Carol Cookerly
Career
Now in our 24th year, the caliber of our work and the consistency we’ve maintained astound me. I’m humbled and honored to have a team of sure-shots at CPR — we just keep getting better.
The brands we represent and have represented, both big and small, probably came in on referral. Having a reputation for doing great work has always been my priority. We’ve kept a long list of clients for well over 10 years – some as long as 15 years. I think one cool brand is about ready to reengage after a 19 year hiatus. What a compliment!
Some of my best work efforts have been in issue management/crisis communications. People and companies in trouble often come in fast and furious; we’re adept at minimizing the fallout, and I’ve learned and taught a lot about how to get through a business crisis. There is no doubt we handle more issues/crisis events than just about any firm in the southeast. The variety is spectacular. And, I think we’ve perfected the art of supporting the permitting process for any kind of facility.
I graduated from Duke in ’78 and spent 5 years as a TV reporter. Then, it was PR in New York before coming to Atlanta. The Metro YMCA and Murphy- Harpst Children’s Center are focal points of my life in the community. I love the staff and mission of both.
Play Time
Horses – I’ve been riding pretty much my whole life or, more specifically, when time and money would allow. We have three horses and a pony. There’s nothing like a jumping lesson followed by a trail ride. I love to hear them munch hay and to feed them treats. My husband, Robert Beal, avid golfer, has also taken up horse riding. Add the three labs into the mix and it’s a lot of fun on our farmette.
And, then there’s my new shot gun: Shooting sporting clays or pheasants, I’ve decided, is about the best fun you can have with your feet on the ground. Got a shot gun last year. I named it Fire Ant 1 and its marketing slogan is…Remember the Sting. There’s a back story to that but we’ll save it for lunch.
Can’t overlook fly fishing – the western N.C. river where I fish is narrow so I’m the queen of the roll cast. My Dad and I have made a lot of memories trout fishing and we’re still making them. Too bad he’s never caught the big one…and I did.
We’re American history addicts and with that we developed a major love of American antiques. That means acquisitions, trading and more acquisitions. Come see part of our Americana flag collection here in the office.
The Best for Last
Two step kids brighten my thoughts as do nieces and nephews. I’m proud of who they are at their respective ages. When I took my nieces to see Disney’s Frozen on Ice, I realized how young and fun they make me feel. They’re deep in my heart.
All in all, it’s a great life and I’m thankful for it.
As senior vice president at Cookerly, Mike Rieman specializes in building and maintaining relationships with the media and has an excellent track record of landing significant placements in print and broadcast media including USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and Money Magazine.
As design director at Cookerly, Tim serves as the creative lead in the development of branding campaigns, print collateral and digital media for clients across a broad range of industries, including consumer, professional services, healthcare and technology.
As vice president of Cookerly, Sheryl Sellaway uses her extensive corporate communications background to lead consumer PR efforts, deliver strategy for marketing programs and share expertise about community initiatives.