Susan Hart, APR

Professional Profile

Beginning her career as a journalist, Susan Hart, APR, has more than 25 years of professional experience in corporate, agency and non-profit public relations. As founder of Hart Public Relations & Communications LLC in 2001, she provides her clients with services including strategic public relations and marketing that includes online communications, crisis preparedness, employee communications, media relations, media training and professional writing. She represents local and national clients in health care, banking, technology, real estate and other professional services.

Personal Statement

Susan understands that public relations is a management function using the key elements of research, planning, implementation and evaluation while incorporating the latest in technology and social media as needed. Through that highly targeted process, she is able to help clients accomplish their business goals, which provides the most value for her clients and the most reward for her. Advocating a “quality over quantity” approach, along with a strategic plan and measurement indicators to every project, Susan brings a fresh, objective and “big picture” perspective to her clients. The foundation of her business is abiding by a professional industry Code of Ethics, as well as a strong personal values system.

Sample Accomplishments

• Strategic planning skills for communicating specific messages to targeted audiences to influence opinions, including the launch of the first ever corporate branding campaign for a $600 million, NYSE company, resulting in a 43% image improvement
• Development and implementation of statewide public relations campaign targeted to rural counties to promote, via a new website, sources of public assistance and professional services to combat childhood obesity, resulting in funding of program extension to additional counties
• Re-branding of 40-year-old regional real estate agency with targeted messaging, new communications avenues and branding campaign, resulting in differentiating messages and ongoing name awareness in highly competitive marketplace
• In-depth research of employee and workplace issues to develop internal communications strategies for staffs ranging in size from 200 to 14,000, resulting in increased employee retention and decreased personnel costs
  Initiation of highly effective media training program for corporate senior managers, including ongoing training for more than 250 administrators
• Crisis management experience including first-hand interviews with NPR, 60 Minutes and DATELINE NBC
• Local volunteer recruitment program selected for national campaign for largest nonprofit in country

Education and Honors

Susan graduated with honors from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in Communications. She has won numerous awards for performance from the Associated Press, the International Association of Business Communicators and the Public Relations Society of America. She has earned the accreditation distinction (APR) by PRSA and has been honored by her peers with many awards of distinctive service.