April 3 – Meet Our Speaker Marc Witt!

The Oxford English Dictionary defines “public relations” as “the professional maintenance of a favorable public image by a company or other organization . . ..”In this day of 24-hour news cycles and the prevalence of social media, the importance of public relations to us as Rotarians and to our Club has never been greater.

Presenting to us today on “PR Lessons Learned Along the Way is Marc C. Whitt.

Marc brings nearly four decades of public relations experience, having served in senior leadership and teaching roles at public and private colleges and universities across Kentucky. He currently serves as the director of media and strategic relations on the senior leadership team of the University of Kentucky Office of Public Relations and Strategic Communications. Additionally, Marc teaches in the UK College of Communication and Information’s Department of Integrated Strategic Communication, specializing in public relations.

Marc is also a bestselling author. His debut book, PR LessonsLearned Along the Way: Strategies, Tips & Advice for the Higher Ed and Nonprofit Public Relations Professional, was recognized by BookAuthority as one of the ‘100 Best PR Books of All Time’ and the“#1 Best PRBook for Beginners.”His follow-up, When In Doubt, Make Applesauce! Core Habits of the Masterful Public Relations Professional has earned similar acclaim. In 2024, Marc received the PRSA East Central District Platinum Award, recognizing his distinguished service and leadership in public relations.

Beyond his professional career, Marc serves on the Public Relations Society of America Thoroughbred Chapter Board of Directors, the Christian Appalachian Project Board, and the Kentucky Baptist Foundation Board. A lifelong musician, he is a founding member and president of the Friends of the Madison Community Band in Richmond, Kentucky.

A proud son of Paintsville, Kentucky, Marc and his wife, Jennifer, reside in Richmond. They are the parents of three children and four grandchildren.

In his presentation, Marc will share timeless and practical insights gained over nearly forty years in public relations. Drawing from his bestselling books, Marc outlines key strategies and tips for building and maintaining trust, fostering relationships, and advancing organizational goals through effective communication.

Marc emphasizes the importance of integrity, adaptability, and understanding your audience while offering real-world examples from his extensive career in higher education, nonprofit, and corporate communications. Attendees will leave with actionable takeaways to enhance their public relations efforts, whether they work in nonprofit, corporate, or public sectors.

 

Rotary in Review–April 3, 2025

Marc C. Whitt, Director of Media & Strategic Relations, University of Kentucky

It was “old home week” at Rotary as Marc Whitt brought warmth, wit, and four decades of public relations experience to the podium during our April 3 meeting. A longtime friend to many in the room and a valued member of the PRSA Thoroughbred Chapter Board, Marc shared reflections from his professional journey and his bestselling book PR Lessons Learned Along the Way, offering 10 essential leadership lessons with a blend of storytelling, humor, and humility.

Representing the University of Kentucky and President Eli Capilouto, Marc opened by thankingRotarians for being among the 10% of people who go beyond simply getting by to truly making a difference through service. “Branding,” he noted, “is not just a logo or color palette. Branding is spelled S-E-R-V-I-C-E.”

Marc illustrated that point with a powerful personal story about working summers at his grandfather’s service station in Paintsville. Tasked with detailing a pristine Apple Red Corvette for anew Army recruiter, Marc poured his heart into the job—but missed one detail: the inside of the tailpipe. The recruiter launched into a harsh tirade. Yet, rather than scolding Marc or deflecting blame, his grandfather calmly accepted responsibility and asked Marc to give it another go. The result? A perfect detail, a stunned recruiter, and eventually, a regional contract for the service station. “My grandfather believed in me,” Marc said. “And that moment taught me that people expect excellence—but we should strive to be exceptional.”

Among the other leadership lessons Marc shared:

Expect and learn from failure. Fear can paralyze progress, especially for those new to a role.“Grow your people,” he encouraged leaders. “Don’t expect them to start at your level of experience.”

Lead by example. “Character and integrity must always come first,” Marc said. “At the end of the day, our name is all we truly own.”

Meet each day with high expectations.Whether the goal is big or small, progress matters.“Even just a little bit of achievement today is more than yesterday.”

Grab the low-hanging fruit before climbing to the top. A childhood story about scaling an apple tree reinforced the importance of recognizing opportunities right in front of us before risking it all for something just out of reach.

Stay fresh and relevant. Marc recalled the excitement of installing a fax machine atGeorgetown College—a moment that underscored the need for lifelong learning and adaptation in a rapidly changing field.

He rounded out his list with reminders to remain battle-tested, keep a sense of humor, celebrate others, and have fun along the way. “Kindness never falls out of fashion,” he said, inviting Rotarians to repeat the phrase aloud—and we did.

When asked about maintaining a personal brand in today’s divisive climate, Marc offered this guiding principle: “I keep my strong opinions for private conversations. Online, I try to share messages that bring people together and reflect the good we can collectively pursue.”

We’re grateful to Marc for reminding us that excellence, character, and kindness aren’t just leadership traits—they’re Rotary values.