Some people can boast they've been around the block, but Stephanie Morris can claim that she's been through a variety of neighborhoods. The Washington, DC-based PR veteran has
been a visible force in the nonprofit sector, in public affairs and in the corporate world (where she specialized in new business development for the agencies Venture
Communications and Fenton Communications). She's now back in the corporate world, having recently joined Widmeyer Communications as their new director of
outreach and development.
But no matter where her career has taken her, Morris always finds herself in familiar settings. "I think there are more similarities than differences when looking at
challenges in the public versus corporate sector," she says. "When I was in house as a director of communications for two nonprofits (the National Women's Business Council
and the Center for Women's Business Research), I found that the biggest challenge was trying to keep an eye on our long term communications plan while also making sure we
were taking advantage of unforeseen opportunities that presented themselves. But in an agency setting, it's very much the same kind of challenge - only with an eye towards making
sure the client is doing just that. Of course, in any campaign setting, whether for a cause or a new product, we often face a public that is overextended and difficult to
reach."
A native of Sacramento, CA, Morris has long enjoyed Washington's unique PR environment. "I love working in Washington - there is a great mix of dynamic organizations in the
public and private sector here and so many smart, accomplished people in the industry," she says.
Speaking of learning, Morris is set to receive her MBA from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland in College Park. "I don't think an MBA
or postgraduate degree is vital, but for someone like me who has a strong interest in the business development side of PR, it's extremely useful," she says. "Healthy business
development strategies should be well aligned with any growing organization's overall vision."
Her postgraduate studies also raised an interesting observation on advancing the cause of PR. "I'm also finding that many MBA students really don't know much about PR and why
it can be a vital component to most any business' growth strategy," she says. "So I would offer that being able to participate in a part-time graduate program often brings
benefits - one can also learn from classmates who are in different industries."
Contact: Stephanie Morris, [email protected].