Member Spotlight

April is Accreditation Month!
MEET PRSA AUSTIN CHAPTER MEMBER: SAMANTHA SIPOWICZ, APR

NAME: Samantha Sipowicz, APR

EARNING APR ACCREDITATION: I’ve been involved in PRSA ever since I was a student in the PRSSA chapter at University of Florida. The professionals I was privileged to mentor under were APRs -- so that was a goal I aspired to as soon as I was eligible. I studied for my Readiness Review and test alongside six other practitioners and we all learned a great deal about the profession and became friends, too. That camaraderie has been integral to me personally and professionally.

BENEFITS OF APR: There’s no doubt those three letters after your name lifts one’s credibility and respect by others when they see it. Pursuing Accreditation is a challenge well worth the time and effort. In addition to improving your skill set, it’s a valuable achievement that stays with you always.

TIPS AND ADVICE FOR GETTING YOUR APR: Years ago, there were many more Accredited members and leaders. Achieving one’s APR was considered a natural progression in the profession. I served as PRSA Austin Chapter’s Accreditation Chair for three years because I believe in the process. I’m grateful to pass the torch now to Katherine Voss, APR. I encourage all PRSA members to give themselves that extra edge in hiring and being promoted. It’s one of the most worthwhile endeavors I ever accomplished. Since the distinction is becoming more rare, those who have it benefit from its exclusivity.

CURRENT LIVELIHOOD: I am the owner of Composed Communications, LLC where I serve a variety of clients with media/public relations and writing/consulting services. My career has spanned across the country in association management, high tech, corporate communications, non-profit, and freelance projects. Now serving clients remotely as a contractor, I have the flexibility to be available whenever/wherever I'm needed. My network resources have helped me become a better communicator, and being a better communicator has improved my network.

CHILDHOOD AMBITION: In grade school I was encouraged to use my very active imagination to write stories. That hasn’t changed. Now I get to have a career where I get paid for it. No complaints here!

DRAW TO THE COMMUNICATIONS FIELD: Also in grade school my report cards usually featured comments from my teachers, “Samantha likes to talk to her neighbors – a bit much.” Ditto remark above: Now I get to have a career where I get paid for it. How great is that!? In PRSSA I was on the winning Bateman Competition team which led to me being named the Florida PRSA Outstanding Graduate at UF that year. These achievements confirmed to me that I was choosing the right profession for me.

MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE AS A COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL: 
Good memory: When my oil & gas client was complimented by a famous political/environmental advocate as one of the best companies doing business in a positive way – on national TV. I was proud of my client and it affirmed my goal of working with companies I respect.

Bad memory: When I created an elaborate event program for VIPs in a fancy typeface and noticed that the description of these austere people read “pubic figures” instead of “public figures.” Fortunately, I caught it in time to reprint. Otherwise it would have gone down as my “most embarrassing moment” memory.

RECOMMENDED READS: I’m a voracious reader of dailies, industry trades and books. I’m continually disheartened by the direction journalism is heading as opinion is presented as fact in nearly every medium. Instantaneous social media only compounds the lack of fact checking as the rush to “be the first” muddies the process. It adds to the increasing mistrust of thought leaders across the globe. I wish, more than believe, this is a pendulum swing in one direction, but I doubt it will swing back.

Personally, I suggest all professionals read young adult literature such as the Harry Potter, Twilight and Hunger Games series; occasionally listen to the top iTunes music; check out the most popular video games; and troll the most popular websites such as tumbler, Pinterest, YouTube, Facebook, etc. These mediums personify where young people’s heads are and you better “get” that or you’ll miss out on where the future is destined.

FAVORITE THINGS TO DO IN AUSTIN:  I love listening to KGSR and KMFA. I love walking along Town (Ladybird) Lake and the many other hiking venues in the Austin vicinity. I love taking visitors to Home Slice for pizza and then walking across the street to the Big Top candy store for dessert on South Congress. I love that, wherever I travel in the world, there’s nothing better than calling Austin “HOME.”

THE LAST WORD: PR has been my life's work. For every goal I've achieved, I still have that many more I aspire to. My most rewarding role is as a mother and my most unexpected role is as a cancer survivor. My continuing work at the American Cancer Society has been integral to my fulfillment. I look to my future with the foundation of a spiritual heart, a healthy constitution and a positive approach to life.