Furia Rubel Communications Goes to Washington Newseum

By Caitlan McCafferty

In honor of our marketing and public relations agency's 15th anniversary, the Furia Rubel team had a company retreat at the Newseum in Washington, DC on May 19.

The Newseum is dedicated to the First Amendment, and the museum celebrates freedom of expression in its many forms. The museum tells the story of communication, which ranges from the history of technology that has facilitated people's communication to the people doing the communicating, like journalists. It tells the complicated, yet powerful history, of storytelling and how people have used their freedom of expression to change the world.

Some of the more powerful exhibits include the Berlin Wall Gallery, 9/11 Gallery and Pulitzer Prize Photographs Gallery. Each of these exhibits explores the depths to which journalists go to tell people's stories. It also provided each of us with an opportunity to reflect on those events and how they shaped our thoughts, opinions and the world we live in, whether the event happened up close or from a distance.

When asked why the Newseum was chosen for our retreat, our founder, Gina Rubel, said, "As a marketing and public relations agency that prides itself on client advocacy and ethics, I thought it would be a good exercise to witness how the work we do is tied to all forms of media and how the messages and media shape public perception." She said, "It was an excellent reminder of the duty we have to present accurate information and to sift through the myriad messages we receive in order to tell fact from fiction. It was also a bonus to receive a private tour from one of our employees who was an intern at the Newseum."

As a team, we also enjoyed the "Louder Than Words" exhibit focusing on the interplay of music and American politics, the News History Gallery that highlights the biggest headlines and trends in news since the 1400s, and the "Inside Today's FBI" exhibit that tells the history of the FBI's relationship with the media and the FBI's current fight against cyberterrorism.

The Newseum is fascinating at every turn. It gave us each a chance to learn and think about how our role as communicators fits into the history of the media.

Stay tuned to our PR and marketing blog and our social media platforms for more exciting 15th Anniversary news from Furia Rubel Communications.

Getting to Know Account Coordinator Megan Quinn

Megan Quinn is marking her two-year anniversary with the Furia Rubel team. What has she learned over those two years, and what is the best advice she’s been given? We sat down and asked her a few questions to get to know her better. Read on.

What role do you play in the Furia Rubel team?

I am on the public relations side of things here, which includes a wide range of responsibilities, from writing blog content one day to drafting press releases or pitching stories the next, then securing interviews and creating interesting social media posts for our clients.

What has been the most rewarding project you’ve worked on (or task you perform regularly) at Furia Rubel?

When I’m assisting a client with a big story by pitching their news to reporters, responding to media inquiries, and tracking breaking news stories, and the client feels good knowing that we are on their side, that’s when I feel the most rewarded.

Describe a challenge you’ve faced in the workplace, how you solved the issue, and what you’ve learned from it.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced was when I was pitching stories for a client and I wasn’t getting the kind of responses I’d hoped for. I had to be resourceful and think of alternative ways to reach the media. I took a step back and re-evaluated my methods and thought, what could I do better, or what haven’t I tried yet to get their attention? As soon as I started to ask myself those questions, I got more creative and found other ways to reach the journalist to whom I was pitching. The project turned into a huge success, and I’m proud of myself for overcoming that fear. That was a learning experience that helped me grow in my career.

What is the best advice you’ve been given by a parent or a mentor?

Double check everything and write down EVERYTHING.

What is one important skill anyone working in PR should have?

These are two skills, but the ability to write and to speak well are fundamental to this work. Having the ability to effectively communicate the messages that you need to get across is crucial in public relations.

Do you have any favorite quotes?
Yes – by an icon I have always looked up to, Audrey Hepburn. “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!”

And another, by one of my public relations idols, Judy Smith: “To some degree, you need denial to get anywhere; you have to ignore the fact that the odds are often stacked against success.”

If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I’ve always dreamed of going to Paris, France someday, but Iceland looks gorgeous and that’s definitely a place on my bucket list now!

What are your favorite applications (on your phone)?

Probably Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and occasionally MyFitnessPal when I’m in the mood to track my diet.

What do you like to do when you’re not at work?

Reading, watching HGTV, and going to parks for a stroll with my fiancé when the weather is nice. I’m completely drawn to the sun as soon as it’s visible, and I have to be outside.

Describe yourself in three words.

Resourceful, quirky and a spitfire.

Getting to Know Senior Graphic Designer Heather Truitt

Our Senior Graphic Designer, Heather Truitt, recently marked her first year here at Furia Rubel. Here, she answers eight questions to help you get to know her a bit better.

What’s your favorite color?
I’m a designer, so I don’t think I can name just one color!

What is the most rewarding project you’ve worked on?
The branding for the unification of First Savings Bank of Perkasie and First Federal of Bucks County to become Penn Community Bank is one of the most rewarding projects I’ve worked on, not only in the last year, but in my career. So many variables went into designing the brand. It was a great project to work on, and it’s so rewarding to see the new signage and branded materials throughout Bucks County.

What is your favorite genre of movies?
I like to watch comedies, horror, sci-fi, and thrillers.

Is there something at your desk that represents you very well?
I have a photo of myself with my husband and our son at Disney World last year, dressed up in penguin Halloween costumes with Mickey Mouse. I think this picture represents the fact that I will do almost anything for my family.

What is something that no one would be able to guess about you?
I’m not sure if it’s something that nobody would be able to guess, but I’ve been to hundreds of live concerts. I went to see my first concert when I was 15, and since then, I’ve seen almost every band I could have ever wanted to see perform. When I was 17, my friends and I followed a band up and down the East Coast – I’ve seen that band perform probably 25 times. There is nothing like seeing one of your favorite bands live in concert.

What is your favorite app on your phone?
TimeHop is by far my favorite app. I like looking through the memories of the last seven or so years that I have been on Facebook and had a smart phone. Seeing how much my life has changed in the last few years is amazing, and being able to look back through various stages of my son’s life has been really awesome.

What has been your favorite weekend day trip?
I really love New York City. It’s my favorite city. I used to go almost monthly just to explore the city with friends. It’s such a great place and every time is a different experience.

Any upcoming fun vacations?
In October, we are going to Disney World. We had such an amazing time last year, we can’t wait to go back!

Thank you, Heather, for your hard work at Furia Rubel Communications. Congratulations on your first anniversary!