role?

For the past five years, I have run an independent practice, Small Adventures Communications. Before that, I spent my career working for national health nonprofits, with a short stint at a local agency. I've worked on everything from local media advocacy campaigns to international media tours and social media implementation. Those years in-house prepared me to stay adaptable and build solutions that help clients meet their goals without breaking the bank.

4. How did you get involved with PRSA Iowa? 

I joined early in my career to learn from people who had more experience than I did. I've since served on the PRSA Iowa board, and I now serve on the Executive Committee for PRSA’s Health and Life Sciences Section.

5. What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?

I started my business to build a career that worked for my goals, my schedule and my peace. “Hold your boundaries” is advice I remind myself of every day. It’s easy to lose ourselves in important work with clients who are solving big problems, but that work cannot come at the expense of ourselves or our health.

6. What do you like to do in your free time? 

Right now, I’m knitting Christmas stockings for the new babies in my extended family. It’s a tradition my grandma started in the 1950s, and I have made 14 more stockings since teaching myself to knit. Now, the whole family matches!