I’ve been a publicist for 21 years. The pandemic taught me to find meaning through my skills and my relationships.

I’m going to take a few minutes to be vulnerable, and talk about what the last couple of years have meant for me, and for my business.

Looking back, 2020 and 2021 were among the least profitable years for ImageWords Communications. Not because my work was slow. But because it was different, in the best possible way. Even as the world seemed to be crumbling, I’m proud to say that I was able to meet the moment, and find meaning in my professional life in a way that energized me and inspired me, and even changed the way I’ll do business going forward.

In those early days of COVID-19, a phrase kept resurfacing in my mind: “If you can, you should.” While I watched businesses struggling, I knew I was uniquely positioned to be able to help, because I have more than two decades of experience working in public relations in Southern Nevada. So I got to work, voluntarily connecting dozens of independently owned businesses with reporters for news stories. I helped a single mom who lost her job because of the pandemic and started her own keto bakery; a single mom who owns a cleaning service and shared Covid-related cleaning advice; a struggling restaurant owned by a couple with young children that pivoted to help families cook at home. I helped a Latina widow and mom who runs a Montessori school get local and national coverage on all sorts of education topics; and I helped a mom of four who runs a mom-centered fitness business (which paused indoor classes because of Covid) connect with media and help parents with wellness and mental health challenges they were dealing during shut-down and the era of virtual learning. Altogether, I was able to help connect sources with reporters for more than 160 stories.

Of course, not all work can be pro bono. I also found a deep sense of fulfillment and accomplishment in helping my paying clients in their efforts to give back to the community throughout the pandemic. During an event called Paint it Forward, sponsored by a client in the construction industry, I was asked to help promote a campaign to paint the houses of families in need. Not only was I asked to help promote the event, but I also got to select the families, which included a cancer patient whose dying wish was to have her house painted, and a grandmother caring for her grandchildren.

All of these experiences made me reflect on the way I do business. A reporter once called me the “godmother of the newsroom” because of my devotion to helping journalists tell good stories about real people—often who aren’t even my clients. I’ve always tried to be a megaphone for quiet voices, and a hype woman for the underdog. As I scrambled to connect reporters to mental health professionals, substance abuse counselors, small business owners struggling to hire enough staff and parents of school children to talk about how they’re navigating the pandemic, I truly felt that I was doing the work I was meant to do.

Looking ahead, as all of our worlds continue to evolve, I want to continue doing the work I was meant to be doing. So I’m shaking things up. Since I founded my business in 2001, I’ve operated on a retainer model. I’ll continue to do that for select clients. But to make my services available to more small business owners, I’m now also working with clients on a project basis, including both one-off projects and recurring. Because I know that many independent business owners have a limited marketing budget. But that shouldn’t limit their access to stellar public relations and marketing services.

I’ve always believed that everyone has a story to tell. That’s what led me to start my career in journalism. Now, as a publicist, I’m honored to be that megaphone for my clients. Because every story could benefit from a little amplification.

Interested in learning more about how we could work together on your next project?  Let’s connect and discuss!