Meet Rachel McGuire of RMG Communications in Fallbrook
Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel McGuire.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Rachel. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
If you told me even five years ago that I would own a thriving public relations firm and wake up every day excited and inspired by who I work with and what I do, I wouldn’t have believed it. I knew I wanted to pursue public relations from the time I was in college. It seemed like the perfect career to channel my passions for reading, writing and creating into something that would benefit others and be a rewarding, fun and financially stable career. As a first-generation college graduate, I was excited that I was able to line up my first job in communications pretty quickly after I graduated from UCLA’s Communications Studies program thanks to a lot of hard work.
I found my passion was working in public-sector communications. It is deeply rewarding to go home after a day at work knowing I am making a positive impact in the communities I serve. I worked in-house for several public agencies for 15 years. During that time, I continued to hone my skills as a public relations professional and my dedication to the art and science of communication only deepened.
In addition to working my way up to executive management, it was very important to me to serve on regional, statewide and national public relations boards to contribute to my industry and help open doors for others. I also committed to continued learning and excellence, earning both my Accreditation in Public Relations and an MBA.
Finally, in 2018 (after years of dreaming about it), I decided to officially launch my business, RMG Communications. I haven’t looked back! Serving public-sector clients is still the main focus of our agency, and now I get to work on diverse projects to benefit many agencies all across California. I enjoy working externally for public agencies because I often have more creative freedom than I did while working in-house. Having worked internally for several government agencies, I understand the unique challenges that public agency communications face. Looking back, I’ve always had a great balance of being incredibly driven and creative. Thankfully, I was able to blend these gifts to create a life I love.
Has it been a smooth road?
No worthwhile journey is ever easy, but in some ways, the struggle makes the accomplishment just that much sweeter. I always knew in my heart that I was supposed to do something more and something different. For years, a fear of the risks of leaving a secure job, the possibility of failure, and, frankly, of what other people might think kept me stuck. I’ll be the first to admit that I stayed too long in a professional and personal relationship that was not in alignment with my passions and talents. And it took a long time – years – to work through those fears to be able to move confidently towards my dream and creating the life I wanted for myself.
And, of course, after you start your own business it’s a whole new ballgame. There are new rules and “new level, new devil” challenges you face. Being a small business owner, I wear many hats: CEO, CFO, IT director, human resources, new business development manager, etc.
My business continues to grow, happily. The time I have each day does not, so time management is a constant challenge. I have to be smart about what and how I delegate to others because I have to balance maintaining the quality and integrity of the work and growing my business.
Just this year, I’ve been able to add on several new team members to handle our growing workload and I couldn’t have sustainably grown my company if I was trying to do it all myself. One of my challenges has been that I understand how to execute public relations work, but operating a business entails much more beyond the services that we provide. This is an on-going learning process and I am truly enjoying the journey. Looking back, I am already amazed by how far I have grown.
I have always made it my mission to be authentic, which requires honesty and self-reflection. I might not be everyone’s cup of tea – and that’s ok. Being a kind, genuine and quirky person makes the world just a little more interesting and fun…and who wouldn’t want more of that?
Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
RMG Communications specializes in working with public-sector clients to help them tell their unique stories through a blend of strategic methods and creative approaches. Our award-winning, full-service firm develops strategic communications plans; creates effective, engaging branding and graphics; and produces video and digital content, such as social media, podcasts and online ads.
Before starting my firm, I oversaw communications strategies and programs for several large public-sector agencies throughout Southern California. When I decided to start RMG Communications, I knew I wanted to focus on government clients. There are so many smart, creative communications leaders working in government, and often they are not able to handle every project they need in-house. That’s where we come into work as an extension of their team.
Our commitment to excellence, ethics, creativity and transparency sets our firm apart. We might be the new up-start agency on the block, but our clients receive large agency expertise, in-depth capabilities and top-notch advisory services while benefitting from an unmatched level of hands-on, personal service.
Besides, our team understands the public-sector perspectives and issues. All our key members have worked for public agencies in both in-house and agency settings. We are also one of the only firms to be led by veteran communicators who hold the Accreditation in Public Relations (held by only 20 percent of communicators) to ensure the highest levels of service and results for our clients. Our clients, uniquely, are guaranteed that their project manager is both an APR and also knows and understands the world of government.
Co-hosting the PRessing On in Public Relations podcast with my friend and business partner Liselle DeGrave of DeGrave Communications, Inc. is something I enjoy. We decided to team up and do a podcast that would provide other PR professionals with real-world advice, lessons learned and insights. The top question we always receive is “how did you start your business?” We both love sharing our stories with those interested. Each of us has gone through a completely different trajectory to opening our businesses, and we hope our journeys can inspire others interested in striking out on their own to give it a shot.
What I am most proud of as a company is that we give back. “We rise by lifting others.” While I didn’t invent that sentiment, it’s part of RMG Communications’ DNA. We partner with California-based organizations to grow future business and community leaders as well as support animal welfare causes by giving our time, talents and resources.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
San Diego County is a magical place. I’ve lived in several cities throughout the north county and the beautiful weather and beaches always take my breath away. There is also so much to do throughout the region and the people are so kind and friendly. When I moved to San Diego County from the Los Angeles area, I didn’t know a single person, but I made friends quickly. Traffic – definitely what I like least.
Contact Info:
Address: 747 S. Mission Road, #535
Fallbrook Ca 92028Website: rmgcomm.com
Phone: 7607074149
Email: rachel@rmgcomm.com
Instagram: @rmg.communications
Other: pressingonpodcast.com
Article originally appeared in SDVoyager.
