Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephen Michael Brown, APR, Fellow PRSA.
Stephen Michael, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m president of Cookerly PR firm, founder of SilverScreenCapture.com movie review site and on the boards of directors for Aurora Theatre and Ron Clark Academy. I’m a pioneering resident of the Town at Trilith, adjacent to movie studios and the new home of U.S. Soccer, minutes from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. I’m a native of Greenville, South Carolina and have now lived in Greater Atlanta for half my life. Outside of work, you’ll find me networking with friends in Public Relations Society of America – Georgia Chapter and reviewing films with fellow Southeastern Film Critics Association journalists.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I believe people open doors for one another, and I am fortunate for the people who have outstretched their arms of support for me in my career – people like Kara Dullea in Greenville, Paul McKeon and Ruth Doering and later Jane Shivers and Carol Cookerly in Atlanta-based agencies. If people open up their organizations and connections to you, it’s very important to show them all you’ve got and make them proud. My parents are both retired educators, and gaining a network of my own has not come easily, but I work diligently every day to give back to my community and help others who are motivated to get linked to opportunities. I am very grateful for those at my alma mater, University of South Carolina, whose journalism school and honors college are a big part of my networking. Also the Leadership Atlanta organization has been a critical part of getting to know my city and other leaders in all disciplines.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Cookerly PR?
Cookerly PR has become renowned for building and protecting major brands through integrated communications. Under Carol Cookerly and Cory Stewart’s direction as founder and CEO, respectively, I get to help push our creative product and help ensure we get to work on some amazing campaigns. I’m very proud of our work linking companies to the community, whether it’s the “Greatness Lives Here” corporate social responsibility program for Mercedes-Benz, the launch of Phipps Plaza Reimagined including NOBU Atlanta and featuring The Green, home of programs such as Fashion Statement, or world premiere performing arts milestones such as “Coco Chanel: The Life of a Fashion Icon” for Atlanta Ballet. We are proud of brand launches and issues and crisis management and find ourselves nearly every week leading media training, speaker training and other programs to keep organizations’ subject matter experts fresh and authoritative.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Follow your passion when it comes to networking. Our colleagues at Cookerly have worked with organizations ranging from YMCA to the Atlanta Ronald McDonald House, where they do great work for families and meet other great civic leaders. I’ve followed the arts as my muse and have met tremendous leaders from Coca-Cola, The Home Depot, Bank of America and so many others through serving on Boards together. The Center for Puppetry Arts was a great board for me, and we got to usher in some of Jim Henson’s most amazing creations to live permanently in the collection there during the years I served. I met incredible people like Lin-Manuel Miranda by serving on the hospitality committee and advisory board at Alliance Theatre and got to be a part of sponsoring some amazing productions during my terms as board chair of Actor’s Express. Now I’m getting to help as Atlanta Jewish Film Festival prepares for its 25th spectacular year. All of these organizations are perpetually in search of volunteers to give of their time, talent and treasure – plus you meet great people along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cookerly.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cookerly_pr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cookerlypr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbrownatlanta/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/cookerlypr
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@StephenMBrown
- Other: https://silverscreencapture.com/
