Colleen Brannan lives life to the fullest -- or, as her boss Brian Farley says, on the edge. He recalls their days at Cohn & Wolfe working on the 1996 Olympics account
prior to both moving to Cox Enterprises, saying, "We sent her with a TV crew to the upper-upper reaches of Atlanta Fulton County Stadium so they could film a piece on high-tech
security cameras. Picture Colleen clinging to a narrow metal ledge a few hundred feet in the air while the wind whipped violently around her, smiling and explaining the finer
points of Olympic security and technology." He chuckles, "What a time to figure out she has vertigo -- she nailed a good story, though."
Some additional dish on how Brannan plays the PR game:
Background: BA, Journalism, University of South Carolina, 1991. Worked for Ketchum Washington and Ketchum Atlanta until 1995, then Cohn & Wolfe Atlanta (managing Olympic
sponsorships). Jumped to MCI on the corporate side in 1997, then moved to Cox Enterprises in 2000. Currently "on loan" as director of PR for The Atlanta Beat (operated by Cox
Enterprises) for the inaugural season of the Women's United Soccer Association.
Responsibilities: Heads up media relations, presence marketing, promotions, special events, team/player appearances, community outreach and sponsorship solicitation. Normally
oversees external communications for Cox Enterprises and serves as inhouse PR counselor for Cox corporate and its divisions, including newspaper, radio, TV, auto auctions and pro
sports. Manages a staff of two, plus outside agency relationships.
Biggest Challenge: "Securing budgets for proactive PR programs with the market so soft."
Industry Outlook: "Big companies will continue to gravitate toward smaller, boutique PR firms because big agencies are no longer willing to make the investment to learn or earn
your business."
Strangest Career Incident: Besides stadium vertigo? "I was dispatched to a local mall during the holidays on a crisis assignment because someone had been making death threats
on Santa's life and he refused to come down from his throne."
PR Philosophy: "Better to ask forgiveness than permission. And don't hire or do business with friends."
Currently Reading: "Everything from Soccer America to Industry Standard."
If Not PR... "I'd be a consumer advocate, advice columnist or stand-up comedian."
Colleen Cotter Brannan
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, Cox Enterprises
Director of PR, The Atlanta Beat (women's pro soccer team)
Atlanta, GA
404/269-8153