Member Profile: Alan Ashby, Cleveland Foundation
Posted on Apr. 5, 2023 / Subscribe 0
by Jenna Kahle, Cleveland State University graduate
Though Alan Ashby, media relations officer at the Cleveland Foundation, went to the University of Virginia (UVA) to pursue his degree in history, this is also where he began his journey in the Public Relations (PR) field. Inspired by his father who worked in media relations for a college in his hometown, Ashby began working in the athletic media relations office at the University of Virginia from his first day as a freshman.
After graduating, he started as assistant sports information director at Penn State University. Afterwards, he took on other athletic media relations positions at Cleveland State University and Kent State University before transitioning to senior account executive at Highland PR and then account manager at WhiteSpace Creative. All of this experience led Ashby to his current role as media relations officer for the Cleveland Foundation.
“The Cleveland Foundation is my first nonprofit, philanthropic job and it’s honestly a dream to wake up every day knowing I’m part of an organization that is working every day to improve our community,” said Ashby.
While days working in public relations are rarely ever the same, his daily responsibilities at the Cleveland Foundation include creating daily media roundups, which keep staff up to date on the latest PR developments.
“It’s really helpful to begin each day by seeing what’s going on,” said Ashby. “From there, my next task could be working on a release, dealing with a media request, editing a podcast or talking with colleagues about what our grantees are up to.”
Working with grantees to help amplify the work that they’re doing in the community is one of Ashby’s favorite parts about working in PR at the Cleveland Foundation. However, with the diversity of the field, it’s hard to pick just one favorite.
“In PR in general, I also enjoy figuring out the ‘puzzle’ that is the best way to pitch a story to the right outlet or working with reporters you’ve developed strong relationships with over the years,” he said.
Though Ashby has gained vast experience in PR, whether they’re a student or a professional, people never truly stop learning,
When asked how he’d like to grow as a professional in the next few years, Ashby said he’d like to continue learning from his peers and more experienced members in the field.
One lesson he has learned from mentors throughout his professional journey so far, is that business isn’t just about technicality, it’s also about how you treat people.
“How you treat people is critical,” he said. "You never know when building a relationship, as opposed to burning a bridge, will pay off down the road. Surround yourself with good people and lift them up whenever possible.”
As Ashby has learned, both professional and personal relationships make way for great lessons and opportunities, which is something he has held in importance since the start and will continue to do so throughout his career.
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