Team Spotlight: Meet Suzanne
Suzanne Basista is a seasoned marketing and communications professional with years of experience on both the agency and client sides. She has worked across a…
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Laura Porter is a communications professional with over 20 years of industry experience. Living in the Washington, D.C. area, she has worked extensively with government and private sector clients on public relations, marketing, social media and change management projects. As our resident hype woman at Kirkpatrick Group, she brings her positivity and enthusiasm to everything she touches, tackling even the most challenging problems with spirit and skill. Let’s find out more about what makes Laura such an amazing person and teammate.
I declared my major at the last possible second in college. I was interested in psychology, education and communications, but what ultimately made up my mind is that communication involves all of those things. To be an effective communicator, you need to understand people and what motivates them, which is related to psychology. A lot of writing and training is a form of education. I’m happy I found a career that blends all three of my interests and keeps every day exciting.
People think communication is just giving people information, but it should be a two-way street, and involve active listening, empathy and action. Organizations need to try to discern what people actually need to know versus what they think they want to tell them.
I’m passionate about children and animals because they can’t speak for themselves. I was a preschool teacher at the beginning of my career, and I still love working with children when I can. I also love books and reading, and I’m active on the board of our local friends of the library non-profit organization.
As a child of the ‘80s, my theme song is “Break My Stride” by Matthew Wilder. Something about that beat, melody, and message to keep on going no matter what always inspires me to get out of a rut.
I love karaoke. I was even asked to join a karaoke circuit!
I have a dog and a cat, Alfie and Eve. They are the real-life Garfield and Odie. Our cat is smart and sneaky and constantly torments our dog.
I once offered pizza to Katie Couric in an elevator. She was very gracious and said no thanks, but the next day, the gossip columns reported that she was spotted eating pizza later that night. I’d like to think I inspired her.
Suzanne Basista is a seasoned marketing and communications professional with years of experience on both the agency and client sides. She has worked across a…
Read MoreCara Wetzel has worked in the marketing and advertising industry for over 20 years. Her background includes studies in communication, creative writing, and design. She…
Read MoreAdrienne Livingston has 15 years of experience managing public relations and social media efforts for a wide range of companies. Now located in the Washington,…
Read MoreA business unit of a coatings and materials company wanted to position itself as an industry leader and increase visibility for its products, technologies and…
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