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Lisa Van Hook, MA, APR

President
Grouper Since 1997
Lisa has served many roles in the agency, including PR Director and Director of Client Services. She is the President of the agency and is responsible for agency leadership and operations. Her background and experience put her in a position of leadership with many of our national and top-tier accounts. She started at the agency as the PR department (she was it for a while), and eventually grew the department into an award-winning team that manages public relations, crisis communications, media relations and special events for local, state, regional and national clients. Lisa is nationally accredited in PR by the Public Relations Society of America (APR) and has served in multiple leadership positions with the state chapter, including as the board president. Lisa develops and manages many of the research, messaging and planning tools used by the agency, including the MessageMAP® and SRI research. She is a passionate communicator, leader and team-builder.

Lisa is also the host of the agency’s award-winning WIN Women In Industry podcast, where she has conversations with inspirational women from around the country who are making a difference in their industry and communities.

Tune in to these inspiring stories and learn more about the history of the WIN podcast by clicking the button below.

Skills & Certifications

  • M.A. Organizational & Interpersonal Communication
  • B.A. Mass Communications
  • APR Certified
  • PRSA Member
  • Second Wind Agency Association Member
  • Strategic Marketing Planning
  • Event Planning
  • Public Relations
  • Qualitative & Quantitative Research
  • Outcomes Measurement & Reporting
  • MessageMAPPING®
  • Podcasting
  • Strategic Communication
  • Leadership & Team-Building
  • Project Management

Personality

  • Taurus
  • Night Owl
  • Cycling Enthusiast
  • Dark Chocolate Lover
  • Spirit Animal: Dragon
  • Favorite Type of Music: Motown
  • Favorite Word: Love
  • Not a fan of timesheets or taxes
  • Has hiked the mountains of Panama, but wouldn't do it again
  • Really bad at going to bed at a reasonable hour
  • Would love an unlimited supply of dogs

Question & Answer

Describe a favorite client project:

The 50th anniversary celebration at their manufacturing facility in Indiana for Toyota Material Handling was one of my favorite projects. The project involved two areas of PR practice that I love - special events and media relations. We flew in industry journalists from North America for a day-long celebration that included a gold forklift, plant tours, media reception, sit-down luncheon with Toyota dignitaries from Japan, and forklift Lego sets as promotional giveaways. We got so much quality time to tell the client's story with journalists, which ultimately yielded some incredible media coverage, including the gold Toyota forklift featured on the cover of an industry magazine.

What have you learned from a client recently?

If you build your business model around always doing what is right for the customer and the employees, you will create a great company.

How would you describe your team’s strengths?

PR ninjas; 5-star client service; dedicated to excellence; exceptional client service delivery; results-driven; innovative; creative thinkers...and they are good humans, good people who care about each other and work exceptionally well in a team-setting

What adjectives would you use to describe your childhood? Why?

Interesting, international, adventurous, migratory (we moved a lot), cool (until my status as an only child was interrupted), horsey.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A veterinarian.

What was your college major and why did you choose it?

Undergrad: Radio, TV, and Film – I wanted to be a producer.

Graduate degree: Interpersonal and Organizational Communication – because I am a scholar of communication I’m fascinated with theory and application.