Today we’d like to introduce you to Jody Grimaldi.
Jody, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
In 2000, fresh out of undergrads school at The University of Iowa, I accepted my first position with Playboy magazine. I was the PR coordinator at the corporate headquarters under the legendary PR director, Elizabeth Norris. Right from the beginning of my career, I would learn the PR ropes from the best working under Norris and our boss, Hugh Hefner. My primary role at Playboy was to publicize the Playmates of the Month.
A few years later, my next corporate in-house position came with the historic Hilton Chicago on Michigan Avenue. Working under Linda Simonetti, now the PR Director at the famous Beverly Hilton, and Robert Allegrini, now Hilton Corporation’s top communications guru, I would learn how to handle hotel PR from more of the best publicists in town. During this time, I also obtained my MBA (with a focus on PR & Marketing) from Loyola University – Graduate School of Business. Finally, some years later, my last corporate in-house PR position came with McDonald’s Global, where I was responsible for promoting all the good things the restaurant giant was doing around the world, including their Olympic sponsorship.
Following McDonald’s, I decided to change directions – steering away from the corporate “in-house” sector, and pursue the agency route. Thus, I started life as an independent freelancer. I would eventually link up with another amazing publicist, Colleen Ryan, who had started the boutique agency, Traffic PR & Marketing. Together, we took on several exciting accounts – mostly in the restaurant, entertainment and hospitality industries. Ultimately, taking all the knowledge, I learned along the way from some of the most forward-thinking PR minds in the industry, I would officially launch my own company, Grimaldi Public Relations.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My biggest struggle along the way has been with my work-life balance. I am a (proud) father of 3 amazing girls, as well a husband to an incredible woman (my high school sweetheart), so maintaining a great quality of life at home has always been paramount.
When you’re in PR, you’re always on call. Likewise, as a dad (especially during those times when you’re working from a home office), you’re also always on call. Over the last 18 years, I’ve needed to learn to walk that line without letting down the other party(ies).
This is a challenge that not everyone can grapple, and one that takes a long time to master.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Grimaldi Public Relations – what should we know?
Grimaldi Public Relations is a boutique firm that specializes in media relations and publicity with an emphasis on hotels, restaurants and lifestyle PR. The underlining mission of Grimaldi Public Relations is to raise awareness, create buzz and persuade positive point of view through the press. Clients receive customized PR campaigns that generate earned (or free) media, ultimately leading to heightened visibility and better ROI. To put all of that in laments terms, Grimaldi Public Relations communicates its client’s messages…in effort to make them look better!
I’m most proud of being able to help another company share its story. For many businesses, it’s difficult to articulate who they are, why they do what they do, and why others should buy in. At Grimaldi Public Relations, we tell that story for them.
What sets us apart from other PR agencies is that client’s get servicing directly from the founder and president, Jody Grimaldi. My experience and perspective in the PR field stemming back 18 years is truly unique, and it’s reflective in the results I achieve.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Confidence.
As a publicist, you need to show confidence in what you support. If you’re not confident about whatever it is you’re promoting, most likely it won’t succeed or reach its full potential. My writing, my pitching, my ideas, – even my own SELF image – need to exude an air of confidence. It’s what sells my work and my word at the end of the day…
Pricing:
- Grimaldi Public Relations works typically on monthly retainer, which usually ranges from $2,000 to $5,000+ per month depending on scale of service.
- We also accept one-off event contracts (such as for a festival), that usually range from from $2,000 to $4,000 per event depending on scale of event.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6517 Middlecoff Ct
Woodridge, IL 60517 - Website: www.GrimaldiPR.com
- Phone: 6304700044
- Email: jody@grimaldipr.com
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