Member Spotlight - Scott White

Posted by admin on Sep. 8, 2023  /  Subscribe 0

Scott White, co-founder and CEO of BizCom Associates, a Texas-based agency specializing in PR and marketing programs for franchise companies, entrepreneurs and more, has spent more than four decades in journalism, public relations and marketing communications. He is also a long-standing member of the Dallas chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

After a decade as a writer and editor in periodical publishing, book publishing and TV broadcasting Scott founded two of the most successful PR agencies in Texas: Hadeler White Public Relations (HWPR) and BizCom Associates. 

BizCom Associates was formed in 1999 as an off-shoot of HWPR by White and former HWPR employee Monica Feid, BizCom’s COO. “I like to say she is the heart and soul of the agency,” he adds.

Their goal was to create an agency that delivered the expertise and results of a large agency along with the speed, flexibility and energy typically available only through a small, boutique agency. Their goal was to attract dynamic entrepreneurs, innovative franchise chains and other creative business leaders wanting to promote their products and services worldwide. Today, clients range from young start-ups to established multinationals.

With a University of North Texas degree in journalism, Scott is a former president of the Texas Public Relations Association. Moreover, he and his team are active members of the Dallas chapter of the PRSA, the American Marketing Association and the International Franchise Association. He is a former president and current board member of the Connemara Nature Conservancy in Allen, Texas, and was the first president of the Friends of the Allen Public Library Endowment Fund. He also serves on the advisory board for the Titus Center for Franchising at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Scott led a successful career as a journalist who went from sports writing to agency building. The BizCom team likes to say Scott “went to the majors” in our industry. He divides his time serving on boards and working with professional organizations while ensuring he makes time for the development of BizCom’s team members to prepare them for industry changes.

Being busy is great, and Scott shared that he is fortunate to work with such a talented group of professionals willing to give 100 percent. However, work-life balance is a priority at BizCom and the leadership team encourages all associates to balance the day by going on walks, participating in agency and getting involved in local charitable organizations through BizCom’s BizComCARES initiative.

Scott’s love for what he does connects directly to his success as a professional. He loves his work and serving with a subset of professionals who stand out globally and change their profession for the better.

I was drawn in by Scott’s passion and gratitude for the PR profession and quickly understood the appreciation he expressed for the BizCom Associates team and their commitment and dedication. It was clear his appreciation for working side by side with the most talented staff drives his professional passions and aspirations.

Scott’s focus is on “looking forward to tomorrow” because he is always fascinated to discover what is going to come with breakthroughs in technology, AI as well as the “wide range of projects I am going to be able to work on with a great group of colleagues and clients,” he said. “When we first started BizCom Associates, we wanted to create an agency that would attract professionals looking for an environment that encouraged creativity and new ideas. If we built that type of agency the idea was that it would attract innovative, visionary clients with great stories to tell. That is still our mission, today.”

Throughout his career, he has worked with a wide portfolio of entrepreneurial and start-up companies by helping them develop communications programs to support their growth strategies. He especially loves franchising because most brands, including some of the largest and most well-known, were originally founded by entrepreneurs with inspiring stories to tell who wanted to offer others a chance at making their own American Dream come true by giving them the opportunity to own their business. For their work, the agency was recently named the Top Franchise PR Agency for 2023 by Global Franchise Magazine.

PRSA and the Impact of the Dallas Chapter 

Scott and his agencies have received great recognition with writing and public relations awards and was recognized twice by the Dallas Business Council for the Arts with Obelisk Awards for his support of the arts in Dallas. Last year, BizCom won multiple Pegasus Awards including “Best of Show” and being named “Small Agency of the Year.” In addition, Vice President of Creative Services, Lauren Moore, was named to the Dallas 40-Under-40 list of top young professionals.
 
“It was an extraordinary night,” he said. “I could not have been prouder of our team and everything they had accomplished. It was an honor to be recognized among such talented Dallas professionals and agencies.”

In addition to the Best of Show and Small Agency of the Year, BizCom won a Pegasus Award, the organization’s top award, for marketing communications and most effective influencer campaign.

BizCom Associates’ Ongoing PRSA Commitment

Scott said, “There has never been a more exciting time to be involved with the communication profession, and at the same time the profession is changing so rapidly. We encourage staff to attend PRSA and local PRSA Dallas chapter events, and we pay for anything they want to attend that can help them become better professionals. There is no organization that can keep up with continuing education like PRSA.”

Choices need to be made when deciding to join a professional organization, and no organization can offer what PRSA can provide at different career stages. This is why Scott maintains a commitment to empowering employees to attend events like the upcoming UnSummit 2023: PR Evolving, which is an in-person, exciting half-day program featuring thought leaders from within our community who will engage you with topics that explore the changing landscape of our industry, and other PRSA events and activities.

For anyone entering the PR field, Scott advises, “Focus on your ability to write. Start by focusing on being creative and pushing to be better — a better communicator. Improving your written communication allows you to confidently communicate with everyone. Writing is often the first impression that others have of us. It is not just about being a good writer but also about having the ability to convey thoughts clearly, concisely and in ways that can inspire others. Everyone — no matter the industry —should always strive to be a better communicator. And PRSA and the Dallas chapter have many opportunities to help you do that at all career levels.”

There is a role for everyone at PRSA, and there is no better way to get involved than by joining the Dallas chapter, which promises endless engagement, fun and meaningful networking. PRSA can help employees keep up with the latest trends in professional life and stay connected with meaningful activities.

For busy professionals, living life in real time is about slowing down and savoring the meaningful moments we all encounter each day to be more fully present for our work colleagues, friends and families while finding opportunities to stay relevant in a changing environment. Knowing that PRSA is a go-to source is reassuring.

On behalf of the chapter’s membership committee, I would like to extend a special thanks to Scott and all current and past members and volunteers of PRSA in Dallas and to influential professionals in various PR sectors. We are making a difference together as movers and makers. Are you interested in joining the Dallas chapter of the PRSA? Want to get involved? Click here for more information.

Article: By John B. Ponzio - Co-chair of the Membership Committee for the Dallas PRSA chapter

John is a creative, engaging PR professional with a career spanning hospitality, health care, luxury goods, and association management. His greatest passions are serving others and fostering cultural excellence. Working in marketing and public relations for the Ritz Carlton early in his career, he gained a strong foundation in innovating, being a change leader, and being a positive disruptor while providing legendary customer service. This foundation shaped the executive he is today and how he approaches everything, including brand-building, brand launches, relationship-building, risk mitigation, and results-tracking.

Extensive experience working for high-profile brands, including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Bombardier Learjet, Henry Ford Health System, and the American Heart Association, as well as extensive experience driving quantifiable results.

He offers public relations, marketing, and communications consulting services as a PR practitioner helping brands define what they stand for, engage, connect with audiences, and create credible narratives and stories that drive industry-leading outcomes. Working as the co-chair of the Membership Committee for the Dallas PRSA chapter has been his pleasure by having the opportunity to work with so many talented members.

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