LAF Note: Traci Koller is one of my two best friends – but that’s not why I let her take over my blog for the day. This post is in response to Help a PR Pro Out Day.
You’re probably wondering why you should hire me. Well, because I’m awesome. (And modest, too!)
In all seriousness, although I’ve technically been out of the public relations industry for a couple of years, I haven’t really left. You see, you can take the girl out of PR, but you can’t take PR out of the girl. What it boils down to is this: I love being a publicist. I love the client and media interaction, I love the research, I love brainstorming new ways to get the client’s name out to the world, I love the client’s reaction when you show them a great clip you’ve placed on their behalf. I love interacting via Twitter, Foursquare, Facebook, LinkedIn, Buzz… and beyond.
What I don’t love, however, are cliches. I won’t tell you that I “think outside the box” or that I “work hard and play hard.”
I’ll just show you.
The Most Important Stuff:
-Edelman (NYC): AAE Tourism/Consumer, Aug 2005-Nov 2006.
-Fleishman-Hillard (NYC): AE Consumer/Tourism, Nov 2006-May 2007.
-Development Counsellors International (NYC): Tourism Intern, Sept-Nov 2004
-Dr Pepper Museum (Waco, TX): Marketing Intern: January-April 2005
-Junior League of Plano (Plano, TX): Volunteer Relations Co-Chair/Newsletter Content Manager, Fall 2009-current
Now for the extended remix! Let’s take a trip back, way back, to The College Years.
Fall 2002: Discovered Baylor University’s public relations program; realized I could make a living by writing, planning events and communicating with a variety of people. Clouds parted, angels sang, I changed my major.
Fall 2004: Selected as one of four non-film majors to study abroad in New York City for the semester. Interned at Development Counsellors International, a boutique tourism PR/economic development firm; clients included Pennsylvania, Finger Lakes Wine Country, Tasmania and the now-defunct Desert Moon Spa and Resort.
Spring 2005: Interned at the Dr Pepper Museum in Waco, TX. Coordinated an event celebrating the 100th Anniversary of RC Cola and MoonPie; events included building a giant MoonPie, a MoonPie-eating contest, and appearances by Baylor’s comedy group, the Guerrilla Troupe. Got to wear a sweet* MoonPie-shaped hat (yes, I still have it).
*Always with the puns.
May 2005: Graduated from Baylor with a B.A. in Journalism-Public Relations and a concentration in Film/Sociology. Moved to New York City without a job, apartment, or friends in the city. Kept my eyes on the prize: a position at a top agency. Learned to subway surf and walk like a New Yorker. (Hint: Quickly.)
August 2005: Hired by Edelman as the assistant account executive in their tourism division.
You have to admit, the Brawny lumberjack's kind of a stud.
Clients included the Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Colonial Williamsburg, Starbucks, Dove. Woke up super early on more than a few occasions to camp out at morning shows for various clients. (My favorite? Being shown on “The Today Show” for Brawny holding an “I <3 Lumberjacks” sign.)
November 2006: Recruited by Fleishman-Hillard as the account executive in their consumer division. Clients included Lenox housewares, Phonak’s “Hear The World” non-profit initiative, Egypt Tourism. Got to ride around in a tricked-out Winnebago to provide free hearing screenings to NYC residents.
(And hey, I made it into the New York Times on a client’s behalf!)
May 2007: Left Fleishman-Hillard with the intention of continuing my PR career.
July 2007: After two months of temping and searching for a PR position for roughly 14 hours a day, took an executive assistant position with a hedge fund.
March 2009: Moved back to my hometown of Dallas, smackdab in the middle of an economic crisis. Awesome. Began temping and searching for a PR position.
Fall 2009: Joined the Junior League of Plano. Selected to chair one of JLP’s largest annual events, Trinkets 2 Treasures, a community-wide rummage sale benefitting underprivileged families in Collin County. Acting as Volunteer Relations Chair, involving heavy volunteer and community interaction. Selected as charter member for the provisional newsletter committee.
Current: Still searching for a PR position. This is where HAPPO comes in.
Want to take a peek at my resume? Here you go:
Traci Anne Koller lives in Frisco, TX and is completely unopposed to long commutes. She enjoys reading sociology books, Lady Gaga and cheering for the Baylor Bears, much to her Aggie boyfriend’s chagrin. She can be reached at traciannekoller@gmail.com, via LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or carrier pigeon.
