Ann Edelman

Director of Public Relations

Why do you do what you do?
I love learning about a business and bringing a fresh perspective to why the media and public would find it of interest. There are always wonderful stories living inside a business, and helping these come to light is greatly rewarding. I also love helping businesses in crisis. The vast majority of the time, potential public relations nightmares are not the fault of the business that is affected. Working with a company making critical crisis communications decisions well makes you feel that your experience has made a real difference.

What was your proudest career moment?
I did the political consulting for an underdog candidate for a top law enforcement post who was a rare and dedicated public servant. He ran on a very detailed 10-point platform to reduce crime and won by a landslide in a major upset. That was obviously a very proud moment, but the real payoff came about two years later when I received a call from him telling me he had just completed the transfer of the 911 system from the parish to his headquarters directly, increasing emergency response time. That meant he had completed his campaign promises and wanted me to know. A politician who cared about his promises!! In the time he had been there, crime was down double digits and the police force was soon to become known as the most progressive and effective in the South. To be even a small part of making such positive change happen for an entire community can’t be beat.

What fuels you to do the best?
Getting good press for a client.

What drew you to Zehnder?
There’s no other agency that cares so deeply about a client’s success and is so down-to-earth doing it.

What do you suck at?
Suduko and laughing quietly.

Describe your most quirky trait:
I can only write with these obnoxious black wet erase pens or Sharpies. Ballpoints somehow offend me.

Outside Zehnder I love to:

• Read nonfiction
• Be a slug on my best friend’s pier on Mobile Bay
• Perfect my iPod.