Is your current job old news? Are you looking to make more of a statement with your career and create some buzz around it? Spread the word, stir up the hoopla, talk up the town and alert the media! Announcing our Public Relations Agency Owner VocationVacation with Louis “Louie” Richmond, CEO and Founder of Richmond Public Relations in Seattle, Washington! Louie started on his first career path at an early age when, as a young cellist growing up in Philadelphia, his life completely revolved around music. “I did all the ‘right’ things – played in New York, took lessons from important music teachers and spent summers performing at East Coast music festivals,” recalls Louie. “My parents cherished the arts and especially loved music”. On the advice of music teacher (and early mentor), Lorne Monroe, he attended Temple University in Philadelphia and earned a Bachelor degree in Music, with a minor in English. At 21, a newly married Louie got a job as a cellist in the National Symphony in Washington, D.C. “It was a huge deal for me,” he reminisces. A few years later, with his wife and a new son, Louie returned to Temple to pursue his master’s degree. “It was the 60’s, and we were kind of hippies”, he laughs. College jobs were plentiful, so he took up teaching music and worked for years at several universities. Then he moved on to create and conduct two chamber orchestras: The Nevada Chamber Orchestra in Reno (still in existence today) and the Northwest Chamber Orchestra in Seattle (ended recently, after a 30-year run). While he loved music and teaching, at 40, Louie felt he needed a career change. “I was burned out and not making any money. Someone warned me that if I switched jobs, I’d have to be prepared to take a $20,000 pay cut.” He pauses, amused. “Well, since I’d never made $20,000…that was OK!” Louie started applying for jobs. An interview at the Alexis Hotel for Director of Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations led to a surprising result: he was hired! “At first,” remembers Louie, “I had no idea what to do. I talked my way into that job, no doubt about it. I worked very hard seven days a week. But it was so different. Wearing a suit, the more formal culture, and no time to think, study or practice. In the business world, it is not about rehearsal, it is about the concert. So, I worked on figuring things out based on my past – as an effective teacher and musician – which related and could help me succeed.” Louie did figure it out, and successes came – first at the Alexis Hotel and then at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers, the largest hotel in Seattle at the time. During almost nine years at the Sheraton, Louie won 25 awards for excellence in public relations and was Public Relations Director of the Year from the North American Division of the Sheraton Corporation in 1988. Even so, at age 49, Louie found himself restless to start his own company. He convinced Sheraton to be his first client, and in 1992, Louie opened Richmond Public Relations with a single employee, along with an intern and just 350 square feet of space. Today, RPR is still in the same building – but has 5,000 square feet, a staff of 18 highly skilled creative professionals, and a growing roster of clients (including a few original ones, like Sheraton Seattle). Industries on RPR’s client list include travel, tourism, food, beverage, business, technology, real estate development, entertainment and nonprofit organizations. “Integrity, that’s our number one goal, followed by creativity, strategic development, and profitability for our clients,” relates Louie. Richmond Public Relations is a partner and exclusive Seattle agency for Worldcom Public Relations Group. Besides winning numerous business awards, the company has appeared over the last five years as a finalist for “Washington CEO’s Best Companies to Work For” survey. Louie, your VocationVacations Mentor, sets the pace at RPR. An avid runner who just completed his 40th marathon, he is a self-described “information junkie” (rising early to read seven daily newspapers) and global world traveler and still finds time to author articles like “Putting the Public in Public Relations” and lecture around the U.S. on “The Importance of Using an Ethical Approach to Public Relations.” During your VocationVacations® dream job holiday, Louie Richmond of Richmond Public Relations will lead you through some or all of the following Public Relations Agency Owner-related activities:
Available: Monday-Friday, all year based on mentor's availability Book This Career Mentorship
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Hilton Hotel Downtown Seattle |
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| (Not included in the price of your VocationVacations® dream job holiday.) Other activities and Tourist Destinations while on your VocationVacations® adventure: Reservation, Cancellation and Rescheduling Rules and Conditions: Full payment of the VocationVacations dream job holiday is required to make a reservation. A $100 non-refundable fee is assessed if a VocationVacations experience is cancelled or rescheduled prior to 14-days of the scheduled VocationVacations holiday, based on the approved availability of the mentor to reschedule. A VocationVacations adventure cannot be rescheduled and is non-refundable if cancelled within 14 days of the scheduled VocationVacations holiday. Written notification of cancellation or rescheduling is required in all cases. In the US, Grounded Nomads, LLC and VocationVacations holidays encourage all customers to acquire travel insurance to cover any unforeseen expenses due to cancellation or rescheduling. In the UK, Grounded Nomads, Ltd and VocationVacations holidays must require all customers to acquire travel insurance to cover any unforeseen expenses due to cancellation or rescheduling and provide verification of such travel insurance to Grounded Nomads, Ltd. |
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