About Rappingmom

There’s always something to rant about, isn’t there?

In the more than 20 years I’ve worked in journalism and public relations, I’ve come across a lot of interesting things.

In my professional background, I’ve worked with CEO’s, celebrities, politicians, reporters, great clients, obnoxious clients, graphic designers, creative teams, number crunchers, word crunchers, editors, really smart people, intellectually challenged people, amazing bosses and scary bosses. Being human, I can honestly say that most of the time I dealt with the situation at hand pretty well. (I did say most of the time…)

Last In, First Out: Working (freelance) at a boutique PR agency, where I spent the bulk of my time on introducing an exciting new brand – an eco-respectful battery. In addition to PR around trade shows like CES and Green Products Expo, we created a “battery exchange,” where 5,000 Las Vegas high school students participated in this amazing Earth Day event. You can see my press releases on the company’s website www.greenfuji.com/presskit

My other accounts included organic products, fashion, home decor, B2B clients. I pitched new business, met with prospective clients, wrote proposals, edited written materials, worked on revamping content for the company website, supervised 3 and 3 entry level staffers.

Throughout my career, I have found myself in situations that ranged from the comical to the sad — and everything in between. For example, a workplace soap opera as dramatic as the theater where it took place unfolded with enough material for a great cable TV series (don’t worry, it’s on the back burner).

Silver lining: I was fortunate enough to get the hands-on course in Crisis Management for Practical, Everyday Use, when the Fortune 500-bred company I worked for denied culpability during an investigation that lead to one of the biggest corruption scandals in NYC. Nine months later, we heard senior management admit, under oath, that they had, in fact, authorized bribes to public officials to win lucrative city contracts. My corporate communications and crisis management skills were sharpened while I served as company spokesperson as the scandal unfolded. I also created great PR campaigns for parking programs in client cities LA, Boston, Philadelphia, New Orleans and D.C. An award-winning PSA campaign I helped create eliminated attacks on meter maids in New Orleans.

Where it all began:
The fun started when I landed my first job as a researcher, then researcher-reporter at Forbes magazine. Among my adventures was a phone interview with the late Tom Carvel (of “Cookie Puss” and “Fudgy the Whale” fame), as my fellow researcher-reporters snickered and laughed as they called out those very product names. But I just kept talking to good ole’ Tom and got the information I needed. He was quite gracious and down to earth. I also got to spend hours on odd requests for Malcolm Forbes, like finding an engine part for one of his favorite motorcycles — back in the day, before internet and email. Also during that prehistoric time was the full year I spent uncovering potential candidates for the very first Forbes 400 List of Wealthiest Americans. But I have to say that my most memorable Forbes highlight: Tagging along for an interview with Jerry Garcia. I was so professional, that I didn’t even ask for an autograph…

No worries. I made up for that mistake later on as PR Director at the John Harms Center for the Arts. While I never did get to meet the late Garcia again, I had countless opportunities to bring reporters and donors backstage to meet the likes of BB King, Arlo Guthrie, Joan Rivers, Robert Wagner, Penn and Teller, Bill Maher, Don Rickles, Paul Anka, Hal Holbrook, Kevin Bacon, Ray Romano, and many others. I was very successful getting regular pre-show press (the NY Times, Star Ledger, The Record, etc) and even landed a few guests on the Howard Stern show. The box office phones lit up immediately as a result, with one show selling out after Howard’s on-air plug. The non profit theater eventually shut its doors, and I was out of a job in a post 9/11 world.

I am proud of the five years I spent at Project EZRAH, a non profit organization that helps unemployed and financially challenged members of my community. I was there from the beginning, with a 6 month detour (a stint on the creative team of a startup). I helped many unemployed individuals find part time and temporary jobs, assisted them with resume writing and a friendly ear.

I am now looking for that great opportunity that I know is out there. I am confident that I will be able to bring my talents to a great organization and grow even further professionally.

In the meantime, I’m going to write about a few things that are on my mind.