Kindergartener or senior citizen, entrepreneur or employee, hobbyist or professional, everyone has a story to tell. The question for Rusty Foster is: how do you go about telling that story? As one of the 7% of residents that is born and raised in Loudoun County, and founder of BowTie Strategies, Public Relations Firm, Rusty recognizes that Public Relations is not just a Hail Mary Press Release to salvage a potential disaster. In reality, PR is a major branch of every company young or old, big or small, something he sees as a delicate, yet powerful series of relationships–each worthy of deep respect. “I love helping individuals, nonprofits, or companies tell their story, figuring out what challenges [they face], helping them craft their message and then best utilizing that message to spread into the masses.” And for those looking to get their next big break on TV (or any platform for that matter), Rusty cautions against heuristics and many “publicists,” which can cost companies tons of money with no real returns. His advice for entrepreneurs starting out: Research. Research. And then research some more by “never asking too many questions of real people with [actual] experience.” And as for PR: with the increasing over-dependence on technology and its effect on communication skills today, many “publicists” may only have the ability to type 280 characters. But, with nearly eighteen years of experience and a background in fundraising, Rusty hopes to lead by example and impact the surrounding community one friend at a time. You can learn more about BowTie Strategies’ and the services they offer at: www.bowtiestrategies.com
