JENNIFER BROWN

     Challenge is the cappuccino of life for Jennifer Brown, a 2002 graduate of Eastern Michigan University.

     It revved up her life as a public relations and communications major. 

     And it has energized her career at Limited Brands, General Motors and Airfoil Public Relations.

     Brown embarked on her current challenge in May 2006 when she began her role of internal communications manager for Limited Brands, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.  Limited Brands is the umbrella corporation for Limited stores, Express/Express Men, Victoria’s Secret, and Bath and Body Works. 

     In her new role, Brown supports members of the executive team and is involved in change management, especially addressing “how” an organization is changing.

     Before her move to Limited Brands, Brown was the business communications integrator at General Motors’ Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kan.

     “My favorite thing is that everyday is a challenge,” said Brown.  “Something is always coming up that requires some problem-solving or quick-thinking, which keeps you on your toes.  Plus, no two days are the same.  One day I’ll be gunning to get the newsletter finished, the next (like this morning) I’ll be joining the Governor in a brief press conference, and the next I’ll be going into “crisis mode” to figure out how to communicate a major GM corporate message to our employees.”

     For Brown, the path to a career in public relations was a little squiggly at first. 

     “I had quite a few majors before settling down:  graduated high school planning to teach math ► physics ► business ► interpretative dance ► creative writing and communications ► communications ► communications and PR.”

     After her freshman year, a public relations internship at Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster, Ohio, helped Brown take the kink out of her career path. 

     In the following years, she landed internships at the University of Michigan Health Center and Ardesta, LLC, both in Ann Arbor, Mich., and Airfoil Public Relations in Detroit. 

     A number of other factors at Eastern helped Brown get into high gear.

     “For me, the academic work was important, but frankly what made the difference was the support of my professors, like Melissa (Motschall); the opportunity to meet peers in my field; and the push I got through PRSSA to meet professionals and become more engaged.” 

     Looking back on her college career, Brown has the following advice for students.

     “College in general is a great opportunity to meet new people and stretch outside your comfort zones.  Students do themselves the best service if they find professors and classes and friends to challenge them.”

     After graduation, Brown’s superiors at Airfoil were so impressed with her skills that they hired her as an account coordinator.  She was eventually promoted to account executive.  While at Airfoil, she was active in the PRSA Detroit chapter, and that led to her next job. 

     In 2003, a PRSA colleague heard about the opening at General Motor’s Fairfax plant, and said “Hey, I think you’d really like this job.”   Soon after, Brown was packing up and heading south.

     At General Motors, Brown headed a department of four and managed communications activities at the Fairfax plant.  For her internal audience, that meant things like a daily newsletter, monthly town hall meetings, and video broadcasts throughout the plant. 

     For people outside the organization, Brown prepared press releases, handled community and government affairs, and served as the media spokesperson.

     “Media relations is the more glamorous, sexy side of the business,” said Brown.  “But I prefer internal communications.”

     Brown also played a role in strategic management decisions.  She was on the plant manager’s staff, attended all management meetings, and when appropriate, participated in meetings of the HRM team that determined all personnel matters.

     “I think I’ve always been interested,” said Brown, “but what makes PR good for someone like me is you can know a little about something but don’t have to be the expert about anything.  : -)  I like having my hands in a lot of different things, which makes PR ideal for me.”

     Cappuccino, anyone?