Liz Friedlander | FGS Global
Title | Director
How long have you been a member? | One month!
Current Employer | FGS Global
Why did you choose Public Relations?
The wide variety of issues and sectors you can touch in public relations is what originally attracted me to the field. My professional experiences across politics, government and food and agriculture have allowed me to work on everything from school meals and renewable fuels to sustainable fashion and derivatives markets, each with its own challenges. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to PR, which means every project requires a fresh set of eyes. Developing and implementing new strategies for clients to tell their stories in compelling ways is still exciting to me today.
What do you want other PRSA members to know about you and your employer?
My background is in policy communications, with a specific focus on food and agriculture. I spent nearly a decade on Capitol Hill, serving a majority of that time as the Democratic Communications Director for the House Agriculture Committee. I also oversaw policy communications for the National Corn Growers Association, a leading trade association.
Now, I’m part of the FGS Global Food Team. In my role, I help clients navigate complex policy and communications challenges on food, nutrition, sustainability, health, and consumer issues. FGS Global is a strategic advisory and communications firm that advises clients in all aspects of strategic communications, including corporate reputation, crisis management, government affairs and transformation and change. The Food Team is extremely collaborative and talented and we advise a wide range of clients including established brands, foundations, NGOs, tech companies, industry coalitions and many others.
What has been your proudest accomplishment in your PR career so far?
Some of my proudest accomplishments come from my time on Capitol Hill. Working from start to finish on a new farm bill – major legislation addressing U.S. food and agriculture policy – is an experience I will always value.
However, my proudest accomplishments are the relationships and trust I’ve built over the years with my peers and the reporters following the food and agriculture sector. So much of our work in PR is relationship-based, whether it be journalists you’re seeking to share a story idea with or a stakeholder you’re hoping to collaborate with, mutual respect and trust are important to ultimately accomplishing your shared goals. I’m thankful for my existing relationships and those I’ll develop in the future.
What do you hope to gain from your involvement with PRSA Idaho?
I’m new to Boise, so joining PRSA Idaho has been a great avenue to meet new people working in PR and I hope to develop new friendships and partnerships with PR professionals throughout the state.
Gaining information and valuable insights on the PR work happening in the area and connecting with other professionals in the community is important to me. PRSA’s educational sessions are really informative and the ability to network with other PR professionals in a relaxed and fun atmosphere is something I’ve really enjoyed.