At Lansing public relations and digital marketing firm Martin Waymire, family and tradition run deep through the organization.
And so, too, does Spartan connection.
It starts with retired president and partner Roger Martin, a 1981 journalism graduate and 2020 Outstanding Alumni Award recipient.
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Martin Waymire retired president and partner Roger Martin |
“At MSU, I learned the foundational skills needed to be an effective communicator, first as a journalist and then later in strategic public relations,” Martin said of his own experience at MSU. “Hard work can take someone a long way, but excellence in any profession also requires a knowledge of practical skills and history, ethics, current and emerging best-practices, and a broader understanding of the world.
“MSU offered all of that and more.”
After more than 17 years at Martin Waymire, Martin decided to retire in December 2021. Firm partner, Dave Waymire, will retire at the end of 2022.
But the Spartan connection continues with the new owners and partners – all three are MSU graduates: Andie Poole, Angela Minicuci and Josh Hovey.
“For Martin Waymire, Spartans already have, still are, and will most certainly continue to play pivotal roles long into the future,” Martin said. “Clearly, our agency's success can be attributed, in a large part, to the strategic communication excellence Spartan alumni have delivered to our clients as members of our team.”
Poole talked about carrying on the legacy as a new owner, partner and Spartan.
“We know we have big shoes to fill — quite literally — but we have full confidence in our experienced team to continue the level of service, expertise and passion that Roger and Dave have exemplified throughout their careers,” she said. “That passion to make Michigan a better place is what Dave and Roger instilled in us all, and it is what continues to drive us.”
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Martin Waymire owners and partners, L to R: Angela Minicuci, Andie Poole, Josh Hovey. Photo by Jacob Lewkow |
Beyond the Spartan connection, those at Martin Waymire said it's important to foster the next generation of PR practitioners, too – many of whom come from MSU.
“One of our core values at Martin Waymire is growth - both for PR pros who have been communicating their whole career and for students who are just entering the field with a mind full of fresh ideas,” Minicuci said. “Communication professionals are an integral part of the C-suite and if we want to continue to have a seat at that table, we need to be mentoring and learning from the students entering the industry today.”
Hovey echoes the sentiment, saying that having MSU so close to Martin Waymire is beneficial – for both the student practitioners and recent graduates, as well as the firm itself.
“We're fortunate to have one of the top universities in the country just a few miles down the road,” he said. “There's a unique connection that happens whenever you meet another Spartan in a professional setting. It's almost like being part of a special club with its own secret handshake.
“We know that when we bring another Spartan onto our team, especially younger ones just starting their careers, that they've had a well-rounded college experience that has prepared them for working with our clients on some of the biggest issues impacting our state.”
By Jennifer Trenkamp