Member Monday - Erin Banes
Posted by [email protected] on Dec. 22, 2023 / Subscribe 0
What initially attracted you to the world of public relations?
I had originally majored in photojournalism in college because photography is a personal passion of mine, then broadened my major to Communications. In my sophomore year, I took an elective in PR, and that was when it clicked for me. I immediately changed to a PR major because I knew it would be a perfect career for me to be able to use my writing and creativity skills.
Where do you work, and what does your current role entail?
I am a Senior External Affairs Specialist at New Jersey American Water, the largest water and wastewater utility service provider in the state. My role focuses on implementing our communications and external affairs strategy, including customer education, media relations, issues management, and community outreach for the company.
Are you an active volunteer in any organizations beyond PPRA?
Yes! I am an active member of my hometown’s garden club where we plan community gardens, beautification projects, and education outreach with local schools.
You have been with New Jersey American Water for almost five years! What keeps you excited about the work that you're doing with this organization?
I love working at New Jersey American Water because my company is so environmentally focused, and my role is centered around helping people understand their water, where it comes from, and how they can use it more wisely. I also love that I get to work on something totally different every day – one day I could be directing a photoshoot or a video project, and the next I could be planning a media event or managing crisis communications for an operational emergency. It truly never gets boring, and I always feel as though I am providing a major value to our company and customers.
What is one of your favorite moments of your career? (Any role!)
This past fall, I planned and executed a large media event at our new operations center in Lawnside, NJ. After months of planning, I felt so proud when everything came together that day, and we got good press too! It was awesome to take a step back and tell myself – yeah, I did that!!
What's a challenge you faced in your career? How did you overcome it?
Having to communicate something I didn’t know anything about! I did not go to school for water or wastewater treatment and had no background in the utility industry, but I went out of my way to take company training courses, tour treatment plants, and ask as many questions as I could.
What advice would you give to someone looking to enter the field of public relations or improve their PR skills?
Shadow someone or get an internship, even if it’s unpaid. There are so many nonprofits that could use some real PR support, and they will put you to work, but you’ll learn a lot! If you are already in the field looking to learn more, I would definitely suggest looking for specialized courses or workshops in areas you’d like to develop or asking a more senior coworker if they would mentor you.
What's something you'd like to learn?
I would love to learn how to film and edit professional short videos. I can use my phone to make quick clips for social media (and that’s usually good enough), but I’d love to be able to create more cinematic pieces to tell impactful stories.
Just for fun – if you could meet any historical figure for a coffee chat, who would it be and what would you discuss?
I would love to meet Mary Cassatt and discuss the inspirations for her paintings, the art scene during the Impressionism movement, and her contributions to the feminist movement at that time.
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