Rhiannon Hendrickson is the founding partner of Orapin Marketing + Public Relations. She brought the business to life in 2010 and hasn’t looked back since. Rhiannon is a born connector and loves helping others realize and fulfill their passion and purpose through business. More importantly, she is the mother of a newborn daughter and sweet toddler son.
Q :: What do you like doing in your free time?
A :: Well, it used to be traveling. I’m a travel junkie and my favorite thing in the world is being lost in a new place. However, now as a mom to a toddler and newborn, honestly, it’s spending time with my family and watching my kids learn, explore and experience the world around them in awe and amazement. Watching them has helped me re-engage with the world around me each day as opposed to feeling like I need to be overseas in a non-English speaking country to get that same wanderlust high.
Q :: Where are you from? What brought you to Colorado?
A :: I’m actually a Colorado native. Yes, we exist! I grew up here, went to school here and established post-college roots here with my husband (who is also a native). When we graduated from college, we said we didn’t want to be those people who never left but then we couldn’t find another place we’d rather live. That, and we looked around at all the people moving here and thought, “Why would we give up our spots?!” So we stayed and and have no reason to ever live any where else.
Q :: What got you into PR?
A :: Honestly, it was a total random thing. I was taking journalism courses in college (because I was on the yearbook committee in high school and loved it and knew I was a good writer) and the time came when I had to pick a path within J-school (broadcast, print, PR, etc.). In one of the text books, the author was comparing PR and advertising and made a statement along the lines of: “If you’re a creative, messy, out-of-the-box thinker, go into advertising. If you’re a good writer, like deadlines and are organized, go into PR.” and so I did. I didn’t have any idea what PR was but the deeper I got into the course work, the more I knew this was exactly the right path for me.
Q :: What do you like most about what you do?
A :: If I hadn’t gotten into PR, I think I would have made a really great counselor/therapist because I really enjoy listening to people tell their stories and talk about themselves. (Ok, maybe therapy wouldn’t have been good because it would have been too depressing). I love hearing about the passions people have and what they’re doing to live them out. I love helping them get attention and recognition they deserve for the great work they do and, probably most of all, connecting them with other like-minded people who can help support them as well.
To learn more about Rhiannon’s professional experience and accomplishments, click here to read her bio.
Rhiannon Hendrickson is the founder and CEO of Orapin, which helps purpose-driven organizations transform their random acts of PR into a strategic, consistent approach that generates greater awareness and impact. She has worked with organizations of all sizes across myriad industries and causes to develop earned media and thought leadership programs that generate awareness, engagement, and, ultimately, support for those that are making a meaningful impact.