Remembering Ann
We lost another great friend of Indiana public relations, a great public relations professional and mentor to many with the death of Ann Rein, APR, this week. I first met Ann when I was hired by BDP Co./Carrier Corp./United technologies in the late 1970s. It was my first corporate position and Ann was my account manager when she was at the original Caldwell- VanRiper Advertising and Public Relations company. She taught me much about being a consultant and being a public relations counselor.
As a relatively new guy to corporate public relations, I would come up with a really crazy idea or get ticked at a customer or a trade media report and call Ann. Her counseling demeanor was usually a calming, “Now, David, let’s think this through.” Her mentorship guided me in counseling many of our clients who have called with the same kind of issues.
Ann was a leader in the Hoosier Chapter PRSA. She was Chapter president in 1992, a creator of the Chapter’s 50th Anniversary celebration. And because she rarely threw things away Ann was the chapter archivist.
Ann was a superb needle-worker. She so kindly created a lovely unique baby quilt for our boys using Mack Truck logos – Doyle, her husband of many years and who died a few years ago, was a Mack Truck sales rep. We still have and use her quilt with our grandsons.
Ann is a lovely loving person and a tribute to all who had the great opportunity to know and work with her.
Thank you, Ann.
By David L. Shank, APR, Fellow PRSA