Jo Trizila
CEO & Founder
TrizCom Public Relations (Dallas, Tex.)
Length of PR career (so far): Suffice it to say more than 20 years….
Your most memorable campaign: When we launched the Little Black Dress Experiment and it went viral overnight thanks to the Associated Press—fielding international requests at all hours of the night. I was a one man shop during that time and it was a lot of work but boy was it fun.
Most poignant professional moment: Dealing with anything related to crisis communications. I always say my last client was my favorite until I have a new last client issue to deal with. It’s very powerful to have that much trust handed to you.
Best thing about working at your agency: Collaboration. I love working in teams. We have PR veterans working alongside recent college grads alongside college students all offer such great insights.
Last time you didn’t do any work all weekend: Really… My 5 year old can do the perfect impression of me on the phone or using my headset. Not sure to be very proud or very scared.
Most misunderstood thing about PR: That it is free, just takes a telephone call, if we don’t return the reporter’s call he/she will drop the story, Nancy Grace is a good idea, and/or a press release should take care of it.
Most outrageous client request: We have a product release in 10 days … can you pull off an international publicity campaign?
What got you interested in a PR career?I am a storyteller. My undergrad and grad studies are in theatre. PR is very similar…. Just a different script, different actors and a different director with every story we work on.
Most interesting thing about your job: Never knowing what the week, day, heck even the hour is going to be like. And, I get to learn a little about A LOT of things… normally on the fly.
Your nightmare client in 3 words: Fix It NOW
Rate your math skills from 1-10: 2
Best advice to a PR student: Everyone says writing. I say take as many creative classes as you can and learn how to juggle … You will have 15 balls in the air at all times and dropping one is not an option.
Favorite way to de-stress: Two words: Sauvignon Blanc. But I do like to play golf… finding 4 uninterrupted hours totally defeats the purpose of distressing though.
The moment you realized PR is tougher than you thought it would be: I was handling a morning presser for the Gov. of Texas. The night before the presser his office announced that he would be addressing a major tax incentive the following morning. I had 26 media reps confirmed. The morning of the presser only two reporters showed up because everyone else was covering a famous football player’s attempted suicide.
Worst PR crisis in the news this year so far: The NFL and their handling of the Ray Rice debacle.
Favorite non-work hobby: Going to the theatre. It’s a great creative outlet and satisfies my “escape” need. Plus, I get to turn my phone off for an hour or two. Of course I said this because drinking Sauvignon Blanc is really not a hobby.
Last book you read: “The Girl on the Train”
Cocktail of choice: Duh…. Sauvignon Blanc
Favorite movie this year: “Boyhood”
Your first “real” job: Director of Marketing for the Shakespeare Festival of Dallas
Childhood “dream job”: Social Director for the White House
Three people you’d love to invite to dinner: Jesus, George Carlin and William Shakespeare
Your next big adventure: I am going to Dubai in October with my 5 year old and my parents
Your ideal Saturday: No clients in the news for negative reasons!!! And, unplugging and just being present with my 5 year old daughter, Kate.