Director’s Message When people ask me what public relations is, I tell them that it’s all about storytelling. It’s about conveying meaningful messages to different audiences and doing it well. It’s important for us to be communicators in every sense of the word. We’re taught to write and speak well and to be passionate, intuitive and curious students of life. The one skill that isn’t stressed enough is listening. As director of this kick-ass organization, I’m learning to listen. I listen to my executive team and I listen to even the most novice of members. We listen to our clients and we listen to what’s going on in the University, nonprofit and Austin communities. It is only through listening that we can truly reach the level of great communicators. It is through opening our eyes and ears that

we can accomplish great things for our clients. My team and I are continuing the legacy of Texas Tower PR as the leading student organization that provides public relations to Austin’s nonprofit community. I have an incredible team of students ready to tell our clients’ stories and celebrate their success. I look forward to an incredible year of work, fun and passion. Hook ‘Em! Hugo Rojo (@hugorojo)

We listen to our clients and we listen to what’s going on in the University, nonprofit and Austin communities.” Hugo Rojo, Director

 

 

2 ………………….…………...….……. What is Texas Tower PR? 3 ………………………………………… How can we help you? 4 …..……………………….…………………………… Our Clients 5 ……..………………………..……………………... Case Studies 6 ………..……………………….……...…….. Client Testimonials 7 …………...…………………….…………………………... Alumni 8 ……………..……...……………….….………………. Our Team 9 ………………...….………….…………. Want to work with us?

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At Texas Tower PR, we’re all about stories. Here’s ours. As the only student-run public relations firm at The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Tower PR attracts the best and brightest communication students. Modeled after the renowned agencies we learn about in class, our senior leadership handpicks each year’s new team members after an application process. Designated Account Executives serve as the liaisons between their account team and respective client. A team of 4-5 associates work with each executive to support the account’s overall efforts. The members of Texas Tower PR and our clients are a family. We are united by our passion for learning, leadership, and celebrating Austin’s nonprofit community. Students gain invaluable, real world experience, and the local nonprofits we serve receive quality work, pro bono. Our clients are as diverse as our wonderful city, and so are their needs. From traditional PR such as media relations and content development, we blanket our family of clients with social media strategies, blog development, editorial calendar maintenance, event planning, volunteer coordination, publicity and much more. We love what we do and we’re good at it. With a new roster of clients comes untapped and unexplored PR potential. The spring 2015 semester marks a new era of storytelling for Texas Tower PR.  

What is Texas Tower PR?

 

 

Texas Tower PR wants to help you tell your organization’s story by creating and executing a successful public relations campaign to fit your unique needs. We are capable of providing you with diverse public relations tools including, but not limited to:

• Media relations • Content development • Social media strategies • Blog development • Editorial calendar maintenance • Event planning • Volunteer coordination • Publicity

We’re passionate about the innovative and impactful organizations that give back to the communities of Austin. Our mission is to establish your organization as a leader in the community so that more people can benefit from the services and resources you provide. Check out how we’ve accomplished our mission with the following case studies.

How we can help you:

 

 

Our Clients

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work process improvem

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Health Alliance for Austin Musicians Provides access to affordable health care for Austin’s low income, uninsured working musicians

Teatro Vivo Produces culturally relevant theatre addressing critical social issues about the Latino experience

Cancer Support Community Central Texas Ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge and sustained by community

The Cohen New Works Festival Biannual showcase of work created by UT students to celebrate the continuous artistic innovation process

Quality Assurance & Process Improvement Increase efficiency and stimulate innovation within the workforce of Facilities Services at The University of Texas

Manos de Cristo Empowers low-income individuals by providing oral care, education, and meeting basic needs

Energy and Resource Conservation at UT Help UT create a more sustainable community by promoting water and energy conservation

 

 

Case Studies HAAM Texas Tower PR first gained the Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) as a client in Fall 2013. Founded in 2005, the organization was in its 8th year of operation and had nearly 1,600 members, annual fundraising events and significant media coverage. However, the established nonprofit was not exercising its full potential with students at nearby universities. From insight and planning at the executive level, to dedication and hard work from the associates, the team utilized many skills to address HAAM’s awareness problem. These skills included social media scheduling and content creation, writing blog posts, public speaking, photography and community relations. The team also created a video to play at various fundraising events to increase donor relations. This video was awarded the Silver Quill Award, and the account was recognized with an Award of Merit from the International Association of Business Communicators. HAAM currently has over 2,000 members and continues to increase funding each year. Student awareness of HAAM has increased, as the account reached out to different student organizations on campus. In addition to increasing student awareness, the account also provided volunteers for many HAAM events throughout the year. Teatro Vivo Tower first began working with Teatro Vivo in the Fall of 2013. The confusion and clutter of Teatro Vivo’s website was a major issue that hindered its growth and viewer engagement. The account team helped to create the aesthetically pleasing and easy to navigate website that the nonprofit uses today. The team continues to maintain the website and also contributes blog posts and social media content. The team uses a social media calendar that includes two Tweets, one Instagram post and one Facebook post per day, in addition to weekly blog posts. The account’s management of Teatro Vivo’s online presence has ensured consistency and timely information across all platforms. The team has successfully promoted upcoming social events and plays, and continues to help Teatro Vivo flourish. Manos de Cristo Before Manos de Cristo was a Tower client in August 2014, awareness and public support of the nonprofit organization was very minimal. The website had an unprofessional look and a small social media following. The Tower account team conducted a situation analysis and built a campaign for Manos de Cristo to better convey what the organization is and why the public should care. The campaign consisted of redesigning the website to be more user-friendly, promoting fundraising events to media channels throughout Austin, developing a blog with weekly content, and growing the social media following. So far, the Tower team has published the blog on the Manos de Cristo website, successfully promoted the Golf Tournament Fundraiser, and has increased Facebook likes and Twitter followers by over 50% each.  

 

 

Client Testimonials “The Energy and Water Conservation Program within UT’s Facilities Services, sought out a marketing and PR resource on campus when the program first started in 2012. Luckily we found Texas Tower which allowed us to focus on energy conservation, our trained job, while Texas Tower focused on our social marketing and outreach efforts that strengthen our behavior programs- Longhorn Lights Out, Horns Up, Sash Down, and our plug load reduction efforts. We are on our 2nd year using Texas Tower which has been essential to the growth of a culture of conservation on campus. We plan on using them in the future to sustain our efforts and campuses energy and water reduction goals.” Stephanie Perrone of UT Energy & Water Conservation Program

“It’s always a joy to work with Texas Tower PR. Their professionalism and attention to telling our story makes a big impact in helping us spread our agency’s mission and vision to our stakeholders and the community. Tower PR associates have one goal in mind: to put their classroom knowledge into practice for us. I’m finding that to be true as I partner with them again at Manos de Cristo. I also worked with Tower for two years at Creative Action (formerly Theatre Action Project) and they were as much a part of the organization as the staff was. They help with our blog site, did social media at events and shared their skills and knowledge with us. I’m proud to be a partner with Texas Tower PR.” Mary Alice of Manos de Cristo  

 

 

 Our members continue on to become successful public relations and communications professionals in prominent roles across the county. Their time with Texas Tower PR was a valuable asset to launching their career.

Alumni Spotlight

Emily Watkins (former president) public relations manager at NadaMoo!

Dorian Walker Account Supervisor at Edelman NYC

Jordan Langdon Communications Director at US House of Representatives (Jeff Denham)

Rachael Genson North American PR Manager at Bazaarvoice

Colby Foss Marketing Coordinator at ESPN

Casey Anderson Client Executive at Burson Marsteller (Chicago)

Linda Huang Publicity Coordinator at USA Network

Sharon Chin Li Ping Inbound Marketing Specialist at VisionWeb

Jessica Cox Featured Speaker Coordinator at SXSW Austin

Liz Kelly Integrated Communications Specialist at Waggener Edstrom

 

 

 

Our Team

 

 

 

If you would like to discuss how Texas Tower PR can help tell your organization’s story, please contact the New Business Manager, Landon Horan: landonhoran@verizon.net Leadership Director: Hugo Rojo hugorojo92@gmail.com Head of Accounts: Maggie Molhoek mmolhoek@yahoo.com Social Media Manager: Sonia Woiton sonia.woiton@utexas.edu New Business Director: Reagan Sheehy r.sheehy@utexas.edu Engagement Officer: Ale Valeriano valeriano.alejandra@yahoo.com

 

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