The unexpected lives of public relations pros
When you were a kid, did you dream of becoming a scientist or imagine that you were a doctor? Did you pretend to ride a motorcycle or play dress-up once or twice? If you did, you probably ended that phase as a teenager. We didn’t.
Fahlgren Mortine is an interesting place to say the least. Like many public relations and advertising agencies, we are constantly brainstorming for a bizarre or just plain crazy event idea, switching roles from B2B to consumer clients, and becoming “experts” in fields we never could have imagined back in high school.
If you were to walk around the office, you’d hear discussions about a global data center in one corner and then see blue prints for a world record attempt hanging nearby. This is the busy and eccentric world we live in, and yes, we get to act like a scientist for a day or imagine that we are motorcycle enthusiasts and doctors - some of us have even played dress-up.
Because I’m fairly new to the agency, I wanted to know what my co-workers have experienced and learned throughout their careers that they never expected. Here are a few of their answers to help you understand our zany lives.
When I began my PR career, I never thought that I would:
“…listen to people working in call centers, taste new foods that aren’t even on the market, sit through day long conferences about new technology and attend a glue university.” - Ashley Moyer, Account Supervisor
“…build the World’s Largest Shower (this gave me second thoughts about needing a degree in engineering and construction management!); launch a new ice cream product for cats (this takes being a pet lover to a whole new level); or assist with the production, event planning and media relations for the ABC television show ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ (imagine keeping house-sized secrets).” - Leslie Holbrook, Account Supervisor
“…stir a giant vat of hot cocoa outside at an event in Michigan in seven degree weather or know so much about steel pallets.” - Hartley Mikus, Account Executive
“…dress up as Clifford the Big Red Dog and JJ the Jet Plane for special events or write TV Guide (remember that?) listings for CBS’ ‘The Early Show’ and ‘60 Minutes’ right down the hall from Dan Rather and Andy Rooney.” - Kelly Malone, Account Supervisor
“…interview neurosurgeons about traumatic brain injuries; spend time with radiopharmaceutical specialists learning about imaging agents; visit contract research labs to investigate animal cruelty allegations; spend time with Jungle Jack Hanna behind the scenes at the Columbus Zoo; spend a year on tour with a mountain lion and his human promoting feline nutrition at cat shows and veterinary events; learn more about tires and auto sports than I ever dreamed possible; or create a social network for workplace safety pros - becoming friends with some of them in the process.” - Lara Kretler, Associate Vice President
“…write phrases to go on 1.6 million candy hearts to help promote a new heart hospital (think “B Fit” and “D-Stress”); create a PowerPoint presentation on “alternate high-availability power configurations”; or host a focus group of 10 motorcycle enthusiasts to better understand their views on organ donation.” - Julie Carpenter, Associate Vice President
“…stand in an operating room and witness a knee replacement surgery.” - Erin Pope, Account Associate
“…calculate how large a giant Plexiglas container needs to be in order to hold the World’s Largest Slab of Fudge for a Guinness World Record attempt or have a legitimate and work-related reason to sample dozens of Ohio’s best road food destinations!” - Marty McDonald, Associate Vice President
What have you done in your career that you never expected?
