Member Spotlight

MEET PRSA AUSTIN CHAPTER MEMBER: AMELIA FOLKES

NAME: Amelia Folkes

CURRENT LIVELIHOOD:  I am a Public Affairs Specialist for State Farm. I specifically focus on community relations, grants administration and Spanish-language media outreach in Texas.

CHILDHOOD AMBITION: When I was in high school I had the privilege of attending a Rotarian World Affairs Conference and met students from all over the world to discuss issues affecting us and how to reach world peace (can you imagine?). After this amazing experience I was convinced that I wanted to work for the United Nations and be involved in world affairs in some way. Once in college, I tinkered with the idea of joining the Peace Corps as well. But after a study abroad semester where I got to chronicle and report on a student-led protest in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I got hit with the reporting bug and loved it. Although I never actually became a journalist, public relations and public policy where its close sister cousins. (I studied public policy and journalism.) I still venture into the crazy world of international policy and wonder what it would be like. Who knows…maybe another career is on the horizon?

DRAW TO THE COMMUNICATIONS FIELD:  During my journalism studies, I took a crisis communications class that opened my eyes to the world of PR and I loved it. Then while working at a policy center in San Diego, I edited and produced newsletter on border policy issues. So much of the original content was academic, but once I was prepared it for publication it became so much more and I was part of an organization that educated a whole region on a better way of life.  

HOMETOWN: I was born in Los Angeles, CA. I usually tell people that I am a gypsy of sorts because I have lived in several places and sometimes more than once. I count California, South Carolina, New York, Texas and South America all parts of my path to Austin!

MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE AS A COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL:  I have a lot of amazing and memorable experiences working in the communications profession. I have been lucky to have worked in very diverse places and for interesting clients all over the country. My most memorable though, would probably have to be while working at Fleishman-Hillard on the Department of Homeland Security US-VISIT program. Part of our work was education outreach all across the United States/Mexico border. This was amazing (and sometimes funny) work to do while talking to people from all walks of life from both countries and making sure their voices were heard by a government agency. The work we did was instrumental to a successful launch of a U.S. border security program that most people don’t even know exists. (That’s how we know it was a success!)

RECOMMENDED READS:
Professionally - Applebee’s America – learning how to be a values-driven brand; Blogs: (http://forrestwanderson.blogspot.com/; http://paulargenti.wordpress.com/; http://www.culpwrit.com/about/; http://www.pr-squared.com/
Personal - http://www.acclivityperformance.com/ (thanks to PRSA) and http://vitalsmarts.com/newsletter.aspx (great newsletter on a wealth of topics from dealing with your boss to your spouse!)

FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT AUSTIN AND FAVORITE AUSTIN RESTAURANTS: There are so many outdoor places here that I can’t even name them. I love to go to the park with my kids -- I hit most of those north of Austin that are just as beautiful as those in the south (like two worlds apart really!). I hate to admit it, but when I can, I hit the Domain for shopping, tea and just people gazing. It’s a great place and I can take my kids! As for restaurants; Mí Colombia (for great Colombian food), Monument Café in Georgetown (gotta go for breakfast!), Café Java in Round Rock (try their banana pancakes) and Austin’s Pizza (love the Mediterranean, all those veggies) are some of my favorite eats. But to be honest I love so many places I couldn’t even begin to list them. Austin is full of great places to eat and I love trying new places all the time.