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MEET PRSA AUSTIN CHAPTER MEMBER: Ally Hugg

CURRENT LIVELIHOOD: I am currently a Public Relations and Social Media Strategist at McGarrah Jessee, an Austin-born advertising agency. We partner deeply with a few great clients, with whom we push creative boundaries to shape all parts of the consumer experience. Advertising. Identity. Digital. Design. PR. Social. From mobile strategy to retail environments, we handle it all, in-house.

As a PR professional, I have grown a lot from being at an advertising agency. I get to work with a variety of folks from the creative team, the media team, the planning team, and the account service team. Being involved with so many aspects of the brands I work with allows me to gain a deeper understanding of my clients’ goals and progress. 

CHILDHOOD AMBITION: When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time dancing. So much time, in fact, that I wanted to become a dance teacher. Why not spend every day twirling around and having fun? When I was in high school, I began working as a substitute teacher at the dance studio where I practiced and got a taste for what that might be like. During that time, I also began working in the office helping to collect tuition, manage class schedules, and promote dance classes in local publications. That is when I first realized my passion was not in the studio; it was helping people to “get the word out.”

DRAW TO THE COMMUNICATIONS FIELD: As I mentioned, I was drawn to storytelling - helping individuals and brands creatively share information about their products, services, ideas, etc. Also, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in an industry that was not stagnant. Sitting at a desk and doing the same thing every day seemed daunting.  I was motivated to pursue this career because I knew there would be a variety of work involved. In PR, I enjoy that no two days are exactly the same. Writing press releases, managing social media channels, planning events, responding to media, organizing photo shoots – there is enough variation to keep me on my toes and I am always learning. 

ALMA MATER: I attended St. Edward’s University for my B.A. where I studied Communication and Psychology. I then went on to receive my M.A. in Advertising from The University of Texas. 

HOMETOWN: I am from Houston and I lived there until I moved to Austin for college, where I have been ever since. I moved to New York briefly during college for an internship. That was an incredible experience, and I loved being in the big city, but my heart is in Austin.

MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE AS A COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL: There have been so many incredible experiences to choose from throughout my career. One of the most memorable, though, would have to be during my time as an intern at MTV. I helped execute a 10th birthday party for SpongeBob SquarePants in the heart of Times Square. It was quite a challenge getting everything planned and prepped, but it was such a hoot to see so many enthusiastic fans all in one place and we gained excellent media coverage of the event.

RECOMMENDED READS: For those looking to take a break from professional reading, I highly recommend A History of the World in 6 Glasses by Tim Standage. It tells the story of humanity from the Stone Age to the 21st century through the lens of beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and cola. Also, after a long day, it can be fun to get wrapped into a graphic novel. I recommend Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. 

FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT AUSTIN AND FAVORITE AUSTIN RESTAURANTS: Austin is home to a long list of incredible restaurants. But honestly, some of the best food I have had in Austin comes from trailers. I love that many of them are clustered together, so you can grab a dish from one and hop to another for desert. Many of them are BYOB so you can bring your favorite beer or a bottle of wine and enjoy being outdoors while eating delicious food. Some of my favorites:

There are plenty of places to explore, hike, and bike in town. But when you want to get away from the city, you can. One of my favorite things about Austin is its proximity to the Texas Hill Country. In just about 30 minutes you can be driving past scenic wildflowers, jumping into swimming holes, exploring fields of lavender, or visiting one of many Texas wineries.