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Recognizing Our Senior Council: Ericka Alexander

Posted on Jul. 18, 2023  /  Subscribe 0

This month I had the chance to learn more about the PRSA Detroit Chapter’s Senior Council members. Senior Council refers to members with 20 years or more of professional experience and PRSA membership. Recently, I had the opportunity to meet with Ericka Alexander to discuss her professional experience. 

It was an honor to learn more about Ericka. As a recent graduate with little insight into the professional world, I enjoyed meeting with such an experienced, insightful professional who left me with more takeaways than imaginable. 

One of my biggest takeaways from my conversation with Ericka was the importance of continued professional growth. Through mentorship, PRSA membership and determination, Ericka has shown me what it means to be a well-rounded professional. 

Ericka’s journey began at Wayne State University where she studied PR. During college, Ericka held two different internships, one of which was a true game-changer for her. Through a Wayne State program, Ericka worked with the National Basketball Association where she had the chance to travel to New York.  

After graduating with her degree, through networking and volunteering, Ericka landed her first job as the assistant PR director for the Salvation Army Detroit Region. This position was a great stepping stone for her. It fueled her passion for nonprofit work. Her experience allows her to bring components of nonprofit work into every position she fills. 

From there, she began working for an agency. During her time with an agency, she learned the dynamics of project-based experiences, billing and teamwork. 

Shortly after her agency experience, Ericka worked at the Michigan Chronicle newspaper as assistant marketing director. In addition to account services and having a by-line, she traveled to various high schools to educate students in the journalism department about the opportunity to contribute to the news profession. To this day, she acts as a mentor for some of the students who are also working in communications. 

Ericka currently works  for the Detroit Transportation Corporation where she’s been for the last 20 years. Her most recent role is the communication and public relations manager. 

When she was hired, she was a department of one and led the marketing, PR and communications solo for the majority of her tenure. She oversaw outreach, strategic planning and programs, tours, advertising, sponsorships, served as the PIO and more. Responsibilities covering the entire spectrum allowed her to do what she loves: working with the community. “For me, using my experience in different areas provides the opportunity to be intentionally creative while finding spaces that I care about and my audience cares about.” By building those relationships, she can truly make a difference in those spaces. 

Today, she passes on those same lessons to her first-ever interns with the Detroit Transportation Corporation. 

One of the ways her PRSA membership has helped her is through continued growth. “PRSA helps me engage with other like-minded individuals to avoid cocooning myself.” By engaging with other professionals, her creative outlet never runs out. 

Below are a few of Ericka’s words of wisdom: 

• A PR person’s phone is never off. Make sure that you find a balance and give yourself grace. 

• Think of your organization as a stool. Your brand is the seat of the stool and the strategies your brand uses are the legs supporting it. You must make sure all your legs are steady. 

• Don’t pigeonhole or sell short your capabilities. Always network and be open to opportunities that present themselves - both inside and outside of the industry. 

• Find time to nurture your passion. 

What she loves most about her profession is being a part of something bigger. Creating something out of scratch and seeing the payoff fuels her through every endeavor. 

One aspect that truly resonates with me as a recent college graduate is her ability to continue nurturing her passion. By balancing her professional and personal life, she can rediscover why she loves her profession. Speaking to someone with many years of experience still pouring into continued growth is inspiring. 

Ericka is truly someone to look up to. She embodies what it means to be an outstanding professional. 

Cydney Foster is an integrative public relations major at Central Michigan University and an intern with PRSA Detroit.  

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