Gail Kent, MFA, ABC

Gail Kent, MFA, ABC

PR Queen Bee, The Buzz Factoree, LLC. Our buzz builds your biz.

Norfolk, Virginia Area

Current
Past
  • Chief Marketing Officer at College of William & Mary, Mason School of Business
  • Director of College Communications at Virginia Wesleyan College
  • Independant Consultant at (self employed)
  • Assistant Vice President, University Relations at Christopher Newport University
  • National Advertising Director at Bull’s Eye Publishing
  • Regional Director, Public Relations and Marketing at Mary Immaculate Hospital/Bon Secours Health System
  • Director of Marketing at Riverside Psychiatric Institute
  • President at Kent/Weinstein Communications
  • Publications Director (1981-85); Editor (1980-81) at Riverside Regional Medical Center
  • Reporter at The Times-Herald/Daily Press
  • Reporter and editor at Byerly Publications/Chesapeake Post

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8 more...

Education
  • Old Dominion University
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • East Carolina University
Recommended
Gail has 20 recommendations 20 people have recommended Gail
Connections
500+ connections
Industry
Public Relations and Communications
Websites

Gail Kent, MFA, ABC’s Summary

You want to be famous? Get local, regional or national publicity? Effectively market your company to improve your bottom line? We've done it in spades.

We help small business owners make a living while living their Amerian dream by digging out, shaping and promoting their unique stories. We use online and traditional media and marketing techniques to generate buzz for businesses and non-profits.

For businesses in Hampton Roads, we provide a FREE service to connect Hampton Roads reporters with businesses who want publicity at www.HRMediaConnectionz.com. If you live in Hampton Roads and want FREE publicity, be sure to check it out and join! But we work for clients not only in Hampton Roads, but across the country!

Our firm specializes in non-profits and small businesses, helping them manage their reputations, gain visibility and reach their marketing goals.

We provide a full range of services through our strategic alliances with networking partners. Services include communications planning, project management, publicity, branding, advertising, direct mail marketing, copywriting, editing, graphics, development of print materials, web site development, article writing for internet marketing, photography, media training, event planning and more.

As managing director, I leverage 30+ years of experience in nearly every aspect of communications, marketing and public relations for my clients. I earned the accredited business communicator designation (ABC) from the International Association of Business Communicators and have won more than 350 local, state and national awards for my communications work.

But we don't work for awards. We work for our clients. Check out my recommendations and see for yourself. Then email me and let's set up a free half-hour phone consultation to get some ideas going for you.

Gail Kent, MFA, ABC’s Specialties:

Strategic communications planning, public relations, media relations, special events, project management, writing, editing, publications development, employee communications, market research management, advertising/branding campaign development, sales/sales promotion, fundraising.

Gail Kent, MFA, ABC’s Experience

  • President and Chief Bee

    The Buzz Factoree, LLC

    (Public Relations and Communications industry)

    May 2006 — Present (3 years 7 months)

    We help you interpret and tell your unique story so that you will win friends and influence people.

    Services include: Copy writing and editing, marketing communications, public relations consulting, copywriting & editing, coaching (business writing and media), brand development, Web sites, blogs, social media.

  • Chief Marketing Officer

    College of William & Mary, Mason School of Business

    (Higher Education industry)

    2004 — 2006 (2 years )

    Directed marketing and branding for The Mason School of Business, including development of new business school identity program; supervision of new business school Web site development; implementation of communications program for business school naming, including award-winning micro Web site; national and local media relations; development of recruitment, alumni and development publications.

  • Director of College Communications

    Virginia Wesleyan College

    (Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

    2002 — 2004 (2 years )

    Directed communications and marketing, including publications, web site, advertising, promotions, media relations and special events; directed market research; directed and implemented college-wide branding; served on President’s Administrative Council and strategic planning committee.

  • Independant Consultant

    (self employed)

    (Public Relations and Communications industry)

    2000 — 2002 (2 years )

    Marketing and PR Consultant, small businesses and educational, non-profit and healthcare organizations.

  • Assistant Vice President, University Relations

    Christopher Newport University

    (Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

    1999 — 2000 (1 year )

    Directed publications staff in production of institutional publications, including alumni magazine, development and recruitment materials, employee newspaper; managed advertising agency; assisted vice president with media relations.

  • National Advertising Director

    Bull’s Eye Publishing

    (Publishing industry)

    1998 — 1999 (1 year )

    Successfully marketed new healthcare publications to national clients; conducted all advertising sales for Virginia and the Carolinas.

  • Regional Director, Public Relations and Marketing

    Mary Immaculate Hospital/Bon Secours Health System

    (Hospital & Health Care industry)

    1993 — 1997 (4 years )

    (October-December 1997 -- acting in position for one year prior.) Directed the public relations and marketing for four hospitals in Hampton Roads; implemented internal and external communications plan regarding merger of Mary Immaculate with Bon Secours Health System; developed/implemented overall communications/marketing plan.

    Chief Communications Officer (July 1995-October 1997): Mary Immaculate Hospital. Managed staff of three and sizeable budget.

    Director of Public Relations (January 1993-July 1995): Mary Immaculate Hospital.

  • Director of Marketing

    Riverside Psychiatric Institute

    (Hospital & Health Care industry)

    1990 — 1993 (3 years )

    Developed and marketed to a network of business and community referral sources to increase inpatient and outpatient census, contributing to an increase of nearly 20 percent over a two-year period; developed/implemented national award-winning marketing and communications plan.

  • President

    Kent/Weinstein Communications

    (Public Relations and Communications industry)

    1986 — 1990 (4 years )

    Established full-service advertising, public relations and marketing agency that counseled small to mid-sized firms in their marketing efforts; directed market research for clients; developed effective print and broadcast advertising campaigns; conducted public relations campaigns; published the Oyster Pointer, a bimonthly business publication with a circulation of 15,000.

  • Publications Director (1981-85); Editor (1980-81)

    Riverside Regional Medical Center

    (Hospital & Health Care industry)

    1980 — 1985 (5 years )

  • Reporter

    The Times-Herald/Daily Press

    (Newspapers industry)

    1977 — 1980 (3 years )

  • Reporter and editor

    Byerly Publications/Chesapeake Post

    (Newspapers industry)

    1975 — 1976 (1 year )

Gail Kent, MFA, ABC’s Education

  • Old Dominion University

    MFA , Creative Writing (Nonfiction emphasis) , 2000 — 2008

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

    Journalism , 1972 — 1974

  • East Carolina University

    European Studies 1971 — 1972

Additional Information

Gail Kent, MFA, ABC’s Websites:

Gail Kent, MFA, ABC’s Interests:

Reading, writing, singing, walking, social networking, playing with my granddaughter and writing my humor blog at www.thatawkwardage.com.

Gail Kent, MFA, ABC’s Groups:

Virginia Press Women
National Federation of Press Women
College Communicators Association of Virginia
Public Relations Society of America
International Association of Business Communicators

  •    On Startups - The Community For Entrepreneurs
  •    Inbound Marketers - For Marketing Professionals
  •    OpenNetworker.com
  •    LinkEds & writers
  •    TopLinked.com (Open Networkers)
  •    Success Networking
  •    ThoseinMedia
  •    GroupLinked.com
  •    Innovative Marketing, PR, Sales, Word-of-Mouth & Buzz Innovators
  •    Twitter
  •    Public Relations Professionals
  •    International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
  •    Marketing Communication
  •    Special Public Communications Group
  •    InvitesWelcome.com (Open Networkers)
  •    Social Media Today
  •    Social Media Marketing
  •    Network of PR Professionals
  •    PR Professionals
  •    Public Relations, Marketing, Special Event Designers
  •    PRSA Health Academy & Friends
  •    Big Shoes Network
  •    Public Relations and Communications Professionals
  •    LION500.com (Open Networkers)
  •    Public Relations Specialists
  •    Social Media Marketing Group
  •    Marketers in Hampton Roads
  •    brandhackers
  •    Social Media Marketing Executive Network
  •    Marketing & Communication Network
  •    Lead Hampton Roads
  •    PRSA Virginia Peninsula
  •    Higher Education Public Relations and Marketing Group
  •    Dutch LIONs (Open Networkers)
  •    AAF Hampton Roads-(Ad Club)
  •    PRSA Hampton Roads Virginia Chapter
  •    PRwise
  •    Hampton Roads, Virginia: America's First Region
  •    Leaders & Thinkers
  •    Virginia Press Women
  •    American Marketing Association - Hampton Roads Chapter
  •    The Work On The Web / Byron Katie
  •    Social Media Revolution
  •    Word of Mouth
  •    LinkedWomen
  •    Monetizing Twitter
  •    Social Media Trainers

Gail Kent, MFA, ABC’s Honors:

Winner of more than 350 local, state, regional and national awards for career achievement and excellence in communications and marketing including:

-First Place, catalogs, Virginia Press Women, for the Executive MBA Program of the Mason School of Business, 2007.
-Four 2005 Advancement Awards, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, District III.
-First Place National Awards for audiovisuals, print advertising, radio advertising, color brochure, marketing program and public relations campaign from the National Federation of Press Women, 1987-1996.
-Sweepstakes Award, 1988 &1996, Virginia Press Women.
-Press Woman of the Year, Virginia Press Women, 1989.
-Career Achievement Award, Peninsula Women’s Network, 1988.
-Media Advocate of Small Business Award, Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce, 1988.
-Virginia Public Relations Medallion, for the outstanding, low-budget, non-commercial program in Virginia,1984.
-Silver Gavel Award, American Bar Association, 1978.

Gail Kent, MFA, ABC’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

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  • consulting offers
  • new ventures
  • job inquiries
  • expertise requests
  • business deals
  • reference requests
  • getting back in touch

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