Flickr Image: tomt6788
A couple weeks ago I blogged about some of the great advice discussed during the Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) Washington PR Woman of the Year Award luncheon. As a follow-up, WWPR’s November professional development brought together a panel of senior PR professionals to talk about “Lessons Learned.” The panel included:
- Nolu Crockett-Ntonga, policy communications officer, CARE USA
- Myra Peabody Gossens, president of Circle Consulting and 1991 Washington PR Woman of the Year
- Denise Graveline, president of Don’t Get Caught and 2002 Washington PR Woman of the Year
- Tara Hamilton, public affairs manager for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
- Beverly Silverberg, president of Beverly R. Silverberg Communications, Inc. and 1995 Washington PR Woman of the Year
- Pat Wheeler, director of marketing at Cultural Tourism DC, 1993 Washington PR Woman of the Year, and moderator
Wheeler started by asking the panelists, “What attribute contributed to their success?”
- Integrity (Gossens)
- Taking risks to move ahead (Crockett-Ntonga)
- Having an iron stomach (Graveline)
- Looking for excellent mentors (Silverberg)
- Listening and being an advisor (Silverberg)
As the discussion progressed, Hamilton reminded us to “question your policy that affects the public.” She relayed a story about the original Dr. Gridlock of the Washington Post, who came to Dulles Airport to pick-up his family, and was upset that there weren’t any luggage carts outside of the international terminal. The airport management had plans to add luggage carts in a year. Hoping to have them added sooner, Dr. Gridlock launched a writing campaign, dubbed “Dunkin Donuts vs. Baggage Carts,” commenting the airport could replace the donut shop with baggage carts. The airport management eventually agreed, and the luggage carts were put in early… (more…)
