Member Spotlight

MEET PRSA AUSTIN CHAPTER MEMBER: Andrew Tanker

CURRENT LIVELIHOOD: I am the public relations manager for the LIVESTRONG Foundation, working to improve the lives of people affected by cancer now. 

CHILDHOOD AMBITION: I played baseball my whole life and always pictured myself in center field for the Chicago Cubs. Never too late, right?

DRAW TO THE COMMUNICATIONS FIELD: In college, I desperately wanted to be a sports journalist and work for ESPN.com. While I toiled away at the school newspaper, I had the good fortune of working with the athletic media relations crew at NC State who introduced me to that side of the business, which I became very interested in. After three years of working with them, I decided to hop the fence when I graduated and haven’t looked back since! It was a great experience working as a journalist though, because I feel it gives me a better understanding of their needs and attention to deadlines.

ALMA MATER: I went to North Carolina State for undergrad with a major in mass comm and minors in Spanish and journalism. I returned to the South for grad school at the University of Tennessee in journalism and electronic media (the REAL UT). 

HOMETOWN: All over the country! I moved a lot for the love of the job and claim Washington D.C., Chicago, Miami, L.A., Knoxville and Raleigh as my second homes. 

MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE AS A COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL: My most memorable moment as a communications professional was working my first Orange Bowl game – Wake Forest vs. Louisville. The energy and excitement of seeing an entire year’s worth of work coming together in one night was unforgettable…especially when the Internet cut out mid-game leaving 350 angry journalists and my first lesson in crisis communication. Beginning work at the LIVESTRONG Foundation right when the news about Lance Armstrong broke also qualifies as fairly memorable! The experience in dealing with that was invaluable and I can’t thank Rae Bazzarre and Katherine McLane enough for what I learned during that time. 

RECOMMENDED READS: If you’re interested in the healthcare industry, I’d recommend reading “Deadly Spin” by Wendell Potter. It’s a great inside look into the industry and why we have so much trouble receiving access to high-quality care (hint: money). I also like to read any books by Mike Krzyzewski, Erik Larson or Gene Wojciechowski.

FAVORITE THINGS ABOUT AUSTIN AND FAVORITE AUSTIN RESTAURANTS: My favorite thing to do in Austin is kayaking downtown with my dog, Ryno. I also love to go to graffiti park (even though a stick figure is my best attempt at art), Zilker and Red’s Porch. If you haven’t food trucked around Austin, you’re missing out, too. Hey!..You Gonna Eat or What? is the best truck in town!