Rita Bowers
From Fashion Websites to the Red Cross Website,
Rita Bowers Enjoys Creative PR Projects
 How
long have you been a WWPR member? Why did you join? What do you
like best about the group?
I've been a member of WWPR for 1.5 years. I joined the group because
I was looking for a professional organization in public relations.
I like the camaraderie that the women share and it seems like everyone
is really trying to help one another in their career path.
What is your professional background, training
and work experience?
For over a year, I was the communications specialist for the American
Red Cross National Headquarters. I edited three monthly newsletters
distributed nationwide via the internal website and wrote articles
for redcross.org. I served as the communications liaison by attending
meetings and representing the organization's policies for several
project teams that develop national programs. My duties on the teams
included dealing with communications strategies, editing the materials
and promotion and marketing of programs to chapters. I also advised
my clients on how to effectively communicate their message via the
Intranet. In addition, I designed the web pages for the internal
website and www.redcross.org,
and I determined the target audience for the sites.
Along with working for the Red Cross, I served
as the volunteer chair for the Communications Committee of the Northern
Virginia Urban League. As chair, I coordinated all the media and
promotional efforts including writing press releases, flyers, creating
the monthly newsletter and the website. I also built partnerships
for the organization to raise funds and create community service
activities.
Prior to volunteering with the Urban League, I
served as the communications associate for the Institute of Scrap
Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI) serving 18,000 members worldwide.
What are your current public relations pursuits?
I am currently freelancing and looking for a full-time position.
My niches are non-profit and trade associations. I would like to
find a position where I can gain more experience in media relations
and continue my work in internal communications.
Any recent exciting projects that you're really
proud of? Or favorite public relations project ever?
I am very proud of my work with the Urban League. I spearheaded
the launch of the chapter's newsletter and preparation for the redesigned
their website. That experience put me in a position to take on all
of the public relations work for potential and present membership
and it also afforded me the experience of managing a team.
What do you like best about working in the
Washington-area public relations' industry?
The DC area has a wealth of opportunities and I think the public
relations professionals here are some of the best in the industry.
As a person with less than five years of experience, I can learn
from those individuals and strengthen my skills.
What do you feel is the biggest challenge for
women in Washington, DC?
For women in Washington, DC, I feel the biggest challenge is breaking
out and networking. I think it is a very competitive market and
the mentality is to try to keep contacts to yourself. I feel that
if people make it a practice to network and help others it will
strengthen their alliance base and help them excel in the process.
Outside of work, what activities do you enjoy?
I am about partnership building professionally as well as personally.
Therefore, being with friends and connecting with others by networking
is important to me. I love attending the cultural events in D.C.
from concerts at the Kennedy Center to exhibits at the Smithsonian.
My hobbies also include reading and running.
Tell us something about yourself that isn't
on your resume?
I have an extensive background in Web and publication design. I
have designed many Web sites and created an online fashion magazine
as part of my graduate work at Michigan State University located
at
http://www.msu.edu/course/jrn/890/rita/beautysecrets/index.html
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