Tammy
Austin

Senior Account Executive

Who has been a big influence in your career?

My parents have been constant inspirations in my career. I was the first person from my family to graduate college, which is a testament to their hard work, support and leadership. I attribute my determination and curiosity to them.

What is one of your proudest professional moments or accomplishments?

I had the opportunity to be the first (or at least in the last 20+ years) Public Information Officer for the southwest region of Louisiana’s Transportation Department. I was fresh out of college and the civil engineers I was working with had never experienced working with a communications person on their project team. It was new for all of us. I started right before the I-210 Prien Lake Bridge Project in Lake Charles and there was a lot of community concern about the impact. I was able to develop and lead the project’s communication, ease community concerns, and establish relationships with key stakeholders and the media. Working with this team was incredibly rewarding and challenging, and I credit the Project Engineer, Tyson Thevis, for leading this team to success and showing me what it means to be a leader. The project finished early and was huge success for the department and the region. While I am proud of the project’s successes, I’m truly proud to have been a part of a team that showed exemplary commitment and hard work.

What are your driving career goals?

My overall professional goals are to always embrace the challenge of the unfamiliar and be willing to learn new skills and tools.

If you weren’t in PR, what would you be doing?

If I weren’t in public relations, I would be a librarian. Reading has always been a favorite pastime of mine. I love the thrill of a new book and the opportunity to learn something new.

What’s your favorite travel destination?

One of my favorite travel destinations are national parks. I enjoy the wonder and calmness of nature. I hope to travel to all 63. I have visited two, and I’m traveling to a third and fourth this summer – Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

Education

McNeese State University, Bachelor of Arts in English, concentration in Writing