A Day in the Life at Mintz + Hoke: Public Relations Edition
The PR world has changed drastically over the past few years. From going digital to shrinking newsrooms, this team has seen it all and can tell you a thing or two. In today's Day in the Life installment, meet our PR team—all of whom joined the agency within a few months of each other.
Meet Robert Bernarduci, our Director of Public Relations for a bit more than one year.
When people from outside the advertising industry ask what you do, how do you describe your role?
I like to say I am a brand storyteller. I am always looking to attract the media's attention by telling a client’s story in an engaging and thought-provoking way.
What does the first hour of your day typically consist of? Are you reading the news, meditating, journaling, etc.?
The first hour of my day consists of consuming coffee and the news. I am a news junkie, so I guess you could say I picked the right career.
Out of all the Mintz + Hoke core values—Inspire/Be Inspired, Embrace the Gray, Always Bring a Gift, Honor Respect, and Own It—which one resonates with you the most and why?
Always Bring a Gift resonates with me because I love to give our clients a little more than expected. Providing value to our clients and giving them something extra sets Mintz + Hoke apart. When you work with Mintz + Hoke, you get the strategy with a heaping scoop of wow factor.
How do you embrace our Immersively Different philosophy in your day-to-day efforts?
I believe conversations drive today’s brands. Whether it’s a B2B or consumer brand, people engage with each other and the brands they respect—more often and more efficiently in a more connected and transparent world. For me, being Immersively Different means uncovering what motivates our clients’ consumers by diving deep into the consumer conversation. Once you gain their trust, you can join the conversation and add value.
If you could give one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Be curious and follow that curiosity wherever it leads. The best advice I ever received was to be a lifelong learner—no matter what stage of your career you are in.
Where do you find inspiration?
First and foremost, my family inspires me to be a better human every day. After that, I think my Yamaha G2 piano and my Gibson J45 guitar inspire me to create the soundtrack for my life.
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Next is Amanda Savio, PR Account Director, and Mintz + Hoker of 15 months.
When people from outside the advertising industry ask what you do, how do you describe your role?
Public relations is communication and relationships. I tell them I’m responsible for sharing our clients’ stories, whether through writing press releases and pitching to the media, writing thought pieces and talking points, occasionally serving as a spokesperson, and overall, portraying a positive image of our clients and their work. In addition, I strategize and execute events that allow our clients to have an in-person presence where their target audiences are, which allows us to personally connect with potential customers.
What does the first hour of your day typically consist of? Are you reading the news, meditating, journaling, etc.?
After the frantic rush of walking my dog and dropping my daughter off at high school (before the sun is up!), I check my calendar for the day, scan my emails for anything urgent, then catch up on the news and social media (and maybe a TikTok video or three). I get ready and am usually at my computer by 8:15 a.m.
Out of all the Mintz + Hoke core values—Inspire/Be Inspired, Embrace the Gray, Always Bring a Gift, Honor Respect, and Own It—which one resonates with you the most and why?
Embrace the Gray. In the PR world, things are rarely predictable. It’s extremely important to be up-to-date on anything happening with our clients and within our clients’ industries. We have to be flexible and embrace the fact that we might have to pivot at a moment’s notice. No day is the same, and there is never a dull moment—which is the best part.
How do you embrace our Immersively Different philosophy in your day-to-day efforts?
I take the immerse part to heart. When you work at an agency, you are a lifelong learner—you become an expert in your client's industry and fully understand their product and mission. Only then can you take a step back and ask yourself how you can best share their news and information in a way that their current and potential customers will clearly understand and respond to positively.
If you could give one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Be open to new opportunities, even if they are a bit intimidating. If you regularly challenge yourself to grow, you’ll never be bored.
Where do you find inspiration?
My colleagues at Mintz + Hoke are very inspirational. Whenever we are all together, I walk away feeling so lucky that I get to work with these creative minds every day.
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Now hear from Angela Martin, a content strategist who has been working with Mintz + Hoke since June 2021. This is actually her second stint at the agency. Her first role was as a PR Account Executive back in the early 1990s. Mintz + Hoke is where she likes to say her career began.
When people from outside the advertising industry ask what you do, how do you describe your role?
I describe my role as part detective, part writer, and part magnet. I look at how a brand can best tell its story by developing the strategy to amplify it in the market and then creating content to pay that off to attract audiences.
What does the first hour of your day typically consist of? Are you reading the news, meditating, journaling, etc.?
The first hour of my day is contemplative time, including Reiki and meditation. As part of my practices, I set a daily intention that begins with a question: What shall we do today? My goal is to make the most of every day.
Out of all the Mintz + Hoke core values—Inspire/Be Inspired, Embrace the Gray, Always Bring a Gift, Honor Respect, and Own It—which one resonates with you the most and why?
Honor respect is the core value that most hits home for me. We all learn and grow by working together. For me, honor respect best manifests by listening—consciously giving someone else the floor to hear their ideas. What we produce as an agency with our internal teams and clients is a collective effort.
How do you embrace our Immersively Different philosophy in your day-to-day efforts?
I bring thoughtfulness and care to everything I do. No decision is made without consideration. Every strategy, and every sentence is mindful of a brand and its audience.
If you could give one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Follow your heart. We are all called to the work we do. No one else has the same gathered experiences, ideas, mindset, and goals. Think of your career not as a ladder to climb but as a bouquet to gather, seeking opportunities to grow one wildflower, one leafy stem at a time.
Where do you find inspiration?
Walks in nature, amid the trees and by the water keep me at once inspired, grounded, and free. I also love books, magazines, TV shows, and social media spotlighting creativity and design of all kinds, from poetry to fashion to interiors. Where there are no right answers, just pure creation.
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Now, learn about Lindsay Trobel, our PR Account Executive of one year.
When people from outside the advertising industry ask what you do, how do you describe your role?
Ha! I find it so hard to explain to people what I do. I tell them I put together and execute earned (emphasis on free!) media plans for clients. If you read an article about an organization in your local newspaper or magazine, see an interview about the organization on local TV, or hear about it on the radio, there’s a good chance it was achieved through earned media outreach.
What does the first hour of your day typically consist of? Are you reading the news, meditating, journaling, etc.?
My first hour consists of a long run or some other sort of exercise. It allows me to de-stress and clear my head for the day—I very much enjoy the runner’s high. Then I check emails and start my day!
Out of all the Mintz + Hoke core values—Inspire/Be Inspired, Embrace the Gray, Always Bring a Gift, Honor Respect, and Own It—which one resonates with you the most and why?
I think our Always Bring a Gift core value resonates with me the most because I love that the gift can manifest itself in many forms. It could be knowledge and effort—truly going above and beyond for the client, which is what we’re known for—or bringing laughter and personality to a meeting. It makes my day when I see someone on our team making others laugh and bringing light and laughter into internal and external meetings.
How do you embrace our Immersively Different philosophy in your day-to-day efforts?
It’s very easy to get into a routine and not want to deviate from that, but I find myself constantly being challenged by other Mintz + Hokers to look for new ideas, think outside of the box, and provide our clients with creative solutions.
If you could give one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Don’t ever be afraid to ask questions.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration from reading. I love to read, and it truly helps inform my writing at work.
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To close out the PR Day in the Life, hear from KaLyn McCullough, PR Coordinator since Sept. 2021
When people from outside the advertising industry ask what you do, how do you describe your role?
I first tell them my primary role is running and managing social media for the agency and a handful of clients, then I go into a little bit of detail about what that means, i.e., creating the content, engaging with the audience(s), etc.
What does the first hour of your day typically consist of? Are you reading the news, meditating, journaling, etc.?
Like most Gen Z, I scroll through TikTok while I drink my first cup of coffee of the day.
Out of all the Mintz + Hoke core values—Inspire/Be Inspired, Embrace the Gray, Always Bring a Gift, Honor Respect, and Own It—which one resonates with you the most and why?
So many people have said it but, Embrace the Gray. I graduated college in the middle of the pandemic, moved a thousand miles from home not knowing anybody except my boyfriend, spent a lot of time job hunting, etc. If there’s one thing the past 2.5 years have taught me, it’s to embrace the gray and roll with the changes.
How do you embrace our Immersively Different philosophy in your day-to-day efforts?
I always start by putting myself in the consumer’s shoes. Whether I’m creating social copy for someone with a newborn or targeting people in the market for group health insurance, I always start by asking myself, “What would push me to act if I were them?”
If you could give one piece of career advice, what would it be?
Imposter syndrome is alive and well, especially for those who graduated during the pandemic and started their career virtually. But I once heard someone say, “If they didn’t believe you were fully capable of doing the job, they wouldn’t hire you.” And it’s true—you are capable of more than you know. Always be confident in yourself and your abilities.
Where do you find inspiration?
It probably sounds lame, but movies and books. I can’t watch a movie or read a book without appreciating (or critiquing) the graphic design, the packaging design, the overall marketing, etc. I love seeing the diverse ideas and mediums and how I could bring those into my work.
Now that you know what a day looks like for our PR team, we’ll take you through the ins and outs of the Creative team next. Stay tuned for more!
