Name: Louise Oliver

Chapter: Alabama

Current position: President of Peritus PR, a boutique public relations and public affairs agency headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama

How long in current position: Two and a half years

First PR job: Account Coordinator with Peritus PR. Following graduate school, I was asked to join Peritus PR to help grow their Alabama footprint when our firm used to be headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.

Where you attended college: The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL; received both bachelor of arts and master of arts degrees in public relations from The University of Alabama

If you weren’t doing PR, you’d be…… I would want to use my problem solving interest and communications skills in another career path, either through literacy advocacy or hotel and restaurant management. I used to imagine that one day in retirement I move to Italy and become a local barista fluent in the language.

Proudest professional accomplishment: Serving as president of the Alabama PRSA Chapter in my mid-twenties and implementing new professional development initiatives to extend our PRSA network across the state.

What is your passion? Using my communications skillset to help small businesses, nonprofits, entrepreneurs and corporations achieve their goals and impact their communities.

Why you are a PRSA member? PRSA has provided me an opportunity to build relationships with some of the most bright and inspirational communications practitioners across our region. My membership also motivates me to stay knowledgeable on issues affecting our public relations industry for Peritus’ long-term growth strategy.

Each week, the PRSA Southeast District highlights one of its 2,700 members. To join PRSA, visit prsa.org.