Patrick McLaughlin is a 30+ year marketing communications and public relations specialist who has a varied career working for the media, within an agency, and inside a client environment. Patrick started his career as a producer for a 30-minute weekly TV program for an ABC affiliate in West Michigan. After three years, Patrick was asked to join the instructional staff at Grand Valley State University’s School of Communications. In 1997, Amway Corporation recruited Patrick to supervise its Interactive Media department during a time when the Internet was developing as a major marketing medium. A move across the State led Patrick to join a speech recognition product company in 2000 where he led efforts as director of marketing communications.
In 2002, Patrick joined Airfoil Public Relations, a growing tech PR company founded in 2000. As account manager, Patrick led efforts to manage Microsoft’s US subsidiary field public relations efforts for seven years. Patrick specializes in strategic planning, media training, establishing partnerships, and managing citizenship and diversity campaign efforts. Patrick joined Markit Strategies & PR in 2008 and soon became the lead on the media relations program for client Plex Systems (www.plex.com) from 2008 – 2013.
In 2004, Patrick received his accreditation in APR from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Patrick earned his bachelor of science in communications from Grand Valley State University and completed the LEAD Institute Program for High Potential Managers in Ann Arbor.