Articles

Q&A with Ryann Bouchard, 2016 Rising Star

At this year’s PRism Awards, Ryann Bouchard, public relations manager at Dixon Schwabl, received the Rising Star Award. This honor recognizes a public relations professional, with no more than seven years of experience in the field, who demonstrates exceptional competence, skill and leadership potential. 

We sat down with Ryann to discuss what this honor means to her and learn more about her love for the profession and her advice for young PR pros. 

What aspects of public relations do you enjoy most?
I love working with the media. Finding new and creative ways to promote an amazing event, organization or person in Rochester through media relations, social media, content videos and more keeps me thinking big and strategically. For any publicist, the best morning is when you come into work, read the paper and see the story that YOU pitched and secured run in print. That feeling never gets old. I also enjoy media training and coaching an interviewee, making sure they are confident and comfortable before their interview, then watching them shine on air. Hey, we are in PR together. What’s not to love?

What does receiving the Rising Star award mean to you?
Receiving PRSA’s Rising Star award has been the utmost honor. This year’s PRism event was one of the greatest nights ever! I was surrounded by incredible colleagues, mentors, family and friends. I am so unbelievably humbled and so very grateful for this opportunity.

Do you have any advice for other young PR professionals?

• Find a strong mentor

• Expand your personal and professional networks
• Partner with an organization (or two or three) to volunteer your time and expertise (Did I say networking?)

• Observe, listen and learn
  
  

You received your bachelor’s degree in Communications from SUNY Fredonia. How did Fredonia prepare you for the work you do for Dixon Schwabl clients?
There are two people at Fredonia I credit for my initial love of public relations: PR professor Ann Carden and former Director of Public Relations Mike Barone. Ann taught me the importance of attention to detail and thoughtful writing. Mike took me to my very first press conference, offered me my first PR internship and gave me writing projects that later ran in the school newspaper. I still have copies!

When you aren’t serving as PR manager at Dixon Schwabl, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Gardening, baking, wedding planning, tweeting and walking outside with my pug, Walter.