Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Valerie Rodriguez.
Hi Melissa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I am very blessed and fortunate to be where I am today. A little bit about my background is that I am a Licensed Psychotherapist, which many people in the entertainment industry are unaware of. Prior to transitioning into the PR/Entertainment field my educational background and career consisted of Psychotherapy (Mental Health Therapy) with at-risk youth/gang members, foster kids, & trauma survivors for over 12 years. When I decided to take a break from psychotherapy, I had to figure out what I was going to do next; I was clueless. Here I was at 31 years old feeling like something was missing and I wanted to explore other avenues. One day, one of my sorority sisters said, “You should do PR”, I responded with, “What is PR”? It was then that she explained PR to me, and I said, “oh I can do that, I did some of that while being the social chair for my sorority in college”. At that point, I started applying for PR internships, where eventually I was afforded the opportunity to work for a PR boutique firm. It was then that I realized I could do this full-time, I love PR and it didn’t feel like a job. From there I started building my relationships in the industry. I met some great PR mentors along the way that took me under their wing and showed me the ropes. I am extremely content that I followed my heart because it has been rewarding, exciting, and fulfilling being able to assist artists and entertainers by expanding their careers.
Fast forward, here I am nine years later, I have my own company and continue to grow my client roster and my relationships in the industry. I’m still not where I want to be, but I am a lot closer than I was before. I’m just grateful for all the learning experiences and opportunities to have found something I love to do. Despite the difficulties and great financial risks, there’s a wonderful sense of accomplishment that I have gained as an entrepreneur.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It wasn’t a smooth ride, especially coming into this industry with no PR experience and not having any ties and/or relationships in the entertainment industry; I had to start from scratch. In this industry, everything is about building genuine relationships and trust, which are rare commodities within the industry. Therefore, I had to start building my relationships by networking and proving to others that I am trustworthy, honest, and reliable. As people got to know me, they distinguished me as a hardworking loyal woman of integrity. I strive to make sure that my clients are joyful and completely satisfied with the services I provide.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about MVR PR?
MVR PR is an entertainment public relations firm based out of Los Angeles, California. The core operation of MVR PR is to develop, establish, and manage the public image of various personal and professional brands through event curation, media placements, and red-carpet/networking events.
We pride ourselves on our up close and personal firm connections we’ve established with our clients. To us, our clients are more than a list of contacts and names on a database, they are FAMILY. Our team takes pride in establishing long-lasting relationships with clients and creating solid bonds to comfort them as we understand that the success of an organization is about time, commitment, and approachability with our clients.
MVR PR has made a name for itself as a TEAMWORK-driven PR firm that is able to solve problems quickly, manage entire projects from start to finish, provide quality work, deliver measurable results, and most importantly build solid genuine relationships within the entertainment industry.
What sets you apart from others?
What sets me apart is my background as a Licensed Psychotherapist and my unique ability to know how to work with people, different personalities and manage critical situations. I know how to respond to very sensitive issues that arise at events and with client confidentiality, I am able to provide strategies and find solutions. I have an innate ability to spot conflict at any given time and place and am highly equipped to diffuse it seamlessly.
What do you want our readers to know about your brand, offerings, services, etc?
I want people to know that MVR PR isn’t just a PR company but a FAMILY. A family inclusive of everyone despite of race, gender, and sexual orientation. We thrive in supporting everyone’s vision & dreams to become a reality and make sure that everyone WIN’s and rises together as a TEAM!
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Despite the crisis we were going through, I didn’t allow the crisis (COVID-19) to stop me from accomplishing my goals. I utilized that time to think outside the box, get out of my comfort zone, get creative, research, and strategize. One thing I’ve learned is to face the challenges head on and never allow anything or anyone stop you from achieving your goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.themvrpr.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/mvrpublicrelations?igshid=NTdlMDg3MTY=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissavalrodriguez?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Jeremiah Drummond @jeremiah_drummond
