Your love for the arts started at a young age, share how your personal and professional journey led you to a career in public relations.
My passion for the arts began when I was just 14 years old, working as an usher(ette!) at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse/Forum Theatre. This early exposure to theater ignited a lifelong love for the arts. Over the years, I moved up the ranks, eventually managing the theater’s public relations. This experience laid the foundation for my career in PR. Later, I served as the Director of Public Relations for Hyatt Regency Chicago, where I honed my skills in hospitality PR. These experiences culminated in the founding of Heron Agency, where I could combine my love for hospitality and entertainment along with my expertise in public relations.
As one of the top woman-owned PR firms in Chicago, what sets you apart from other companies that has allowed your agency to thrive?
Thank you for saying that! I feel that we stand out due to our comprehensive, results-driven approach, which leads to a significant return on investment for our clients. We don’t focus alone on traditional PR; rather we integrate marketing, sales, B2B, social media, community and influencer relations to create robust campaigns that move the meter financially. Every publicist has relationships and connections, but how actively the publicist works them makes the difference. We work them hard! We have a killer work ethic at the agency and for all intents and purposes serve as if we were an in-house publicist. This personalized approach, combined with our extensive industry experience and innovative strategies, has allowed us to thrive and be recognized as one of the top PR firms in the country.