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Member Spotlight:
Q&A with Lizz Mishreki, APR
This edition we meet Lizz Mishreki, the OCPRSA’s 2023 Advocacy and Communications Chair. With expertise spanning everything from higher education and nonprofits to retail and public policy (as well as how to set a Guiness World Record!), Lizz shares wonderful words of wisdom about making the most out of a career in communications. Lizz, thank you for giving back to OCPRSA through your dedication and experience—we appreciate you!
Q: Lizz, please tell us about you! Your job, etc.?
I lead communications for a non-profit public policy membership organization, Orange County Business Council (OCBC). My role includes developing internal and external communications for programs, initiatives, events and research that shape OCBC’s initiatives–workforce development, housing and infrastructure–all for the economic development of the nation’s sixth largest county. Before joining OCBC, I worked in higher education, hospitals, retail and nonprofits on the agency side--when I consulted--as well as on the in-house side. Being bilingual in Spanish (native speaker), I’m able to do my work in two languages. While it’s been a great ride, I have to say that probably my favorite assignment when I consulted was doing the media relations for the World’s Largest Cookie for a client, a mall in Los Angeles opening a food court. It’s not every day that you get to have a Guinness World Record under your belt. If I had to pick a favorite project from my in-house days, it has to be leading the charge at Concordia University Irvine when I served as the Director of Public Relations and the First-generation Student Initiative for the university and its six schools to become a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), a designation granted by the U.S. Department of Education to serve first-generation students. As the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and first-generation college graduate, it was a privilege to serve students and their families in this role. Here’s the thing: I never knew what I wanted to major in. I knew that I liked writing and planning events from my high school days. But I didn't know how to make a living out of that and I couldn’t ask my family--none of my cousins or aunts and uncles, nor my parents, attended college. But while at Cal State Fullerton, there was one class my first semester where I earned a decent grade--Mass Communications 101. As I walked in the quad holding my report card, that’s when I decided that I would major in Mass Comm with an emphasis in Public Relations. Very scientific.
Q: What brought you to the OCPRSA?
You could say it’s the circle of life. My first professional organization as a young professional was OCPRSA. I met wonderful role models and made genuine connections with like-minded colleagues with whom I still keep in touch today. After being away from OCPRSA for a short while, it’s made sense to return and pour into others, just as others have done for me.
Q: What’s your favorite piece of advice for PR professionals?
Never lose your sense of wonderment. Always ask questions. Dare to disagree. If you don’t, you’ll miss the story.
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