Culpwrit

PRSA Chair-elect Gary McCormick is a long-time friend, who works for the cable organization that produces my favorite television programing, HGTV.  We also serve together on the board of the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations. 

Here’s a personal snapshot of what led to Gary’s successful PR career. 

   Gary McCormick

While I knew that I wanted to be in public relations after discovering it in college, it was still a relatively new career. Many times I found I had to create my own job or at least add it the list of “duties as assigned” by my initial employers.

But it was inevitable that I would become an advocate of networking given my career and the many people who have positively affected it. Starting in high school with a small radio station manager in rural western Colorado who first encouraged me to work for him (who met me through my favorite eighth grade teacher and his wife), I have had a succession of opportunities provided to me by others. Often, I found I had to challenge myself and grow in order to achieve what others clearly expected me to deliver. Which brings me to the second reason for a successful career – amazing mentors which continue even today! This is clearly a profession of life-long learning.

I worked as a production manager for the university paper, The Collegian, and continued at the radio station during summers until I graduated. After graduating from Colorado State University with a degree in Technical Journalism/Public Relations Concentration, my contacts/networking landed me my first job.

Read Gary’s entire Career Capsule by clicking here.