Member Spotlight: Drew Piers, APR
Name and Title:
Drew Piers, APR
Partner, Director of Campaigns
Sachs Media Group
@DrewPiers
Hometown:
Bradenton, FL
I’ve lived in Florida my whole life and love the sunshine – even though the cold we’ve had over the past several weeks has made me wonder whether I still live in the Sunshine State!
What inspired you to earn your Accredited in Public Relations (APR) designation last year?
My path to becoming an APR started when I was studying public relations at Florida State University. FSU was one of the first universities to offer coursework that students can use to earn their Certificate in Principles of Public Relations, which is an entry-level credential in communications. That experience, combined with guidance and support from my colleagues at Sachs Media Group, led me to ultimately take the next step toward earning this meaningful distinction.
What is one piece of advice you would give others interested in earning their APR?
Accreditation in Public Relations is a designation I would encourage all communications professionals to consider. Not only does it distinguish you among your peers, but it also provides you with an opportunity to enhance your skill set and learn from like-minded individuals. One piece of advice I would give to people thinking about taking this journey would be to just start it and stick with it – I’m confident you’ll look back and see that it was time well spent.
What would your colleagues be surprised to learn about you?
I absolutely love getting outdoors and being active. On any given weekend, you can usually find me with my wife at one of our local parks playing soccer, going for a run, or trying to sink a putt in disc golf.
Why are you a member of FPRA?
I value my membership in FPRA because it connects me with a tight-knit group of communications professionals who share a common desire to see each other succeed. I also enjoy the engaging speakers and events that FPRA hosts on a regular basis. I particularly love events like ER for PR, where we get to share insights and information with different nonprofit organizations in our community who can really use the guidance but often can’t afford ongoing services.
What are you looking forward to this year?
There is an early legislative session this year, so as part of our firm’s Public Affairs team I’m certainly looking forward to a whirlwind of legislative surprises and fun client issues. But at the end of the day, there are so many things to look forward to and be thankful for in the year ahead that it’s tough to choose just one. Overall, I’m just excited to see what comes next!