Category: Ketner Group Culture

In my past three years at Ketner Group, I’ve seen season-after-season of what PR entails, and I’ve come to one staggering conclusion: you simply never know what is going to happen! A big news story interrupts the day? You capture a surprise top-tier media hit? A crisis turned into opportunity? All of these are par for the course in PR.

As an account executive (AE), I’ve seen all sorts of PR surprises firsthand. And I’m hoping this blog can shed some light on what the day-to-day experience looks like if you’re considering stepping into the PR world.

Ketner Group Offers Remote Work, Real Connection

Ketner Group is a remote PR agency, and we focus on retail tech comms. Many of us, including myself, live in Austin, but we don’t meet daily in a designated workspace.

Working remotely can sometimes make it difficult to keep every day fresh, but what I love about Ketner Group is that our culture holds fast and true no matter the distance between us or the time between seeing each other face-to-face.

Another great thing about Ketner Group: our leadership advocates for work-life harmony. Have an appointment to get to? No problem. It’s a joy to work within a team that’s flexible and leaves room for life to happen.

Now let’s dive into the day!

An Early Start: Kicking Off the Day With Coffee

If you know anything about Austin, you know the coffee scene is no joke. Everywhere you turn, there’s a new coffee truck or window in the side of a building serving up matcha, coffee, tea or whatever you fancy. My personal favorite spot these days: Terrible Love.

Terrible Love serves a mean latte, it’s in the heart of my favorite Austin neighborhood, Hyde Park, and I have always received great service. The cherry on top? It’s just a couple blocks away from our coworking space.

And after I grab my latte, that’s where I’m headed.

The space is called Switchyards. Catered toward remote workers and designed very intentionally, Switchyards has incredible natural light and comfortable seating! We joined Switchyards after our colleague Kirsty raved about the work club in her hometown of Atlanta.

Another cool aspect of Switchyards’ business model is the sense of community it fosters. After you set up shop there enough times, you’ll start recognizing other regulars.

Morning Productivity: Focusing on Writing and Awards

At Switchyards, I prepare for my day. I use Asana to keep on top of ongoing campaigns and timely tasks, so I launch that project management tool to see what I need to focus on.

First up: drafting awards. As we near the end of the year, that means it is awards season! Given our B2B, retail tech focus, a couple of my clients are submitting for relevant retail-focused awards, and I’ve been helping to draft these submissions. (If you’re ever wondering why submitting for awards is valuable, I recommend giving Jeff Ketner’s blog a read!)

From there, since I’m enjoying the flow of writing, I dive into my next writing-focused task: byline article drafting. As the content lead on one of my client accounts, I focus next on outlining a draft of a byline article for their team.

As lunchtime nears, I pack up and make my way home. Before leaving, I always set my Slack status to “bagel” – my favorite lunchtime treat.

Enjoying My Double Monitor: Locking In on PR Campaigns in the Afternoon

I’ll finish my day at my desk. It’s nice to have my double monitor, comfortable chair and good-smelling candle to inspire productivity. I put my headphones in, hit play on the newest Taylor Swift album and I’m locked in for the afternoon. (My team members know I’m a Swiftie, and I enjoy chatting with them about the latest album in our “Watercooler” Slack channel through the afternoon.)

When folks think of PR, they often think pitching. And it’s true! We’re always ideating and crafting proactive pitch ideas. This becomes a priority task for the afternoon; since the pitch will be sent to journalists tomorrow, I’m taking advantage of my post-lunch, re-energized brain. Once it’s drafted, I send over to the team for feedback and then prepare it for early-morning distribution.

I dive into email to make sure I haven’t missed a priority task from my team or a client. We communicate via email with clients all day, and aim to reply to emails as soon as we can, and stay in touch with our internal team members via Slack.

I wrap up my day focusing on coordinating a newsletter for one of my clients, which they send out monthly to media to keep reporters up to date on the client’s latest news and insights. I’ve been working on it with my colleague, Catherine, who has been integral to the project. We hop on a quick Slack Huddle to discuss some revisions, and I make a note of the campaign status in tomorrow’s agenda for this client’s ongoing PR Update call. The newsletter has been a fun project and change of pace for me!

Watching Our Efforts Bloom Through Collaboration

And just like that, it’s been another successful day of helping my clients achieve PR success! I love to look back and see how far we’ve come with clients.

You don’t always see the fruit of PR efforts immediately, but if you invest the time, sunlight and energy, the flowers will come eventually.

For example, just last month I was glad to be a part of a press release campaign for my client, Birdzi. Their new customer announcement was picked up in nine articles, due in part to my pitching the news with our trade and general business publication contacts.

Curious about how we help retail tech brands tell their stories? Don’t hesitate to drop us a line. And if you’d like to learn more about joining the team, check out our careers webpage.

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!