Greetings PRSA New Jersey! Here is our next PRSA NJ Member Spotlight to get to know our fellow chapter members. Each month, we randomly select a member to highlight. This month, we are featuring Anthony Varlese.
Anthony Varlese
Digital Marketing Advisor
H&L Marketing
PRSA NJ member since September 2020
How did you get into the field of PR?
I took a class during my senior year of college called “Writing & New Media,” where I learned theories and concepts behind writing and rhetoric in mediums like websites, social media, and print. The professor encouraged me to pursue the work I excelled in in the communications field. I saw that a concentration in PR & Social Media was a good fit because I understood how important content creation and writing in a persuasive and active voice is. I hoped to help whichever company I worked for develop messages that spread good and called attention to important issues.
What do you love most about PR?
Public relations is a field that is in a constant state of learning and change. With each passing day, there are new trends and news that we need to be aware of to grow individually and be more valuable to our clients in applying what we learn. I love that there are many opportunities in PR to upskill and network with other professionals, such as participating in webinars, online courses, or inperson conference events. In this field, you have the power to own your personal and professional development and pursue whatever it is that inspires you and piques your curiosity.
What is one of your most valuable experiences in PR?
When I was a PR intern for a local nonprofit, my advisor paired me with a mentor with whom I met monthly to discuss my career goals and my work for the internship. At the time, I felt overwhelmed with my time management and balancing my college workload, internship workload, and personal life because such a situation was new to me. My mentor shared tips for budgeting my time and staying organized and told me something that resonated with me: You need to unplug occasionally and disconnect. Burnout is real and can affect your health and mood because you stretch yourself too thin. It is essential to make time for yourself to do something enjoyable and recharge so you can return feeling refreshed and ready to move forward.
What is the value of being a member of PRSA NJ?
Being a member of an organization like PRSA NJ places you among like-minded people working towards similar goals and interests. There is a comforting feeling in knowing the members here want to help each other succeed and welcome conversations about a variety of industry topics. PRSA NJ is also a great space to volunteer and pay forward what you know to benefit others’ missions in their communities. PRSA NJ is the place to learn who you are as a PR practitioner and an individual.
