Ward White and Jay Andrew Join Vollmer Public Relations

HOUSTON, TX (April 6, 2010) – Ward White, nationally prominent leader in the field of public relations, has joined Vollmer Public Relations, the nation’s largest Texas-based public relations firm, as Chief Strategy Officer, Helen Vollmer, the firm’s CEO, announced today.

Jay Andrew, a highly experienced marketing professional, most recently brand development supervisor at FKM in Houston, also has joined Vollmer as account director, specializing in energy, communications and industrial clients.  Andrew will oversee the business-to-business accounts of Vollmer’s Houston office, ranked as the city’s largest PR agency in the Houston Business Journal’s most recent listing. 

“We’re seeing exciting growth, especially among our business-to-business clientele,” said Vollmer, “so we’re gearing up for the recovery already underway.  We feel that landing not just one, but two such top-quality executives is a terrific bonanza for us as the largest independent firm based in the Southwest,” she said. "To be able to bring our clients this caliber of problem-solving horsepower and big-league expertise is tremendous and energizing for our people,” she said.

White plays an active leadership role in the public relations profession nationally and internationally.  For 15 years, he was VP, corporate relations for Northwestern Mutual, the nation’s largest individual life insurer.  He currently serves as the Arthur W. Page Society’s representative on the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, the body that accredits university programs in these fields.  He is also a past chairman and current Trustee of the Institute for Public Relations Research and Education, the profession’s bridge between academic theory and actual practice.

Earlier, White headed Bozell Public Relations Worldwide, now part of Weber Shandwick. He was with Bozell, holding successively senior positions in Houston, three West Coast offices, Chicago and then New York, where he oversaw the firm’s global operations.  He was also president of Golin/Harris East, 1988-1990.   He earned his M.A. from DePaul University (Chicago) and his Ph.D. from Catholic University (Washington D.C.). 

He is a member of the Arthur Page Society, the Wisemen, PRSA (APR), IABC, Association of National Advertisers, Life Communicators Group and other professional societies.  His service to clients has received the highest professional recognition, including PRSA’s Silver Anvil, IABC’s Gold Quill, PRSA/NY’s Big Apple and the American Marketing Association’s Effie award.

Jay Andrew brings more than 20 years of marketing experience to Vollmer as a team leader in managing and marketing brands and products and in designing training and communications strategies.  Bi-lingual in Spanish and English, he received his business degree in marketing and management from Baylor University.   His career specialization has been in sales, marketing, training and development for companies in the telecommunications, energy, financial services and information technology arenas.  His international experience includes service as product manager in Mexico City for Ventura International (SA de CV).  He was also director of marketing for PetroCom, LLC.

Andrew’s career has also given him particular expertise in media relations strategy, corporate communications, issues and crisis management, public affairs and interactive/social media. 

About Vollmer Public Relations:

Founded in 1981, Vollmer Public Relations is a leading independent public relations and marketing communication firm. Based in Houston, with offices in Dallas, Austin and New York City, Vollmer puts passion and expertise into action to deliver results-driven strategies and tactics that positively impact its clients’ business objectives. Vollmer’s core competencies include: positioning, messaging and branding; media and influencer outreach; and issues and crisis counsel. The firm has defined practice areas in education, travel and hospitality, hospitals and healthcare, energy and petrochemical, public advocacy, consumer and business to business. Specialty services available to all clients include media presentation training as well as creative and social media services.

For more information, go to www.vollmerpr.com.