Holly Barrett is our Director of Public Relations and Social Marketing.
Official Bio:
During her 20+ years in communications, Holly has managed public relations and integrated marketing programs for a variety of Fortune 500 and entrepreneurial companies, including Motorola, Xerox, Eastman Kodak, Harris RF, Mobil Chemical, Nextel, ViewSonic, IXOS Software, and Welch Allyn.
As a PR practitioner, Holly worked for seven years at Text 100, driving both U.S. and international business-to-business and consumer programs for a wide range of technology products and services, from the world's first wireless monitor to software that enables consumers to pay for purchases using their mobile devices. These efforts resulted in top-tier business, broadcast and daily coverage, including The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, MarketWatch, Newsweek, Forbes, FOX, CNN, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, PC World, PC Magazine, and CNET, just to name a few.
She has owned her own marketing business and worked for several advertising and branding agencies, such as Hutchins/Young and Rubicam, Brand Integrity, Martino Flynn, Buck & Pulleyn, and PCI Recording. Through these experiences, Holly became proficient in a number of core marketing services, including:
- Strategic planning
- Organizational branding
- Message development
- Customer reference and product review programs
- Influencer relations
- Broadcast scripting and producing
- Employee communications and training
- IPO communications
- Executive media training
A career highlight for Holly was helping Mobil Chemical work with government agencies and lobbyists in Washington, DC to establish the Council for Solid Waste Management. First started in response to McDonald's concerns of using foam containers for food packaging, these efforts resulted in the long-term development of nationwide plastics recycling centers, along with community relations programs to promote participation at the municipal and K-12.
In her spare time, Holly provides communications consultancy as a member of the Board of Directors of Volunteers of America of Western New York and is a Cub Scout leader. She resides in Fairport with her husband and three sons. She has a BS degree in Audio Engineering from Michigan State University.
Unofficial Bio:
Why did you choose this career?
After a couple years as an audio engineer, I found myself obsessed with the question of how many cords could you run and plug in during a forty-year career? That was a bad sign.
Why are there potato chips in your image montage?
You are what you eat, and nothing mimics my personality better than a bag of Wise potato chips.
- I’m loud yet crisp in delivery/
- I’m not afraid to be a bit salty (yes, my bad jokes and spaz-like dance moves are embarrassing).
- I’m a bit green sometimes – everyone can’t know everything!
- I’m bad but addictive—I’ll be the first to take a meeting away from the agenda to discuss a weird, yet distantly related topic. But admit it – we all want to have more fun at work!
- I’m a handful.
What’s your favorite song?
“Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley
What’s your favorite movie?
Austin Powers
What’s your favorite book?
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
What’s your favorite recreational activity?
Swimming
You think the world would be a better place if:
World peace is a given, so how about more individual peace. If everyone put down their smart devices for an hour each day and were truly present, stress and happiness would dramatically increase.
The most profound thing you’ve ever heard or seen or experienced is:
The realization that everyone always has options.
It would surprise people to know that:
My grandfather worked to make the Hostess Twinkie a national favorite as an advocate for freshness and short code practices, along with Twinkie the Kid marketing promotions.
Besides marketing and PR, your other passions are:
Cooking – I love to invent dishes with whatever is in my refrigerator.
Doing anything with my boys.
Listening to soundtracks. I love to dissect different instrumental tracks.
Favorite joke:
How do you keep an Amish woman happy? Give her three Mennonite.
Suddenly blessed with a day off and no limitations of time, space or cash, you would:
Pack a picnic lunch and go to Wasque beach on Chappaquiddick Island with my three sons and husband. Sitting in the channel as the ocean water comes in and out of the large pond is really cool.