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8 Rapid-Fire Questions with Laura Reed

April 23, 2018

GET TO KNOW LAURA REED

Cork Tree Creative, a certified Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), has been expanding enormously in recent years. But who are the women behind this successful public relations and marketing firm, really? Today, we went behind the scenes with Laura Reed, Co-Owner and Chief Marketing Officer of Cork Tree Creative.

HOW DID YOU GET YOUR IDEA/CONCEPT FOR CORK TREE CREATIVE?

“Jan and I have worked together in different capacities for almost 20 years so when we joined forces again in 2009 to collaborate on a project, we decided we would make our partnership something official. We both have always known that we wanted to have a viable marketing agency, but we also wanted to have it all: the flexibility to spend time with family and to run a successful business. So, we formed Cork Tree in kind of an untraditional way, with all employees initially working remotely. As the business grew, and our quality team was assembled, we established the super cool space we have today. I’m so proud of what we have accomplished so far.”

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG WOMEN TO SUCCEED IN THE WORKPLACE?

“Diversify your skills. The more diverse your skills, the more marketable you are. Do what you say you will do, and if you make a mistake, own up to it.”

WHAT WOMAN INSPIRES YOU AND WHY?

“My mentor was Julie Hauser of The Hauser Group, where I had my first job out of college. She, to this day, operates a woman-operated public relations firm in St. Louis. Not only does she run the firm well, but she manages to still be a good person and have a solid family life at the same time.”

WHAT ARE YOUR PET PEEVES?

“People who blame others for their mistakes, and who have an intolerance for other peoples’ differences.”

HOW DO YOU PUSH THROUGH DIFFICULT SITUATIONS?

“My business partner, Jan, is my anchor. Usually we balance each other well, so when there is a difficult situation, we lean on each other to get through it.”

WHAT KEEPS YOU AWAKE AT NIGHT?

“Work used to keep me awake – mainly, the fear of missed opportunities. But in all honesty, nothing keeps me up at night anymore. Now that we have such a qualified and capable staff, I’m able to sleep easy.”

WHAT WAS THE MOST SATISFYING MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE?

“Having my daughter, who is now 12.”

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN LIFE AND HOW DID YOU OVERCOME IT?

“My biggest challenge in life was putting myself through college. I joined the National Guard and worked multiple jobs while maintaining coursework to pay for my education.”

Learn more about Laura here.

The talented women and men working at Cork Tree Creative are dedicated to making your experience with the public relations industry worthwhile and memorable. Whether you are looking for marketing expertise, graphic design work, website development, social media services, or SEO management, our diverse set of skills can help propel your business to where you aspire to be. So, stop on by to say hello, or give us a call at 618-656-7333! We would love to hear from you.

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