Our office is full of fun, unique personalities, but none are quite as infectious as Jenna’s. She’ll hype you up, help you out in a pinch and be there to lend a helping hand no matter the circumstance. For nearly three years, she’s provided laughs and taught us all a thing or two about our zodiac sign charts. 

It’s fitting that we’re spotlighting her during the month of October – she thrives on all things eerie. Whether you’re looking for a pair of locally made ghost earrings or the scoop on the best haunted sites in town, Jenna is your lady! She shared some fun and frightfully wise PR tidbits with us in this month’s staff spotlight! 

Jenna, you’re one of the best members of our team to consult with about weekend plans. What is one of the top Memphis hangouts you’re frequenting these days?

One of my absolute favorite weekend destinations is the Black Lodge near Crosstown Concourse. From humble beginnings as an intricate horror movie collection, it has budded into a huge venue where you can not only rent movies, you can watch drag shows, check out local musicians, watch live wrestling and gather for dystopian festivals. I love any place where people can be unapologetically themselves! 

The last two years have been full of growth for everyone. What are professional takeaways you’ve learned in 2020 and 2021?

The last two years have been challenging to navigate at times, but have certainly been catalysts for growth. Some professional takeaways I’ve learned are:

1. Expect the unexpected. We create plans and strategies for all of our clients, and sometimes, things just don’t work out the way they are intended. You’ve got to be quick on your feet and prepared to pivot to another plan at any moment’s notice. 
2. The power of prioritization. It’s really important in our line of work that we’re able to prioritize plans. Sometimes crises happen, your inbox gets filled with one-off tasks or you have back-to-back meetings all day and you still have deadlines to meet. I found this really tricky to navigate at first, but when you take a step back and mentally prioritize your goals for the day (and maybe even write them down), you’ll feel better and get more done.

Can you share a few essential films for those of us building a Halloween movie watch party?

Oh, absolutely. Horror movies are my jam! If you can handle scary movies, my top recommendations are the classics – Halloween (1978), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), The Craft, the Scream franchise and Netflix’s new Fear Street trilogy! 

If you’re looking for a more wholesome evening in, I definitely recommend Beetlejuice, The Addams Family (1991) and Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) – though RHPS is always best when you can watch with a shadow cast or someone who knows all the callbacks!  

What social media opportunity do you think many businesses are missing out on?

While I do not think that every business should be on TikTok, I definitely think more should consider the platform. It’s not just an app where you film fun dances or silly trends. If you know how to operate it, you could potentially engage younger audiences, build your brand awareness and share your message with millions of viewers. 

Is there a cocktail or beverage trend you’re really into right now? 

Now that the cooler weather is here to hopefully stay (for a little while), I’ve reintroduced hot beverages back into my life! Last year was the year of the Hot Toddy; this year, my friend has put me onto her apple cider recipe that is *chef’s kiss.* Add some bourbon to that bad boy, and you’ve got yourself a delicious seasonal cocktail. 

You’re quickly approaching three years as a full-time OPR team member. Looking back over the last two years, what’s something you wish you could go back and tell yourself on your first day?

As an Enneagram 2, it’s very difficult for me to ask for help (and to admit when I could really use it). If there’s one thing that I’ve learned over the last couple of years, it’s that there’s really no reason to NOT ask for help. We’re called a “team” for a reason, and everyone is more than willing to help when you need it. Trust me, you’ll feel a lot better when you’re honest! 

Your opinion: Christmas before Thanksgiving or leave room for Turkey to thrive before introducing Jingle Bells?

My answer to this question has changed over the years. While I’ve never been a huge fan of Thanksgiving,  (Halloween is where it’s at in my book), I used to get annoyed with the onslaught of Christmas shenanigans as soon as Nov. 1 hit. Nowadays, I welcome the jingle bells with open arms. My mom has rubbed off on me! 

Why do you think PR partnership is valuable to businesses of all sizes?

I think PR is an incredibly helpful tool, no matter the size of your business! We don’t just do heavy lifting when it comes to social media and media relations; we’re also idea generators and advocates for our clients. We help support wherever we’re needed. With PR pros on your team, you’re already ahead of the game for a winning business strategy.