Our Blog

Meet the newest Obsidianite: Christina Babu!

Christina recently joined Obsidian after practicing the public relations trade in a number of industries – including architecture, tourism, nonprofit, music and the performing arts – both in Memphis and New York City, where she earned her master’s degree in public relations and corporate communications. Once destined for…

Words we would love to see retired in 2017

At the end of each year, a multitude of lists are published with words and phrases to stop saying in the new year. Just Google “words to stop saying in 2017” to see the many lists published last December for this year. You’ll find many of the same…

ServiceMaster by Stratos focuses on culture to maintain employee retention

In an industry known for triple-digit employee turnover, professional janitorial service provider ServiceMaster by Stratos has maintained record low turnover. President and CEO Stacy McCall believes that’s directly related to a purposeful focus on a positive employee culture. “Our employees are the frontline of our business, and it’s…

Office Culture: Ordered or Organic?

Don’t call it a buzzword – discussions on “company culture” have only just begun! But with so many companies, both big and small, turning their focus toward cultivating a culture that’s both attractive to employees and productive for clients and customers, the questions arise: How do we cultivate…

Q&A with New Mama Lauren Hannaford

Longtime Obsidianite Lauren Hannaford recently earned a new title – mother. She joins the ranks of the rest of the Obsidian Mamas, which now includes five team members and accounts for 14 children! When asked how having a baby has changed her life, Lauren says she gets up…

3 tools PR professionals can’t live without

All professionals have specific tools that they need in order to do their job well. Plumbers, electricians and homebuilders are rarely without their tool belts, stocked with various wrenches, gauges and rulers, and architects and engineers no longer rely solely on paper and pencils to chart out their…

Money Matters [to Women]

Red Door Wealth Management is an example of a company successfully identifying a niche audience – one that Gretchen Gassner Turley, director of client relations, could personally identify with and, therefore, communicate to successfully. She gives some of her insight into the company’s niche audience of female breadwinners…