Veronica Hunt, APR is an account supervisor with PadillaCRT, a top 10 independent public relations company with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Minneapolis, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Va. A Southern California native, Veronica has provided strategic counsel and expertise to clients in the healthcare, consumer packaged goods and Hispanic market segments. Her exceptional media relations acumen has been recognized by PR Daily, the Hospital Public Relations and Marketing Association, The Holmes Report, O’Dwyer’s PR Report and PRSA.
PRSA LA: Why did you decide to pursue APR?
Our agency places a high value on Accreditation, so I really saw it as the next natural step in my career path and professional development. I also know that this achievement really validates the things I’ve learned and the work I’ve been doing, in my more than 20 years in this field, so it was important to me to have the professional designation to reflect that experience.
How did you prepare for the exam?
The Chapter provided me with a mentor, and I worked with her to understand the process and bounce ideas off of throughout the process. I also met with other APRs to learn about how they prepared before diving in. I spent a lot of time going through the Online Study Guide, and dusted off several of my old college and grad school textbooks. I even used index cards to drill myself during my morning and afternoon commute on the train. So much of the exam focuses on the 4-step planning process, so I spent time looking at award winning case studies to ensure that I had a good understanding of all of the elements of the process.
How would you rate your APR experience?
The Readiness Review, which is a panel comprised of three current APRs, was really positive. The panel is charged with offering both an accurate assessment of the candidate and to serve as a resource for the candidate, as they prepare for the computer-based examination. I liked working to put my years of experience into words as part of my Readiness Review submission. I enjoyed the panel review, and talking about the work I’ve been able to do during my career. The process really reminded me how much I still like what I do, all these years later. A side, non-work benefit of the overall experience, especially studying for the exam, was the impact it had on my family. It was good for my daughters to see me go through this process, and to help them understand that learning is a lifelong process that requires commitment. As a working mom, finding the time to commit to something that was so important to me was a great lesson for them.
PRSA LA: How have you (or your clients) seen value in Accreditation?
These three little letters really have had a big impact. Going through the process helped remind me to be sure to take a holistic view of the work we do, and to step back and be sure we are connecting all the dots. I’ve been able to influence the way my clients approach planning. In one instance, my client changed their approach to ensure measurement was included at the beginning of the process, which was a big win. I encourage others in our Chapter to invest their time in seeking Accreditation.
