Member PRofile: Lauren Falcone
Title and company.
Director, Marketing & Public Relations at BrandSafway
Give a brief explanation of your job.
I oversee Marketing, Public Relations and Social Media strategy for North America, as well as collaborating with our international counterparts. BrandSafway is one of the largest specialty contractors in the world, providing forming, shoring, scaffolding and work access solutions to the industrial, commercial and infrastructure markets. This is my fourth role with a company in the infrastructure/construction industry. As our infrastructure continues to age and the infrastructure bill significantly increases spending, there are so many exciting stories, from iconic superstructures to local community efforts, to share with our stakeholders.
How long have you been a member of FPRA and why did you join?
This is my second year of membership and my first year serving on the Board. As someone who works remotely, I appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with a local group of innovative thinkers in our discipline. I enjoy hearing best practices and new ideas from different industries. I am also grateful for the sense of community and belonging at FPRA Orlando. I’ve made some great friends here.
What has been your favorite FPRA event or experience so far?
I enjoyed our most recent panel discussion “How to Pitch Yourself” at the downtown UCF campus. We all picked up some great tips on building your personal brand and how to network and advocate for yourself in the constantly evolving digital landscape. PR and communications professionals are often so focused on lifting and elevating others that we don’t give ourselves the benefit of the same attention and insights.
Tell us about an exciting achievement (personal or professional).
Professionally, I was honored to lead a large company through a significant acquisition and change in ownership while increasing trust with our team members, and to have worked on dozens of acquisitions since then. Merger and acquisition initiatives enable me to work on the full spectrum of internal and external communications.
Personally, I’m devoted to raising two kind and compassionate preteens the best I can.
What was your first job?
I worked at an ice cream parlor and as a waitress in a diner while I was in high school. My first professional job after college was working in the casting department of a soap opera in NYC.
What's one fun fact about you?
I am passionate about musical theater. I would save up to see every show I could growing up in NYC and now I have a subscription to the Broadway series at Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts. It’s rewarding to see my daughter share this love of musical theater which teaches so much about building confidence, using your voice and being compassionate and open to other perspectives.