Profiles in PR | Linsey Godbey
Your Name: Linsey Godbey
Your Position: Director of Marketing
Your Business: e+CancerCare
Company Website: epluscancercare.com
Twitter handle: @Linsey_june (personal)
Services You Offer:
Working in partnership with physicians and hospitals, e+CancerCare operates a growing network of outpatient cancer care centers in markets across the country. Personally, I’m responsible for planning, development and implementation of all marketing strategies, marketing communications, and public relations activities, both internal and external.
Your Niche Area of Expertise:
Communications Strategy, Branding Development, Public Relations, Jokes (self-proclaimed)
How Did You Get Started in This Business?
After a brief stint as a pre-med student at West Virginia University, I quickly found a new home in the Journalism School, which was a much more natural fit. I moved to Washington, D.C., right out of college and landed a job as an executive assistant at GolinHarris, a global PR firm. Fast forward down the road four years, and I’m working as a senior account executive on the McDonald’s account. My next stop was the United States Senate, where I worked as a deputy press secretary for Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) for two and a half years. The assorted mix of skills and proficiencies I had to use during those two positions gave me a great communications/marketing/PR foundation – and I’m still learning more every day!
Do You Have Any Advice for Students Who Want to Specialize in PR?
I think the most important thing I’ve learned is that you have to work hard – like really, really hard. No one starts at the top and although you may not want to hear this, you’re probably not ready. Take unpaid internships, offer your services for free to companies just getting off the ground, be the best coffee pourer you can be if that is what is asked of you by your boss. Hard work gets recognized.
Also, stay up to date on current events and what’s going on in the world. Read anything and everything you can get your hands on. If you can’t know everything about something, at least know a little about everything. It’ll come in handy one day!
Lastly, network and stay connected. We are communications professionals, after all! Make an effort to attend events, get to know your peers in your industry and really try to stay engaged with those who have helped you along the way. You’ll be surprised at what a small world it tends to be.
How Are Marketing and PR Valuable to Your Company?
My role is important because successful marketing and PR programs help spur center volume and growth, while moving customers from satisfaction to loyalty to advocacy. This could include targeted campaigns to the physician and payer communities to help create awareness of the clinical effectiveness of technologies and treatments, or the composition of in-center educational and marketing materials that speak directly to patients and their families.
