In today’s episode we’re going back in time to when we first met at a larger PR agency. Long before Mix+Shine was even thought of, we were working with Mark Raper—the man who helped grow Padilla into the powerhouse agency it is today. Raper is now retired, but he continues to share the knowledge he’s gained since stepping into the role of CEO back in 1996 (which includes what NOT to do as a leader).
Mark shares how he continued to grow his agency’s client base nationwide, and what he learned as he lead his agency to becoming one of the Top 10 Independent PR/Marketing agencies in the US. Below you’ll find additional topics Rachael covers with Mark in today’s episode:
- How Mark spent the beginning of his career learning what NOT to do as a leader
- What you need to prepare for before stepping into a CEO/leader-type role
- Why shared efforts need to equal shared rewards
- What an agency needs to double OR triple their revenue
- How to make difficult, yet necessary decisions as a CEO
- What emerging agencies need to prepare for
About Mark Raper:
Mark Raper’s career has spanned decades. He built Padilla into one of the top-10 independent PR and communication firms in the country.
Started in 1996 when, as a managing partner of Earle Palmer Brown, Raper led a group of employees to purchase the agencies PR operations. This resulted in the formation of Carter Ryley Thomas Public Relations & Marketing Counsel (CRT), where Raper served as CEO. In 2005, Raper acquired New York consumer PR specialist Patrice Tanaka & Company, Inc., forming CRT/tanaka. Padilla Speer Beardsley acquired the agency in 2013 and it became PadillaCRT, where Mark served as president. Then in 2017, PadillaCRT became Padilla with Mark assuming the role of chief counsel officer until his retirement in 2018.
Raper was inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame in 2008, and has won some of the industry’s most prestigious awards including the PRSA Richmond’s Thomas Jefferson Award of Excellence in Public Relations in 2007.
Connect with Mark Raper
Find Mark Raper on LinkedIn.
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