PRSA Central Ohio membership surpasses 400

Central Ohio is home to a strong contingent of communicators from seasoned pros who have done it all to young pros who are taking our profession to new heights.

PRSA Central Ohio has long been the beneficiary of such an outstanding group of professionals, and our ranks are growing. Membership is up 16 percent, and we recently surpassed the elusive 400 mark.

In doing so, we thought we take a moment to celebrate together by highlighting our 400th member (as confirmed by national PRSA) – C. Sunny Martin.

Thank you for your membership in PRSA Central Ohio. It is the commitment of each member that makes our chapter one of the best in the country.

Name: C. Sunny Martin
Title: Managing Partner
Company:  Grapevine Information Services, LLC (dba) Grapevine Columbus.com

Question and Answer

Q. Tell us a little bit about your business.
Answer: GrapevineColumbus.com is a online “Daily Diversity Newswire”  that we are launching in January 2012. The site is targeted to benefit local firms in the distribution of their news, press releases, event announcements, and career and job postings to a growing minority audience of African-American, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian professionals. So far over 2,000 minority professionals here in Central Ohio have agreed to receive our daily diversity newswire template through Constant Contact. Additionally, each day all of the postings will appear on our website at www.GrapevineColumbus.com

Q. What do you enjoy most about the work you’re doing today?

Answer: It is always exciting to be able to create unique products and services that fit a niche market, and that can also help clients achieve their company objectives, while seeking to increase opportunities for minority professionals.

Q. How did you get started in PR and PRSA? Tell us a little bit about your background.
Answer: I got started in public relations actually when I formed my very first business at the age of 21. As a entrepreneur, you always have to communicate effectively the value of your business products and/or services to perspective clients! I searched out PRSA on the web and read about the rich history and professional accomplishments of the Central Ohio Chapter.  I believe a person is never too young to learn and better hone their professional skills.

Q. What is the most important leadership lesson you've learned in your career?
Answer: I have a “LUCK formula” I try to live by. Always Labor, Under, Correct, Knowledge! Labor means work very hard. Under, means seek the close counsel of those smarter,  and more experienced than yourself. Correct,  means there is an enormous amount of opinions and info floating around. I seek the counsel of experts who are the best of the best in their chosen fields. Knowledge, I have always believed that readers become leaders! Do your own research.

Q. What has been your greatest accomplishment?
Answer: There are two that come to mind. One, is buying my daughter a house her freshman year in college at her urging. Now, I know that sounds like a crazy thing to consider for a freshman in college. But I can tell you my daughter has always proved to be mature beyond her years and she convinced me rather than her living in the dorm, and me paying an outrageous amount of money dorm rent, that I ought to buy my childhood home, rehab it, and let her live in it and get roommates to pay the mortgage! So I did!  She has now graduated from college, the house is still standing, the mortgage is now paid off, and she has become a trusted advisor to her dad, smile!  Two, I have published 61 books in my lifetime, been an invited guest to the White House on four separate occasions, and have the greatest daughter a father could ask for!   I am blessed.

Q. What advice would you give to young professionals?
Always, seek to be in the company of people smarter and more accomplished than oneself. Success in life always leaves clues.

Note: If you have a picture we can use, please send it along.

At a Glance

When I am not working, I am…
Reading or watching OSU football or basketball.

My favorite quote is…
“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes…the ones who see things differently– they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things…they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who usually do.” - Steve Jobs, Co-Founder of Apple Computers

I am most proud of…
Finding my passion in publishing and being blessed with an unique vision to see things from a different perspective.

The person I admire most is…
My mother. She taught me that low aim in life is a sin, and always be helpful to others.

The last book I read was…
“Crazy Faith” by local Pastor, Rev. Susan K. Smith

Blackberry or iPhone?
IPhone

Facebook or Twitter?
LinkedIn

Mac or PC?
Always been a MAC man!