Today we’d like to introduce you to Carli Brinkman
Hi Carli, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey in the field of strategic communications and public relations has been quite an adventure, marked by a passion for my work and unwavering dedication to my clients.
After graduating from the University of Florida, with a concentration in public relations, I dove headfirst into the dynamic world of PR, working in the fast-paced press office of one of New York City’s busiest government agencies- the Department of Parks & Recreation- during the Bloomberg Administration. Here, I had the privilege of managing communications for prestigious projects like The Gates, by Christo & Jean-Claude, the redevelopment of Washington Square Park, and the celebration of the Brooklyn Bridge’s 125th Anniversary, to name a few.
From here, my career path led me to roles of increasing responsibility- from associate director for public relations at NYC & Company, promoting New York City as a top tourist destination, to directing public relations and communications for Discover the Palm Beaches, where I played a vital role in marketing Palm Beach County’s tourism products and offerings.
I gained invaluable experience managing client teams at top PR agencies in New York and Palm Beach before taking the leap with my own venture and establishing Carli PR. From the outset, I was determined to prioritize personalized attention to my clients’ needs over rapid expansion. My vision was clear: to stay small, nimble, and focused on delivering exceptional results.
Through my agency, I have represented clients in a variety of industries and professions, including hotels and restaurants; chefs and consumer food products; books and cookbooks; entrepreneurs and enterprise software startups; films, documentaries and productions; nonprofits, and advocacy organizations, community development and major destination events and projects, to name just a few. Our prestigious roster of current and previous clients include: Marriott International, AC Hotel Clearwater Beach, Concord Hospitality, The Ben Hotel West Palm Beach, Crane’s Beach House Boutique Hotel & Luxury Villas, Marriott Autograph Collection, Gallaghers Steakhouse NYC, The Loeb Boathouse, Gallaghers Steakhouse Boca Raton, Chef Clay Conley, Buccan Palm Beach, Imoto Palm Beach, Grato West Palm Beach, Chef Laurent Tourondel, Chef Lior Lev Sercarz, La Boite NY, Spice Brothers NYC, Scouter US, Serena Pastificio, No Kid Hungry, Old School Square, West Palm Beach CRA, National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy, Federal Hall National Memorial, Bundle IQ, Sneakz Organic, Hai House, Proper Grit, Spruzzo, and many, many more. In less than five years, I have grown from making less than $50,000 a year in Year One, to nearly half a million in client retainers and project contracts.
My husband Zach has been my rock throughout this journey, serving as my steadfast partner, CFO, and COO in both life and business. Together, we’ve navigated the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship while raising our two daughters in New York City, while continuing to support and manage our strong and well-established client portfolio throughout Florida.
Outside of work, my passion for life knows no bounds. First and foremost, of course, comes my family- my two beautiful daughters and my husband- who bring me all the joy I’ll truly ever need in life. I have a lot of energy, so it’s important to have a physical outlet through which to release that energy and any of life’s stresses. Running in my go-to and has been all of my life. In fact, I ran my first marathon- the Boston- in 2023, in support of Dana Farber Cancer Institute, which gave me one of the greatest highs of my life. We’re also really enjoying tennis these days, as it’s a great sport for our entire family to participate in. I love live music, and still proudly lose my voice at almost every show, even after all these years. I love being outdoors- I’m 100% confident that fresh air is a natural prescription to low-level mental health slumps. As a family, we also love traveling and exploring the world. Even with two young girls, we have prioritized regular travels to culturally inspiring places across the globe, even when it means we will be taking planes, trains, and automobiles, and packing and unpacking bags every two or three days to reach the new country or city… its all worth it. We love it, and our girls love it too. It’s become a part of who we are as a family.
Today, I am proud to stand as a testament to other women with a dream, of the power of passion, perseverance, and the endless possibilities that come with embracing entrepreneurship in the ever-evolving world of communications.
Alright, 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?
It has definitely not always been a smooth road. I think that growing pains and learning to scale are some of the greatest challenges I’ve faced. For example, when we get a new big account, knowing how to scale up responsibly, in the smartest and most strategic way possible for our boutique agency, that allows us to maintain the quality services we are known for. I am laser-focused on staying small and building teams that are customized for my clients, so I want to always be very smart about how I am building based on who am growing with. In other words, the Carli PR team depends on the Carli PR clients. I only grow my team when I grow my clients, and my team depends on my clients. We are very bespoke in this way, and some months are business as usual, while some are constant change and growth with new opportunities and news proposals and interviews with new potential team members for new clients and new hires, and getting to know how new people work and how new clients operate, etc. These times are a lot bumpier than normal. But I would never change the way I run my company because this is what makes Carli PR so unique… and my clients love us for it.
Another thing that can be a challenge, but also a gift, is there is really no such thing as “totally disconnecting.” Even when I am on vacation, out of office, or overseas, I am checking in daily, multiple times a day. In the beginning, I tried total disconnection, but it only led to frustration, anxiety, and feeling like I was not doing an adequate job. As much of a bummer as it might sound that I have to “work” every day for a few hours here and there when I am on holiday, the truth is, it is much less stressful to ensure I make a plan to work and check-in, than fooling myself into thinking it’s possible to be a small business owner that can walk away from her business for weeks at a time.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Carli PR is a boutique public relations agency built on the idea that, by staying small, we can remain focused on the individual objectives and strategic vision of each client, rather than feeding a bottomless business development engine. We only take on what we know we can handle, allowing us to be successful without compromising these brand values.
Our clients will benefit from our industry expertise, creative ideas, and extensive media network, but will never be forced to conform to rigid agency processes when working with us.
Additionally, if clients desire services beyond those within our scope, we will custom-build their team through our affiliate network of established, qualified marketing and creative professionals. We don’t keep them on staff, but rather fold them in as contractors based on each individual client’s needs. So- unlike at a full-service agency- clients aren’t paying for services in their monthly fees unless they are actually utilizing them.
Everyone we work with is not only a long-standing trusted partner, but also a veteran in their field. Our accounts are never staffed with junior or even mid-tier account representatives. Our clients deal directly with individual high-level consultants who have come together to personally manage their accounts.
Though Carli PR’s primary expertise is in travel and hospitality, our agency has represented clients in industries spanning from enterprise SaaS and cutting-edge medical treatments, to community redevelopment and hunger relief advocacy. We are located in New York City, with affiliate networks in both New York and South Florida, with clients throughout both markets and beyond.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love almost everything about New York City. The culture …. the people!…. and their passion for the city. New Yorkers are so creative and inspiring… you can’t escape it even if you wanted to (and you wouldn’t). I’m enamored by the beauty of this city and the juxtaposition of nature/ park and concrete jungle. And the fact that you can be in a dozen different environments in a 30-minute walk, or in what feels like six different cities with six different stops off the same train. You can be in what is arguably the most electrifying and illuminating place in the world (Times Square), then a few train stops later, the most cosy, charming neighborhood in every movie you’ve ever seen (West Village or the Upper West Side). This city knows how to embrace who it is- the art exhibitions, the Broadway shows, the movies in the park in the summer, the ice skating and window displays in the winter… it’s truly all the best of the best.
What I like the least…Like most major cities are experiencing right now, severe mental health issues and open drug use among our unhoused population is more prevalent than in previous decades. I know it’s a complicated issue- and I don’t presume there’s a simple, compassionate solution- but I never in the early years of my life in NYC witnessed the things my children do on a regular basis today. With that said, I have never felt unsafe or that my children were in danger. If that were the case, we wouldn’t be here. We all love our city and are proud to call ourselves New Yorkers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carlipr.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlibrinkmanpr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarliBrinkmanPR
