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LAURA BISHOP RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF
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As PR professionals, it's rare that we shine a spotlight on ourselves, but our own Laura Bishop has been named as one of the Women of Distinction honored by the Philadelphia Business Journal. The "LBC Crew" is thrilled to share with others what we've known for years about the firm's fearless and compassionate leader.
This award recognizes the most influential women in the region’s business communities. Women of Distinction "are blazing a trail in their business, are respected for accomplishments within their industries, give back to the community, and are sought out as respected advisors and mentors within their field of influence.”
This award recognizes the most influential women in the region’s business communities. Women of Distinction "are blazing a trail in their business, are respected for accomplishments within their industries, give back to the community, and are sought out as respected advisors and mentors within their field of influence.”
BLAZING HER TRAIL
Laura built a reputation as a strategic public relations professional while working as a sole practitioner and in PR firms in South Jersey, including Anne Klein and Associates, where she learned the ropes from her lifelong mentor and friend, Anne Klein. Drawn to work she felt good about, she carved a niche for herself working with schools and environmental nonprofits. In 2011, she launched Laura Bishop Communications, as a sole practitioner with a handful of clients. Today, LBC has 8 employees and 30+ clients.
Laura’s strategic thinking is a key factor in business growth. Her work with schools evolved to include planning/managing effective communications campaigns to inform (and turn out) voters for school bond referenda. In the past year, LBC worked with 5 districts for bond or budget votes; all were successful. Laura also guides the firm’s work in Crisis/Issue Communications. She sets a high standard among her Crew for out-of-the box approaches to help meet each client's goals, whether that's through savvy media relations, compelling editorial services or multi-media campaigns.
Laura’s success largely comes from her unwavering commitment to become part of a client’s team. She gets to know the client and each person she’s working with on a genuine, personal level, and that enables her to do her best work on their behalf. Laura was one of SNJ Business People’s Top Women in Business (2014), and a Superwoman in South Jersey Magazine (2013).
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS
Laura gives back to the PR field and nurtures its next generation. She funds an annual scholarship for a Rowan University student majoring in public relations, and she serves on the Advisory Board for Rowan’s College of Communications & Creative Arts. She has sponsored Rowan College of South Jersey’s “Suit a Student” program since its inception. Laura makes a point to hire recent college graduates and coach them in the early stages of their careers.
In addition to serving two terms as president of the NJ School Public Relations Association, Laura’s interest in education extends to community work. Organizations such as the Cape May Co. Chamber of Commerce and the Southern New Jersey Chapter of the American Red Cross value her business acumen and commitment to building bridges between their realms and the education field.
RESPECT IN THE PR FIELD
Laura presented to New Jersey school leaders on effective communications, a testament to her value in the field. For school boards in Cape May County, she presented information on communications in education and offered suggestions on social media. She also a teamed up with a client to participate in an NJ School Boards Association podcast on the importance of communications plans in schools.
Her strategies guide the LBC team toward award-winning successes for clients, which often means designing the work to be done and the nominations for the awards. Recent examples include clients who were recognized as NJ School PR Association’s Communicator of the Year and regional Superintendent of the Year. Laura had a direct role in the recognition of one district where a teacher was named state Teacher of the Year and a National Teacher of the Year finalist, and where the same district’s leader was named state Superintendent of the Year.