Lessons from the PR trenches: Terry Hemeyer Shares the Importance of Effective Communications

Recently as a part of the learning and development opportunities at Pierpont, I had the pleasure of speaking to Pierponters across all of our offices about my career spanning several decades. During the presentation, I shared key learnings and memorable stories from my career, along with advice for the next generation of PR professionals at Pierpont.

In my time as a communication expert, I assisted Presidents, managed national brands, received the bronze star for service in Vietnam, and navigated many business and human resource crises. I believe that when a problem arises, there is always a solution. For example, in the 7th grade when I didn’t make the basketball team because of my height, I learned a key lesson of life: “play the cards that you’re dealt.” I, instead, became the first male cheerleader in my junior high school. I never gave up and that mindset served me well throughout my career.

I recounted another experience that highlighted the importance of effective communication. I was in a situation where I had to terminate a difficult employee. Despite the employee’s anger and threats, I remained calm and professional. A year later, the same employee called to thank me for my actions, acknowledging that it helped him improve his behavior and career. I learned that in the PR industry, the power of thoughtful communication has a positive impact on relationships and reputation.

My experience with assisting five different Presidents taught me the importance of understanding and navigating different environments. When I was asked to help set up a press room for the regional and local media, I quickly adapted to the new political landscape and advised a team of campaign staff who were unfamiliar with media operations. This experience highlighted how important adaptability and strategic thinking are when advising a team.

PR also teaches the importance of learning from adversity and how to recover from mistakes. In one case, I prepared the top Air Force general whose name was misspelled during a national NBC News segment. I acted quickly, drove to the network and convinced the editor to correct the mistake for the remaining U.S. time zones. This incident taught me the value of vigilance, adaptability, maintaining strong relationships and knowledge of the media industry.

In a few months, I will start my 30th year with Pierpont Communications. One of my joys is being able to mentor the next generation of talent at Pierpont and watch as their careers flourish. Thanks to my robust experience, I have been able to provide valuable insights, practical advice, and countless stories to help encourage and inspire future public relations professionals.

Intern Shalina Sabih supported the drafting of this article.