Member Spotlight: Sarah Buckley, APR
1.Tell me a little about yourself.
I’m an Iowa girl—born, raised (DeWitt, Iowa), and educated. I’ve lived in the Des Moines metro since graduating from Iowa State. My husband, Brennan, and I have two adult children—Liam and Lucy—who both came back here after college. They are smart, kind, and fun, and we’re really enjoying this stage of life with them. And, I have the scruffiest rescue dog, Paco, who is 14 pounds of love and snuggles.
2. What drew you to public relations in the first place?
I was a journalism major at Iowa State and, at the time, PR was one of the areas of emphasis you could choose from. I was originally thinking of going the print journalism route, but when I took my first PR course, I was hooked. I love the nature of the work, the challenge, and how no two days are the same.
3. What has your career path looked like? What is your current role?
I started my career in the agency world, which was a fabulous first job. After that, I went corporate where I’ve remained ever since. I worked briefly in the energy industry before landing in financial services, where I’ve held various PR and marketing roles for four companies. Today, I serve as Vice President of Corporate Communications and Community Involvement at EMC Insurance, which offers a lot of variety—internal communications, corporate giving, media relations, events, volunteerism, and more. I truly love what I do, and get to work with a fantastic, talented team.
4. How did you get involved with PRSA Iowa?
I was an active member of PRSSA at Iowa State and got a lot out of it, so it was natural to get involved with PRSA Iowa. I ended up serving on the chapter’s board for over a decade, including as president, and so enjoyed that time and the relationships I was able to build with peers.
5. What is the best piece of advice you’ve received?
There are a few nuggets of wisdom that really resonate with me, including: Keep learning and growing; pick your battles; and assume positive intent.
6. What do you like to do in your free time?
Time with family and friends, reading, board games (Rummikub is a current fave), puzzles, and I love a good dinner party. I also enjoy travel—NYC and Porto, Portugal, are favorites.
