Alexandra K. Nolan, APR

Managers consider sales the lifeblood of a company, and are usually eager to advertise.  Yet frequently, these same managers overlook public relations until confronted with negative publicity, unexpected turnover, or another crisis.  If sales measure the lifeblood of a company, public relations monitors the corporate heartbeat.

Public relations consists of time-consuming and challenging tasks that require strong analytical skills, creativity, tact, persuasion, persistence, experience, and, most of all, a network of media contacts that have been courted and sustained over a period of time.  Alexandra  has those skills, and an impressive network of contacts.  She analyzes trends, predicts their consequences, counsels management about communication strategies, and then implements planned programs of action.

Alexandra has achieved targeted, desired results for both private and public firms nationally by applying techniques and strategies gained through years of education and more than a decade of responsible practice in the field.  She helps clients identify image problems.  She helps them improve community relations, employee relations, and media relations.  She also helps them manage special events and consumer education programs.

Obtaining publicity for clients is one of Alexandra's major strengths. She has documented her ability to secure responsible news coverage with a legion of impressive placements in local, regional, and national publications for clients in various industries, and has obtained international coverage for some clients. 

Used to tell the corporate story, publicity can help educate and persuade consumers, the media, trade, and community residents.  Publicity, in the form of feature stories, round-up articles, letters-to-the editor, talk show appearances, and even real estate, personnel and calendar listings, serves to build an aura of legitimacy and credibility around clients and their products.  Through repetition and message consistency, opportunities for exposure increase.  Such publicity can be used to reinforce the positive, neutralize the negative, and sway the undecided.  As Edward L. Bernays, one of the fathers of public relations said, public relations can be used to engineer public consent.

Although Alexandra readily acknowledges the importance of publicity and other public relations activities as fundamental in shaping public opinion, she emphasizes to clients that publicity and other public relations activities are not designed to substitute for advertising, but to work in tandem with it.  Alexandra also stresses that while it is true that public relations can influence public opinion, and that public opinion creates public policy, unless the motive is seen as a benefit to the public, persuasion will not be possible.  With that in mind, Alexandra works with clients to promote their interest, while encouraging clients to also align their efforts with the best interests of their publics.

In today's highly competitive work environment, it is evident that no company operates in a vacuum.  That is why Alexandra strongly urges each client to develop a consumer affairs program that will help the company earn a reputation for concern about their consumers.  Such a socially responsible program can increase customer and employee loyalty, while creating a climate of support for company policies.  It's not just doing things right . . . it translates to also doing the right things.