We were lucky to catch up with Diane Buckner recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Diane, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Public relations and communications companies structured like ours understand locally owned businesses and nonprofit organizations work on a smaller budget than larger corporations. We will work directly with you and your employees with the flexibility to adapt to changes in order to target specific customers providing quality, personalized communications services to through various media outlets.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m originally from Brooklyn, NY and my family relocated to Jacksonville, FL when I was 10 years old. I spent 25 years in the sunshine state and I’m still waiting for the Jaguars to make an appearance in the Super Bowl.

I graduated from the University of Maryland University College with a Bachelor’s in Communications with more than 30 years experience having worked in communications, marketing and public relations with global companies such as ATP Tour, Mercedes-Benz of North America and Foote, Cone & Belding.

In 2007, we welcomed our third son into our family. At each and every doctor’s appointment we were offered an amniocentesis, which we opted out, as the results are not 100% accurate, could yield a false positive or negative and there was a chance the procedure would cause a miscarriage. Additionally, knowing was not going to make a difference; we were having a baby and he would be loved and nurtured no differently than his two older brothers. It was during this time I had first toyed with the idea of doing freelance work in order to remain home to be available for his therapy sessions and doctors’ appointments.

It wasn’t until five years later after reading an ebook by an acquaintance that I actually put those wheels into motion. I truly enjoyed the novel and provided the author with some ideas on how to promote the book to potentially garner sales. He said to me, “Maybe you should be our publicist” and while I thought he was joking I told him that it sounded like it would be interesting and fun. A few days later he reached out and he and his coauthor offered me the position. It was a great relationship and I truly enjoyed reading and editing the books and creating social media marketing posts; unfortunately, life happened, the pandemic wreaked havoc and their writing had to take a backseat to personal matters.

As a small business owner, I feel that in order to make a difference you have to be the difference and that is what I think sets my company apart from others in my field. I can honestly say that I love the relationships I have built over the years with my clients – business owners and nonprofit organizations in my community. I understand that locally owned businesses and nonprofits don’t have the budget of larger corporations so I help to work within their budget, without a recurring contract nor retainer fees. While working for a PR firm in Jacksonville, one of our clients was the I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless that we provided services, pro bono. That was such a rewarding experience and why I enjoy working with nonprofit organizations if and when needed.

Since 2013 I have been assisting nonprofits having worked with Delete Blood Cancer DKMS to recruit individuals to register as potential bone marrow donors by organizing the Russell Buckland Friends for Life Bone Marrow Drive in my former hometown of Jacksonville. The event was attended by then mayor, Alvin Brown, and several players from the Jacksonville Jaguars. I also chaired the Zack Patrol Dance Fitness Charity Event benefitting the Down Syndrome Guild of Dallas’ annual fundraiser, Buddy Walk, raising more than seven thousand dollars for the organization. Most recently, in 2020 just prior to the pandemic, I was PR Chair for The Allen Special Olympics Delegation’s 22nd annual “Special Angels Among Us” Benefit Dinner & Auction that raised $60k for its athletes. In addition to the approximately 300 in attendance, LA Rams offensive lineman and former Allen Eagle, Bobby Evans, Jr., participated as the event’s special guest and speaker. Additionally, as the spouse of a retired military veteran, I have participated in fundraisers for Wounded Warrior Project, Gallant Few, and supports nonprofit organizations 100 Vets Who Give a Damn, K9s for Warriors and Patriot PAWS.

I am also a proponent who believes that when you support small, locally owned businesses you are investing and making a positive economic impact in your community. Small business owners tend to be more in tune with the happenings on a financial and personal level within the neighborhoods they serve. They have insight, awareness, and a more heightened sense of social responsibility to give back and contribute by getting involved and supporting fundraisers, grassroots efforts, and nonprofit organizations. Large corporations moving into smaller or rural communities may not hire within the local area; instead, opting to transfer already established employees to the new facility. In contrast, small businesses help economic growth by hiring those individuals in communities that may not meet the employment requirements of such larger companies.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In January of 2020, the first case of Covid 19 was recorded in the U.S. Within weeks the virus had taken the U.S. by storm; states were in complete lockdown mode: stay inside, wear a mask, social distance, wash your hands, clean your groceries. Businesses were forced to either close or set up employees remotely from home, school administrators, at every level, were scrambling and putting together lesson plans in order to teach virtually, and our healthcare system, world over, was in overdrive – we were in the midst of a global pandemic.

At the time I had a senior in high school and a sixth grader, both of whom were to move on in the fall: one to college and the other to middle school. I’m going to admit, my first thought was, ‘How am I going to balance working from home and monitoring their distance learning?’ The answer came pretty quickly and it was simply to do exactly what I did every single day: plan. As a professional who was already working from home prior to the pandemic, I was used to weekly scheduling of clients’ projects, appointments, and phone calls, so I incorporated the same system for my boys’ schoolwork. I added whiteboards and wall calendars with the days’ breakouts of classes, assignments and due dates. I’m not going to lie it wasn’t easy: the Internet went down, Zoom link wasn’t working, passwords to external websites were incorrect, and on some days that was all before 10:00 a.m. But, we had a plan, persevered and made it through remote learning.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Building relationships. I’ve learned there isn’t just one key to success and you have to go beyond being all business, all the time, in order to connect with your customers on more than just a professional level. Getting to really know my clients, past the nine to five grind, through basic communications skills: reading, writing, listening and speaking has truly laid the groundwork for continuing and new business relationships. Having a satisfied customer referral is the highest form of compliment I can receive and lets me know that I have done my job, and that I have done it well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bluetickllc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluetickcommunications/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueTickCommunications
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bluetick-communications-llc
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/home?lang=en
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diane-m-buckner-2409a411/

Image Credits
Roy Brookshire Photography Julie Piskor