Northern Nevada Business Weekly: Tell us about your company?
Julie Ardito: Julie Ardito Public Relations is a multi-faceted public relations and marketing communications firm that provides companies with strategic and results-based services that increase awareness, enhance reputations and deliver a return on investment. Services include: strategic planning, brand marketing communications, media relations, reputation management, employee communications, web and social content development and crisis communications, etc.
NNBW: How did you get into this profession?
Ardito: I credit my mom for helping me to seriously consider a career in public relations. I earned my degree in broadcast journalism and my educational training and internships were all broadcast related. However, when an opportunity to take a PR position opened up after college, she encouraged me to make the leap. She felt that my personality, passion for the news and my ability to tell a story and solve problems would translate well to public relations.
NNBW: What important thing(s) have you learned in your career and helps your company be successful?
Ardito: The truth is always more compelling than spin. Trust what you know, but push yourself to constantly learn, grow and experiment. Surround yourself with smart people who will challenge you and make you think. And, as a former employer and great marketing man, Phil Rose, once told me, “You’re not doing this for college credit, so enjoy what you do and do it well.”
NNBW: What aspect of your job presents the most challenges?
Ardito: The continually changing media and social landscape combined with shrinking newsrooms and reduced media resources, challenges and inspires PR professionals to constantly find new and creative ways to tell a client’s story that ultimately reaches their target audience.
NNBW: What was your first job? What did you dream of becoming as a kid?
Ardito: My first job was news director at KRZQ, when it was 96 Rock. I worked the morning show with “Chase and Sarge.” My dream was to work in broadcasting, which I was fortunate to do through my time on Reno radio and through my internships at CNN in New York and MTV Networks. I never made it as a correspondent on 60 Minutes, but public relations has been the ideal career for me as it allows me the best of both worlds by getting to work with journalists every day and the companies that I am privileged to serve.
NNBW: How do you spend your time away from work?
Ardito: I’ve recently gotten into cycling thanks to my boyfriend, and I am training for my first century. I am also addicted to spin, playing tennis, going to movies and spending time with family and friends.
NNBW: Favorite vacation spot?
Ardito: Lake Tahoe. Not only is Tahoe one of the most beautiful places on this planet, but having grown up in Tahoe City, it is home.
NNBW: If you could live your life over again, would there be something you would change that impacted your life/career?
Ardito: I would live my life over again the same way. This quote sums it up for me, “One of the greatest feelings in life is the conviction that you have lived the life you wanted to live – with the rough and the smooth, the good and the bad – but yours, shaped by your own choices, and not someone else’s.”
NNBW: Last concert or sporting event?
Ardito: I last attended a Wolf Pack football and Wolf Pack women’s soccer game. My niece plays for the women’s Wolf Pack soccer team.
NNBW: Why did you choose a career in Northern Nevada? What do you like about living/working here?
Ardito: I love this place! As a professional, there is an ease to doing business here. Northern Nevada allows me access to businesses and industry leaders that would be more difficult to connect with in a bigger city. Reno is growing as a center for business, innovation and entrepreneurship and I’m excited to see that change happening. I choose to live in Reno because my family is here, Lake Tahoe is so close and you can’t beat our awesome climate.
