Dana Marciniak is a lifelong Buffalonian who took a leap of faith last year when she left her six-figure salary at a large corporation to start her own PR company – 85 West Communications.
“I knew I could do it, I just needed a push and I got that push earlier this year to go out and roll the dice,” she said.
Marciniak is a Syracuse University graduate who majored in public relations. She’s worked as a PR professional for the past 20 years at companies like Fisher-Price and New Era. When the opportunity came to make a decision about where her career was going, she decided to spread her wings and make a living on her own. Marciniak is also mom to two young boys who she wanted to spend more time with. Now she’s able to continue doing what she loves while never missing moments that matter most.
“What I love about PR is that every company needs it. Whether you’re a toilet bowl company or a car brand, everyone in the industry needs PR, especially now in the time we live,” she said.
Marciniak credits her willingness to venture out on her own to her late dad’s persistence and success in being an entrepreneur himself. He set the stage for her to know that if she put her mind to something, she could accomplish anything. She’s now on a mission to help others share what they have to offer in the WNY community and beyond.
“Telling a story is great, but there is a way to make it relative and creative and also turn it into a conversation. Sometimes you can put a story out there and it sounds really great, but then it goes away and that’s what you don’t want to happen because word of mouth is still one of the best tactics,” said Marciniak.
With an already impressive list of clients like the Red Blazer Men’s Chorus, Crowley Webb and Oxford Pennant – Marciniak is able to use her years of experience to assist in all types of PR initiatives.
“If someone needs me to plan an event, I can do that. If someone needs help with a press conference or a PR crisis or even an email newsletter, I can do that. I have have a lot of tools in my toolbox as a PR professional, I just have to match it to the business.”
For more information on 85 West Communications, visit www.85westcommunications.com.
