A personal account from Co-founder Sherry Knight
The Paladin team is growing. We’re excited to have Heather Smith join us in helping clients connect with target audiences and achieve bottom-line business objectives through strong, strategic communications.
Heather, Monica Clark, Paladin’s VP for marketing and analytics, and I worked together for several years leading Central Michigan University’s communications and marketing team. Co-founder Jim Knight partnered with Heather when he worked for the CMU College of Medicine and Chippewa Athletics.
Heather is a powerhouse of creativity, energy and joy with profound ability to showcase the stories that resonate with audiences.
She and I co-led (and bonded forever) through multiple crises and complex issues at Central, including the tragic 2018 shooting that brought instant, worldwide media attention. Each day, Heather guided the writers, videographers, photographers and social media team in developing and distributing content that portrayed CMU’s strengths and enhanced its brand.
That often included “mini campaigns,” such as graduation of the first College of Medicine class. The campaign began with CMU’s first Match Day, when med students nationwide simultaneously learn where they will do their residencies.
Heather coordinated an incredible package of personal stories, a video, and photographs that captured the emotion of the day, the intelligence, sincerity and diversity of the new physicians, and Central’s uniquely supportive and collaborative culture.
Congratulations, Heather, on a job well done for your beloved alma mater. We can’t wait to share your expertise and impact with clients.
Love to see this era of former CMU UComm staff back together. It was a great team, miss working with everyone.