Diane Hurd, class of ‘07, was promoted to vice president of a major Columbus-based national public relations group.
Hurd graduated from the university with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and organizational communication with a minor in marketing. In 2019, she was promoted to vice president of the public relations group, Inspire.
How did she get to that point?
“I really enjoyed the diverse and smaller campus, which allowed me to feel like part of a larger family — the #CapFam — while having the advantages of being in the vibrant Columbus community.”
In addition to having professors who helped her excel, she had multiple mentors who helped her throughout her career. Hurd felt that the classes she took were relevant to learning the different aspects of the public relations and communications fields, from writing to research and campaigns.
During college, Hurd was given the opportunity to receive an internship, which helped her immensely when looking for interviews.
Inspire was not her first chance to put her degree to use.
Her undergraduate degree equipped her with practical skills and knowledge that were helpful in obtaining her first professional public relations job. Before she became a part of the Inspire family, she also led several account teams and award-winning projects as an account coordinator at two other public relations and communications agencies in Columbus.
With her promotion to vice president at Inspire, she now leads account teams serving major U.S. food companies and restaurants, state and national agriculture organizations, corporations and nonprofits.
The one aspect of this job that she enjoys is that each day is never the same. Agencies are fast-paced and she enjoys the workload. Hurd’s weekly tasks vary from coordinating an interview segment with a TV station, filming videos on a farm, hosting a blogger/influencer event, seeking new business opportunities for the firm, or to support a client through a crisis situation.
Although this is a full-time job, she still holds many others. She serves on the board for the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Center Ohio Chapter, is a member of the Leadership Columbus 2020 class, and a Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA).
Even though she carries this massive load, she still has time to focus on herself. Hurd has three sons who keep her on her feet, and she enjoys volunteering with local community organizations and running marathons.
Hurd now encourages students to get involved and stay involved, network with others, and to stay curious. She has helped others do this by coming back to campus to speak with the introduction to public relations classes. It inspires her to see the drive and passion of the next generation of PR leaders.
She shares, “I wouldn’t be where I am without building relationships and surrounding myself with others who are passionate and driven.”
