Greetings PRSA New Jersey!
Here is our next PRSA NJ Member Spotlight to getto know our fellow chapter members. Each month,we randomly select a member to highlight. Thismonth, we are featuring Kyle Ragonese.
Kyle Ragonese
Director of External Communications, Verizon Business
Verizon
PRSA NJ member since February 2011
How did you get into the field of PR?
My dad was a reporter for the Star Ledger for 30+ years, so I grew up in a newsroom watching him and his colleagues deliver the news. Fast-forward to college…I didn’t know what I wanted to do until I started studying Public Relations at Rowan University. From that moment, and really learning and understanding what communications was, I knew this was what I wanted to do.
What do you love most about PR?
As communicators, we have the ability to build and shape a narrative, and truly make an impact. We are in the business of storytelling and I know that anyone reading this will agree that no day is the same. This industry keeps you on your toes, which means as a PR professional, you have to bring your best every single day. There is one constant and that is change, so in the 13 years I’ve been in the industry, it feels like I’ve had 100 different jobs.
What is one of your most valuable experiences in PR?
I’ve had the opportunity to do some amazing things throughout my career from setting Guinness World Records, and launching new products for brands to leading strategic campaigns that have helped differentiate a company in a highly-competitive market.
That being said, in my current role at Verizon, one of the most valuable experiences I’ve had is truly understanding the power of active listening. Being afforded the opportunity to travel across the U.S. and Europe, I’ve sat down with colleagues from across Verizon, all with different perspectives, backgrounds, experiences and by hearing their stories, it’s made me a stronger brand storyteller for Verizon Business. To make a long answer a bit longer, if you get away from your workspace, get out in the field, talk to the people you support and really listen, you will be able to take the way you communicate on behalf of your company/client to the next level.
What is the value of being a member of PRSA NJ?
When you zoom out and look at the amazing community of PR professionals throughout New Jersey, it’s incredibly impressive. PRSA NJ brings this network together enabling us to share best practices, learn where the industry is heading, understand the latest technology that is shaping the way we communicate, and so much more. If you’re passionate about PR and being a student of the industry, PRSA NJ is where you need to be.
