Category: Austin Office

Growing up, I was fascinated with the investigative journalists I saw on TV and read about in books. I pictured myself chasing stories that would reveal injustices, uncover corruption and expose wrongdoing. A champion for the truth, I would don a well-tailored blazer, microphone in one hand, notebook filled with insights and hard-earned facts in the other and bring to light what is often left in the dark.

But when my high school journalism teacher suggested I explore a career in public relations (PR), I was intrigued. PR, as it turns out, is just as strategic and powerful as investigative journalism, but with a more positive twist. Instead of just telling the story, you’re helping shape it. There’s something undeniably powerful about crafting a narrative that elevates, rather than exposes.

So, I traded my dream of investigative journalism for a new mission in PR, where I could still chase headlines, but this time to highlight the brands or people doing incredible work. I went on to earn my bachelor’s degree in journalism with a concentration in PR and a minor in marketing from Texas A&M University.

Accelerating business agendas for global brands

Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with top global technology brands and emerging startups alike, shaping perceptions and accelerating business agendas. As a communications strategist, I’ve tackled everything from product launches and rebrands to executive positioning and company acquisitions.

Whether working alongside C-suite executives or mentoring up-and-coming PR pros, I’m passionate about helping businesses tell their stories in a way that truly connects. The best parts? Landing that coveted story placement in a top-tier media outlet. Or when a sales team closes a major deal because their story finally clicks with prospects.

Now, I’m thrilled to bring that passion and drive for results to Ketner Group’s esteemed clients. Working together with KG’s dynamic team of communications experts, I couldn’t be more excited to contribute to the amazing work happening here.

Revealing my Top Ten Titles, besides Media Matchmaker

Besides “Media Matchmaker” or “Communications Strategist,” I hold a few other titles that describe me well…

1. Mom: I’m mom to two sons and a teacup Yorkie named Bandit.
2. Native Texan: I embrace my Texas roots with pride (it’s practically a requirement).
3. Home Gym Warrior: Working out in my home gym—aka my garage—is a top priority for my sanity. I love pushing myself, even when it feels like a sauna during the brutal Texas summers.
4. Trail Conqueror: I relish the challenge of rugged hiking trails; the tougher, the better. Nothing beats conquering steeps inclines for that summit view with my husband and fellow adventurer.
5. College Football Fan: Gig ‘em, Aggies!
6. Salsa Connoisseur: If the salsa is good enough, you might catch me skipping the chips and going straight for a straw.
7. Neat Freak: I have been known to regularly use a comb to smooth the fringe on my area rugs.
8. Ambidextrous Anomaly: I write, eat and brush my teeth with my left hand. Everything else – catch, throw, swing a golf club, shoot a basketball, etc. is done with my right hand.
9. Grammar Nerd: For the record, I’m a grammar nerd through and through, though I’ll take the AP style of comma usage over the Oxford comma any day. Blame it on my journalism degree.
10. True Story Enthusiast: If a movie is “based on a true story,” I’m in! A documentary? Even better. I guess there’s still a little bit of that investigative journalist/truth seeker inside me after all.

Hello, everyone! I’m Shay Edblom and I am currently in my last semester of college at The University of Texas at Austin. Hook ’em Horns! When deciding what to study in college, I followed my talent for writing into a public relations degree.

Throughout my time at UT, I picked up a business minor and joined the Texas Media and Analytics (TM&A) program. I have absolutely loved TM&A as it allowed me to delve deeply into different aspects in PR, including media buying, and I gained certifications in Amazon Ads, Google Ads and Google Analytics. I even had the opportunity to present an in-person pitch to Deloitte in 2023!

Early career experience

I started my career in public relations after meeting the marketing director of the local Austin start-up CLEAN Cause at a networking event. He encouraged me to create my own position at the company managing their TikTok. I enjoyed continuing to create content for my boss when he transferred to Electrolit, but making short-form video content wasn’t my dream. Over the summer I switched to agency life and participated in the Fellowship at Ketchum in Dallas with a focus in the healthcare industry.

As my college career comes to a close, I knew I wanted to have a spring internship to prepare for life post graduation. After working at Omnicom’s Ketchum, I wanted to experience a different side of the industry. Having never worked for a smaller agency before, I decided to apply for my current position at Ketner Group. I’m excited to gain knowledge about the B2B tech industry and get a lot of hands on experience this spring.

Outside of the office

Enough about school and work, here is a jumble of fun facts about me:

• I recently decided to become a runner (not my strong suit) and I love a good workout class whether it be F45, hot yoga, etc.
• Thrifting is a passion of mine, and my closet is mostly curated from the best pieces I’ve found.
• I recently found myself picking up canning as a hobby. Quite random, but I canned my own pumpkin for pumpkin pie and recently pickled my own red onions.
• I’d consider myself a very amateur artist and like to sketch, paint, and am learning how to draw on my iPad. Below are the results of a painting class I took with my mom.

There is so much more, and I look forward to diving in and becoming part of this awesome team!

Hello everyone! My name is Matthew Boncosky, and I’m the latest and greatest member to join the Ketner Group team full-time!

It feels great being able to put that into words.

If you already recognize my name, that’s because you might have read my first introduction on the KG blog when I began as an intern in May. Give that a read if you want to learn more about my background and how I ended up at Ketner Group.

Now, it’s been over six months since that blog went live, so what has happened in the meantime? Well, a lot, as you might imagine.

What I’ve been up to at Ketner Group

After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin in May, Ketner Group welcomed me into the world of PR with open arms. My main goal was to gain some real-world communications experience that would set me up for a career in the field.

Like others have aptly written on this blog, being an intern at KG is the real deal. From the beginning, I was tasked with handling items that directly impacted the work that Ketner Group did for its clients. Over time, I was gradually given more and more responsibility, and by the time fall rolled around, I had been onboarded onto multiple client accounts.

I was doing real work, helping to tell the stories of Ketner Group’s clients while feeling like a true member of the team. My experience was more than everything that I hoped it would be. Oh, and I also got to make ice cream in a bag and solved a murder mystery with my team.

Professionally, I learned and accomplished everything that I wanted as an intern here. But in the process, I realized that Ketner Group was much more than just an internship or a part-time job, which is why I was so happy when a full-time offer was extended my way.

Why I wanted to stay at Ketner Group

Ketner Group does a fantastic job at exceeding client expectations. Therefore, it’s the perfect spot for me to begin my career and build on the skills and expertise I’ve already begun to develop in the field of retail tech. Now, I can’t go into a store without thinking what point-of-sale solutions, inventory management software or store optimization program the retailer is using behind the scenes, and I think that’s so cool.

While all that is great, what really sealed the deal for me about KG is the culture that has been established here. Ketner Group is an agency, and as someone new to PR, I heard many tales about how agency life can be overwhelming and take over one’s life and non-work hours. That’s not the case at Ketner Group.

Yes, Ketner Group works hard and there’s a lot of important work to get done. But Ketner Group also knows how to relax, take a step back and have some genuine fun from time to time. It truly feels like those around me care about my well-being and who I am as a person, and it’s why I love logging on each day and seeing pictures from everyone’s weekend or hotly debating the merits of candy corn.

Long story short, I’m just thrilled to begin my career at Ketner Group, and I can’t wait to jump right in.

Finally, a little more about me

Those who know me well know I’ve always loved sports, so when I’m not crafting bylines or connecting with media at work, I can often be found playing sports, attending a game or match, discussing the latest news or watching the night’s biggest event on TV. I’ll never turn down the chance to talk about what makes a ballpark great or why tennis is a fantastic spectator sport.

I also love to travel and explore. Whether that’s as small as finding a new local haunt or as big as figuring out my next travel destination, I love experiencing and learning from all the world has to offer. If anyone has food recs, feel free to send them my way.

Hello, world!

My name is Bernice Chen, and I’m a senior public relations student at The University of Texas at Austin.

I’m excited to be starting my internship with Ketner Group!

How it all began: landing on public relations

I was born in Taiwan, one of the best places on the planet, but I’ve lived in Austin for around 14 years – which, in case you’re wondering, has not made me more resistant to the current heat.

Attending UT was a natural choice for me in many ways, but majoring in public relations wasn’t as easy of a decision. When I was young, I wanted to pursue computer science. I learned coding languages and everything I could about the tech industry. But in high school, I had the tough realization that programming had lost its spark for me.

Searching for something to pivot to, I landed on public relations.

The truth is, I had always engaged in communication, from student press to debate club. However, it wasn’t until I shifted focus that I recognized my passion for the field. Since then, I’ve been resolved to study PR and use what I learn to weave compelling stories for organizations that are leaving a positive mark on the world.

My (ongoing) college years at UT

The Moody College of Communication is one of the top communication schools in the nation, and I’ve had amazing opportunities there to learn and grow as a PR professional.

Joining The Daily Texan, UT’s student newspaper, gave me hands-on social media experience and a close-knit community of hardworking peers. Since my junior year, I’ve also enjoyed working as a coach for the Moody Writing Support Program, supporting other students with their assignments and writing skills.

I have found a way to feed my love of numbers and research through a certificate in applied statistical modeling. And outside of school, I’ve had incredible internships with BerlinRosen and Dell Technologies that have helped open my eyes to the public relations and communication field. It’s been a fascinating adventure.

Even though I’m all-in on PR, my broader interest in technology has remained. It’s one of the reasons I was drawn to Ketner Group and their specialization in retail tech. As I learned more about the company’s friendly work culture and emphasis on work-life balance, I knew Ketner would be a perfect environment to continue building my storytelling skills. And even though I’ve only just started, I’m so eager to work with and learn from this team.

A peek into my personal interests

When I’m not working or finishing my class assignments, I’m playing video games or reading. I’ve rediscovered a love for science fiction and fantasy books, especially after taking a course about climate fiction in my freshman year. I’m also extremely passionate about sustainability and environmental issues.

I look forward to challenging myself and honing my skills at Ketner Group!

Hello readers! My name is Abby Nelson, and I am a brand new full-time member of Team Awesome. 

Once upon a time, i.e. five months ago, I started my first ever, agency-side internship with Ketner Group. I remember feeling intimidated by the retail technology niche. I was trekking into an unknown world of artificial intelligence and tech jargon. Having no idea what to expect, I was just grateful to have a part-time job that accompanied my last semester as a college student at UT. 

Somehow Ketner Group made its mark on me, and next thing I knew, I applied for an account coordinator opening. Spoiler alert: I got the job. 

Why did I return to Ketner Group?

Internships can be tough. Sometimes interns sit around in a cubicle waiting to be assigned a task. Sometimes they’re heads down for 40 hours a week without so much as a nod. 

Luckily, Ketner Group was neither of those experiences.

As an intern, I was seen and heard. I was also challenged. My superiors entrusted tasks to me that ultimately led me to feel capable. In a niche like ours, that’s a hard feat to accomplish. From onboarding to offboarding, Ketner Group made every process smooth and clear.

Ultimately, that is why I stayed. I want to continue to be challenged, and I want to be part of the culture that they have built.

Personally, I love to make noise

I love discovering the ins and outs of my city. Austin, Texas is the perfect place to live because it is impossible to get bored; my list of places to try and activities to do grows longer every day. Please feel free to email me recommendations for Italian food, frozen margaritas and scenic walks. I’m all ears!

On a personal note, one of the biggest things to understand about me is that I love to make noise. I talk a lot. I sing even more. If you catch me on a good day, I might even perform an original rap or two. I can’t, however, guarantee I won’t give you secondhand embarrassment.

Professionally, I make noise with PR

Public relations is the ability to make noise on a grand scale. It may not directly be my voice that is heard, but through the relationships I build and the content I write, parts of it always end up shining through.

What makes that even better: I am able to tell the stories of my clients in the process.

It’s been a little while since I’ve published a piece of writing under my name. By a little while I mean about six months, but those six months have been a welcome reprieve.

That’s because for three and a half of the last four years, I was immersed in the hectic but rewarding world of sports journalism.

I arrived at the University of Texas as a wide-eyed freshman with goals of becoming the next hot-shot, up-and-coming sports journalist, with my path set towards a career writing and talking about sports for a living.

My background in journalism

Attending UT was practically a no-brainer for someone like me who grew up in Texas and wanted to pursue sports journalism.

The J-School in the Moody College of Communication is the best in the state and one of the best in the nation, and Texas boasts one of the most prominent, iconic and successful athletic programs in the country. It was the perfect place to make a name for myself.

Over the next three and a half years, I was blessed to accomplish just about everything that a wide-eyed freshman might set out to do.

I have 150 or so bylines to my name, became an expert (or as close to one as a student journalist can get) on Texas sports and enjoyed a dream internship with Sports Illustrated. I got to cover a fantastically fun volleyball team, experienced the Red River Showdown in all its splendor and placed second in a national writing competition at the 2022 NCAA Men’s Final Four in New Orleans.

I truly had the time of my life.

But over time, I began to realize the cost of such an exciting career – I was incredibly burnt out. Sports journalism is a tiring profession that does not lend itself to a strong work-life balance, at least for a morning person like myself.

That’s why I decided to shift focus my senior year before graduating.

My transition into PR

I wanted to find a place where I could apply the skills I developed as a writer and journalist, learn about new industries and develop new skills. This led me to PR and communications, and I’ve loved each step of my journey so far. I took classes in PR my senior year and got my foot in the door with an Austin PR and communications firm that represents clean energy and technology companies.

I’ve always loved storytelling, and I love how I can continue to do that in PR while developing knowledge and expertise across many industries too.

While I have not closed the door on journalism and sports forever, I am so glad to have found a path that I really enjoy and is more sustainable for me as I begin my professional career.

How I ended up at Ketner Group

As my graduation this May quickly approached, I searched for an opportunity in PR that would not only allow me to continue my professional growth but also put a premium on work environment. I was instantly drawn to how Ketner Group advertised itself as a fun, energetic and joyful place to work.

Over the course of my interviews with members of the Ketner team, I really picked up on how that’s not just lip service here. Ketner Group sounded like just the place I wanted to work and grow as a PR professional (it has some recent recognition to back that up, too). That’s why I was ecstatic when I received an offer to intern with the Austin office, and I couldn’t be happier to be here.

It’s only been a week, but I’ve already felt how committed everyone at Ketner is to each other, their work, and their strong company culture. I can’t wait to continue learning from the incredibly talented and awesome team at Ketner.

Here’s to a great summer!

Hi everyone, it’s Katherine. I’m ecstatic to be joining the team as a Senior Account Executive!

My love of words (and how it got me here)

I’ve always had an affinity for words. As a baby, I spoke in whole sentences before I could even stand on two feet. In elementary and middle school, I was a voracious reader, known for carrying a book everywhere I went. In high school, I became the editor-in-chief of our school’s yearbook.

Naturally, when it came to choosing a career path, I stuck to what I knew. For a people person who loves to read and write, what’s better than PR?

My professional experience began at an agency called 10Fold Communications. There, I serviced a variety of clients in the enterprise tech space, including cybersecurity, supply chain and big data verticals.

After that, I ventured to Zilker Media, where I worked alongside authors and entrepreneurs building people-driven brands and helping to bolster their thought leadership.

Now, I’m excited to return to my roots in tech at Ketner Group. Impressed by the agency’s two decades of tenure in the industry, I felt drawn to KG’s core values, domain expertise and bright, welcoming team.

A few of my favorites: Travel, music and cats

Outside of work, one of my biggest passions is travel; I just love getting lost in new places. Traveling has been such a valuable tool in helping me to better understand myself and the world around me.

So far, I’ve been to 14 different countries and 15 U.S. states, and I plan to keep growing that list. Right now, my dream destination is Japan!

I’m also a huge music fan. Encouraged by my mom who went to Queen and Led Zeppelin concerts back in the day (yes, I’m infinitely jealous), I try to go to as many shows and festivals as possible. Besides that, I enjoy exploring new genres, artists and albums I’ve never heard before. Swapping playlists is for sure one of my love languages.

I currently live in Austin, Texas with my two perfect cat children: Monkey and Goose. On an average weekend, you can find me thrifting, roller skating, spending time outdoors or watching scary movies.

Well, hello there! My name is Abby, and I am happy to report that I am Ketner Group’s Spring 2023 PR intern. I believe an introduction is in order. Here goes!

What makes Abby, Abby?

Here are the basics: I am a senior public relations major and business foundations minor at UT Austin, and I hail from Plano, Texas.

If you saw the recipe of me, energy would make up at least half of the ingredients. I am the world’s most obvious extravert, with the propensity to over-tell jokes and the audacity to perform my pizza raps for strangers. Yes, pizza raps. And yes, strangers.

I love music. You can find me leading worship in the local church, yell-singing Taylor Swift’s “reputation” album in my car, doo-wopping with my a cappella group and even sitting at the piano writing songs of my own. 

In fifth grade, the poetry unit was my favorite. I found joy in placing the perfect rhyme in the perfect spot with the perfect phrasing. At the time, I did not realize that was an indicator of a long-term trend in my life. Writing.

And that is a perfect segue into my next section.

The creative writer to PR professional pipeline

To be honest, PR as a major was my second choice. But thank goodness, the more classes I took, the more I saw a future in the PR field, where I can both make a difference and be made different. I fell more in love with writing and learned tools that help me bridge the gap between the creative and technical.

There is something to be said of creativity within the field of PR. The bounds of communication are endless. Why tell an audience something when you can show them instead? 

My growing curiosity directed at media and its intersection with writing first took form through leadership positions on campus (hook ‘em!). I served as marketing executive with a campus ministry and ran the social media accounts for my a cappella group.

Those experiences turned into a client-side PR internship in the large corporate setting. Finally, that turned into the realization that to complete the real PR crash course of life, I needed to head agency-side. Enter Ketner Group.

How I landed at Ketner Group

Ketner Group is an interesting agency because of its niche. I mean, come on. What on Earth is retail tech? That was my exact question when Ketner Group showed up on my radar. Of course, any good soon-to-be graduate does her research. So I did mine. 

With my research came the understanding that retail tech is an industry that is growing rapidly. There is great value in gaining a frame of reference with an industry that’s on the up and up. 

Not only that, but every single person I come into contact with at Ketner Group is friendly and on the ball. Starting with the recruitment process, I quickly understood that this is an agency that values efficiency in conjunction with kindness. And after being here a week, that observation holds firm. 

I look forward to honing my skills and developing new ones here at Ketner Group. Bring it on.

Hi there! I’m Maya Halabi and I’m super excited to join Ketner Group as the newest assistant account executive.

Storytelling and writing had always been at the core of my college experiences and one of my greatest passions. Through a myriad of writing internships and positions, I learned about my love for connecting with others through words. And I enjoyed the creative process of researching and developing pitches.

It wasn’t until my great friend and mentor gave me more of a glimpse into branding and what I like to call, the “business” side of storytelling, that I learned about PR and how much I enjoy it.

Learning the ropes at Spark Magazine

During my time at UT Austin, I initially joined Spark Magazine, an independent fashion publication, as an online writer.

Developing additional interest in the visual side of the editorial world, I made my way up to the role of digital director, where I oversaw all of Spark’s digital visual content. While I was digital director, our then editor-in-chief, Joanne Xu, a PR-maven, decided it was time for the magazine’s first major rebrand.

My curiosity into this process peaked, so I hopped into the “rebrand task force”, where I learned a ton about the strategic creative process behind branding and how it plays into the way people perceive organizations and platforms like Spark.

Shortly after we completed our rebrand, I stepped up to become Spark’s next editor-in-chief at the very tip of the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020. I strived to hone into the reputation and crisis communications side of PR amid this experience and in turn, embarked on a path towards corporate communications.

Striking work-life balance at Ketner Group

After I learned about Jeff and Catherine’s focus on work-life balance and their dedication to their employees’ career growth, I knew I wanted to be a part of Ketner if given the chance. I’m also stoked to be doing PR in an innovative and quickly growing sector such as retail tech.

Outside of work, I’m usually jamming with my band, reading about bands, or listening to and discovering new ones.

In the other bulk of my time, you can find me working on my Substack newsletter about vintage and rare antiques, or hanging with my mini-schnauzer, Dotti.