The RH Strategic Seattle office continues to grow! Introducing our newest Account Executive Danielle, who answers some questions about herself and her public relations background.
Read more about Danielle Ruckert.
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Tell us about your PR background prior to joining RH Strategic.
Before joining RH Strategic, I built national communications campaigns focused on child nutrition research and advocacy at the Pew Charitable Trusts and the development of on-water safety standards for the U.S. Coast Guard. Having exposure to such largescale campaigns has given me a unique perspective and taught me to focus on the bigger picture. My B.A. is in communication, with a focus on public relations from Flagler College (pro tip: it’s the most beautiful school, google it if you don’t believe me!).
What’s your best kept “D.C. secret”?
Fun fact: I represented Florida as her Cherry Blossom Princess during the 2015 Cherry Blossom Festival. It was an amazing experience full of parades and galas that allowed me to learn a lot about the relationship between Japan and the United States, and I made a few great friends along the way. The most unforgettable event was attending a dinner at the Japanese Ambassador’s home and hearing stories from high level government officials!
Do you have any advice for PR pros early in their careers and looking to break into the industry?
Be bold. Don’t know something? Ask! Want to meet someone? Introduce yourself. Never be afraid to throw out an idea, network with a new group of people, or ask questions. Most importantly: be confident in everything you do! Everyone had to start somewhere, and most people are more than happy to help someone who reaches out.
What about PR excites you the most?
PR is exciting to me because of all of the strategy behind the work. Pitching a reporter doesn’t just mean sending an email. It means thoughtfully researching a person, learning what they like to write about and how they like to craft an article. It means taking the time to learn what makes your client special, so that when you share the work they are doing with a reporter, you are sharing something you genuinely believe in and think is great. It means if you’ve successfully placed a story, you disperse it in the right mediums (social media, emailed newsletter, etc.) so that you help to make sure it reaches the audience who will be most interested.
What was the last concert you attended?
I just saw Britney Spears in Las Vegas during Halloween weekend and she was amazing! Britney is a really humble and down to earth celebrity and you can tell she loves to perform. I had a huge smile on my face the entire show.
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RH Strategic is the PR firm for a hyper-connected world, delivering integrated traditional, digital & social media strategies for technology, healthcare, and public sector markets.
