Melissa Racer, Senior Account Supervisor

1. What is your background before you came to work at Weidinger?

My marketing career began with the Kansas Lottery where I spent a summer planning and implementing a statewide, grass-roots marketing campaign and the Kansas Department of Transportation where I worked for two years in the public information department during college. After graduation, I joined Blades & Associates Public Relations where I handled capital fundraising, account management, writing and media relations for Avon, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and American Express Incentive Services. Following that I worked at another public relations/advertising agency, Barkley Evergreen & Partners, where I led the public relations account team for Sonic Drive In, the agency’s largest client, and Sprint Yellow Pages.

After leaving Kansas City for the mountains of Lake Tahoe, Calif., I served as Vice President of Weidinger Public Relations, where I led strategic planning, crisis communications, employee relations and event management efforts for the destination and its premier resorts and attractions. Upon returning to Kansas City, I managed marketing strategies for Web-based financial products at DST Systems, Inc.

Currently, I am principal of Roaring Kitty Marketing, which provides small businesses, agencies and consultants with full-service marketing activities.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in communications from Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Kansas City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (GKC-PRSA) and for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Kansas City.

2. What is it about PR that you like?
Public Relations is ever evolving (thanks, in part to technology) and I welcome the growth that comes with continually learning new things. And because PR is so important to businesses, it feels to go be part of something that can create change.

3. What inspires you?
Working mothers and fathers everywhere! My child’s endless energy! My husband’s drive! Most of the time, I’m inspired by everyone…there are so many “ordinary” people doing extraordinary things.

4. What are you most proud of?
Competitive by nature, I am proud that my work has earned a PRISM Award (first place) from the GKC-PRSA, a Silver Spike Award (first place) from the High Sierra Chapter (Reno) of the Public Relations Society of America; and a Bronze Quill Award (second place) from the Kansas City Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators.

5. What is your most memorable experience?
It has to be having my son and sharing that experience with my wonderful husband. Or, packing up all my belongings and putting them in a U-Haul for a trip half-way across the country to live at Lake Tahoe.

6. What is your favorite word and why?
My favorite word is “why”. Why? Because it promotes further thought and hopefully challenges traditional thinking.

7. What is your favorite book and why?
“This Much I Know is True” by Wally Lamb. It’s a very long, complex and emotional book that should be read and digested in parts. I read it straight through the first time I read it and have subsequently gone back and found more to it when I read it slower.

8. What is your favorite color and why?
Red! It’s vibrant and compelling!

9. What are your interests?
Raising a toddler without pulling out my hair! Seriously, my husband and I love spending time with our son, Quin, which entails trips to the park, zoo, library and many family visits. I’m active with Country Club Christian Church and have led its Alpha Course for a number of years and am involved in a local support group for women who suffer from Hyperemesis, a debilitating and potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease. I also enjoy golfing, reading, volunteering for political/issue campaigns and traveling.

10. How would you describe yourself to someone who does not know you?
Fair, balanced, loyal, sensitive, opinionated, generous and kind, and believe it or not, humble!

11. What else would you like us to know about you?
I will never have my own blog or put my own video on U Tube…I could never take the ridicule from perfect strangers!