Joann Habisreitinger

Media Director

Why do you do what you do?
I really enjoy the psychology behind understanding consumers – their motivations and why they choose to engage with certain media vehicles. It is also very fulfilling to take the great creative product that our team produces and deliver it to our audience. Lastly, I love finding non-traditional media vehicle options that are perfect for our clients (sidewalk chalk, airport security bin ads, etc.).

What was your proudest career moment?
It’s very hard to narrow it down to one, but the biggie for me would have to be the bullet-proof vest donation for the New Orleans Police Department. I read a news article which reported that all of the vests for a Downtown district were lost in Katrina and suggested that one of our clients donate funds to replace them. The client agreed to do so and a really nice press event was held to announce the donation. The whole experience reinforced to me that at Zehnder a good idea can come from anywhere. Ultimately, this was a Public Relations initiative, but no one told me to shut up and go back to my calculator because I work in Media. There is really nothing professionally I could ever do that is more important than helping protect police officers.

My second-proudest moment would be the recent realization that our Media team has grown to be the second-largest Media department in the region. When I started at Zehnder, I was a one-person department, so this is quite an accomplishment.

What fuels you to do the best?
It is truly rewarding to get the client call or e-mail after a campaign has launched regarding consumer response. I love to hear “the phones are ringing off the hook” and those types of comments. It means we analyzed our audience correctly, selected the right vehicles, put together a solid plan, and delivered the right message…basically everything came together and made a positive impact for our client.

What drew you to Zehnder?
They were hiring and I was “in the market” (read: I was at home wearing fuzzy slippers organizing my Tupperware cabinet at 2:00 in the afternoon). That is actually a true story! I had been with another firm in the market for several years. It was a real family atmosphere and I loved it. Unfortunately, the owner decided to retire and had closed the agency. I was left weighing my options – stay in New Orleans or move to a larger market like Dallas. I didn’t think there were many viable prospects in New Orleans, and then Jeff Zehnder contacted me. So here I am more than ten years later.

What do you suck at?
Running fast (I’m built for endurance, not speed). Having any semblance of patience.

Describe your most quirky trait:
I am unable to form words when I wake up in the morning. I grunt like a small bear for about the first hour.

Outside Zehnder I love to ....

• Run (slowly)
• Play poker
• Try not to kill houseplants
• Spend time with my husband, Rob.