Receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from PRPLI (Public Relations Professionals of Long Island) is a significant honor.
It’s a testament to years of dedication, innovation, and success. I am deeply honored to be this year’s recipient. It reflects on a career that spanned decades and transformed my life.
My Background
My journey in the field of public relations began at the prestigious Ogilvy & Mather PR. The experience at Ogilvy set a solid foundation for my career, teaching me the importance of strategic thinking and creative execution. From there, I continued to refine my skills at Hill, Holliday/PR and Ruder Fin/PR, further expanding my expertise in creating powerful, persuasive campaigns.
When I went to school at Hunter College, one of my professors told me that in PR you can make a difference and change the world. Well, that’s what led me to my first job in the non-profit sector. I was the director of PR and Fund Development at Altro Health and Rehabilitation Services. This agency helped people with psychiatric disabilities and helped them get job training.
It marked a significant shift in my career. It allowed me to leverage my skills to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. This passion for meaningful work continued at PSCH, where, as the director of PR and development, I led initiatives that raised awareness and funds for crucial services.
Founding HJMT
In 1992, I founded HJMT Public Relations Inc. I started the firm in a one-bedroom apartment with my newborn baby, Zoey, at my side. Within years, I got my first office in Long Beach above Gino’s Pizzeria.
Through the years, HJMT grew from a fledgling agency to a powerhouse with a staff of 25 in Westbury, later moving to Melville. Throughout this journey, we’ve been recognized with multiple awards from prestigious organizations such as LI Business News, Girl Scouts of Nassau County, the IAC, and the Stevie Awards, among others. Each accolade served as a milestone, celebrating our commitment to excellence and innovation.
I had an amazing staff and through our hard work and dedication, back in the day, we were the largest PR firm on Long Island. We even branched off and had offices in Rochester, NY and New York City.
An Early Adopter
As an early adopter of social media, I recognized its potential to revolutionize how we connect and communicate. This foresight allowed HJMT and our clients to stay ahead of the curve, engaging audiences in new and dynamic ways.
My passion for sharing knowledge also led me to author several books, providing valuable insights into public relations and social media. Most most recent PR book, Branding in a Digital World was revised in 2023 and is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Wearable Technology
In addition to being an early adopter of social media marketing, I was also an early adopter of wearable technology and was an original Google Glass Explorer. This led my staff and I to make the first Google Glass Reality Show on Youtube, Glasslandia. You can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJRQ7tmbHog&list=PLlgBsfvsuDpruadKFNm_20K6Vri4qpwKM
From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete
Last year, I wrote a memoir/self-help book entitled, From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete – A Portrait of a Non-Athletic Triathlete. This book enabled me to share my ten year journey from starting to exercise to becoming an endurance athlete. It has stories about my childhood to the first time I went to a gym. It’s funny, it’s sad, and it’s everything in between. My goal was to help people change their lives and get out of their wheelhouse. And, so far, it seems to be working!
Shifting gears
Today, while Lisa Gordon leads HJMT Public Relations Inc., my focus has shifted towards PR/marketing consulting, writing, blogging, and podcasting.
My fourth book on triathlon training is in the works, drawing from my experiences as a triathlete, coach, and someone who is determined to return to the sport after recent brain surgery.
My decade-long tenure teaching at Hofstra University, coaching swimming and running, and guiding athletes as a triathlon coach, continues to be incredibly rewarding.
Reflection of the Lifetime Achievement Award
This Lifetime Achievement Award is more than a personal accolade; it’s a celebration of a journey marked by growth, challenges, and triumphs. It’s a reminder of the power of perseverance, the impact of sharing knowledge, and the importance of pursuing one’s passions relentlessly.
As I look back on my career, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences that have shaped me, the mentors who have guided me, and the teams I have had the privilege to lead.
The journey is far from over, but this moment of reflection reaffirms my commitment to inspire, educate, and empower others, whether through PR, writing, or coaching.
Thank you
To everyone who has been part of this incredible journey, thank you. Your support, collaboration, and belief in the vision of HJMT and beyond have been instrumental in making this achievement possible. Here’s to continuing to make a difference, one story, one race, and one lesson at a time.
