Joining Taylor Johnson brought Traci full circle to working in the real estate industry again as she did early in her public relations career. It was at this first agency job when she realized how great of a fit PR is for people who are curious, and how rewarding it is to see a client’s story reach an audience.
Over her career, Traci has worked for a variety of public relations firms, including some of the world’s largest, and also operated her own PR practice for 14 years. While a vice president at Ketchum in Chicago, Traci led an award-winning public service campaign for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, oversaw the first digital PR program for Wendy’s, drove public relations efforts that supported the expansion of Lions Clubs into mainland China and launched a highly successful content marketing program for a custom framing glass manufacturer.
Now an account director at Taylor Johnson, Traci develops and executes media relations and social media influencer programs for the firm’s architecture, commercial real estate brokerage and development clients and has earned placements in major national outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and Fast Company, in addition to numerous real estate trade publications and local outlets. Her efforts have had direct and measurable impacts on her clients’ businesses, resulting in additional business from key clients.
When she’s not working, Traci enjoys writing – she’s had short stories published in two literary fiction anthologies – and spending time with her husband, Paul, and two teenagers. She enjoys travel, reading, yoga, eating food someone else has prepared and fancies herself an amateur rock music historian.
BEYOND THE BIO
The best professional advice I received was: You can learn something valuable from everyone you encounter.
Favorite Halloween costume: Sharon Osbourne paired with my husband’s Ozzy
Three words that describe me are: Thinking, listening, diplomatic
When I was growing up I thought I’d be a: A French language interpreter. I have resurrected what few skills I have left now that my kids are taking French in school.
Favorite Chicago building: Fourth Presbyterian Church. I love the juxtaposition of the cloistered spiritual environment with the buzz of Michigan Avenue.
Last good book I read: I read a lot of great books, because in addition to writing press materials, I also write fiction! One that sticks out from my recent stack is One Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley.
What I like most about TJ: The people. They are smart, professional, collaborative and fun to be around.
I never thought I’d: See my hometown, Fort Wayne, Indiana, listed as a hipster hotspot, but the Yelp!/realtor.com Hottest Hipster Markets in America list says it’s so.
My guilty pleasure is: House Hunters and Hawaii Life marathons courtesy of my DVR.
Most people don’t know that I: Can still do a cartwheel.
My favorite app is: Spotify
Favorite pastime: I love to travel, bike and read, but my absolute favorite pastime is something my family calls Rock Talk, which is talking about rock music — legacy artists, current artists, songs, albums, cultural influence, all eras, all genres, etc. I love pulling out the vinyl or queueing up a playlist and chatting with people about music.
My proudest personal moments have been: Watching my daughter and son get up in front of dozens of people and speak about their family members at different events, some happy and some not. It’s amazing the strength that comes over them when they are motivated to honor their relatives in such a public way.