"Obsidian has helped Christ Community better understand the strategic importance of communications. As we’ve become more aware of the need to tell our story, Obsidian has assisted us in developing the tactics to do that. Through those tactics, the work of Christ Community, and our incredible staff members, has been highlighted and communicated to not only our organizational stakeholders but also the greater Memphis community."
Obsidian is led by Courtney Liebenrood Ellett, a professional public relations practitioner with more than 10 years’ experience developing and implementing strategic PR plans, campaigns and programs.
Formerly the director of public relations for Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, Courtney was largely responsible for the public image of one of the nation’s largest health care organizations (and one of Memphis’ largest businesses). While at Baptist, Courtney supervised all aspects of public relations, including campaign planning, media relations, crisis communications, event planning, research, issue management, writing and staff training.
Courtney also has invaluable first-hand experience as a journalist, having begun her career as a reporter for The Commercial Appeal.
Courtney's professional achievements include:
E-mail: courtney@obsidianpr.com
Crissy joined Obsidian in 2008 after working for five years in the not-for-profit sector. Now as director of client services, Crissy manages the team at Obsidian handling operations, strategic oversight and editing of materials produced by the firm. Prior to joining the team, Crissy managed various fundraising and community awareness projects, corporate relations and public speaking engagements as community relations manager for Memphis-based Youth Villages.
A native of Laurel, Miss., Crissy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication with an emphasis in public relations from Mississippi State University in 2002. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America Memphis Chapter, Rhodes MasterSingers Chorale and currently serves on the advisory board for Mississippi State University's Department of Communication. Crissy and her husband, John, are active in the Memphis running community as members of the Memphis Runner's Track Club and with their side business, Rockin' Running Tours.
Crissy's professional achievements include:
E-mail: crissy@obsidianpr.com
Having joined the Obsidian team in 2008 as an intern, Lauren, a native Memphian, quickly adapted to the fast-paced discipline of public relations and was promoted to account specialist soon after joining our team. Now an account executive, Lauren provides PR insight for several small businesses, as well as local affiliates managed by national corporate offices. Lauren’s client roster includes Porter-Leath, Westminster Academy, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis, HopeWorks, Spirco, MacAdvantage, Christie Medical Holdings, The Barnett Group and Briscoe's Handyman Service.
Prior to her internship, Lauren attended Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss., and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in communication with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in journalism. Her experience in journalism as the editor of The Mississippi Collegian, the student newspaper of Mississippi College, has given her a more in-depth understanding of the PR world’s partner industry.
She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America Memphis Chapter and her professional achievements include:
E-mail: lauren@obsidianpr.com
Thomas offers a unique blend of tenacity and creativity in his role as account manager. A graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Arts in communication with an emphasis in public relations, Thomas provides both prior agency and direct client experience.
Before joining Obsidian, Thomas worked for Baptist Memorial Health Care's corporate communications department, serving its five Mississippi hospitals, government relations, home care and hospice and community relations among other internal accounts with strategic planning, media relations and employee communication training.
Thomas serves on the boards for Voices of the South and the Memphis chapter of Dress for Success. In addition, he is a volunteer for Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association, as well as a Youth Villages mentor through the Memphis Grizzlies Charitable Foundation's TEAM UP mentoring initiative.
E-mail: Thomas@obsidianpr.com
Katie brings more than six years of experience in varying marketing environments, not to mention resourcefulness and a positive attitude, to her position as an account manager at Obsidian PR. She received her Bachelor of Arts in public relations from Lambuth University in Jackson, Tenn., in 2003.
Katie's specialty is campaign and event strategy and execution – conceiving a grand plan and making it happen. Early on in her career, she gained invaluable experience as Davis-Kidd Booksellers' marketing manager, where she mastered event creation, planning and promotion. She then honed her writing skills during a year as a copywriter before tackling corporate communications, social media and community relations for Paragon National Bank.
Katie is actively involved with animal causes in the Memphis area, and spends several hours each week leading a team of volunteer dogwalkers at the Humane Society of Memphis & Shelby County. Much of her free time is spent with her own dogs, one of which is an abuse case needing intensive rehabilitation. She also has volunteered for the Memphis Zoo on its larger volume field trip days.
E-mail: katie@obsidianpr.com
Kerri believes that her creativity, professional drive and positive outlook are what keep her on a successful path in life, and her most recent stepping stones led her to Obsidian PR in 2010 as an account manager.
A graduate of Mississippi State University, Kerri holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication with an emphasis in public relations and comes to Obsidian with more than seven years' experience in marketing, advertising and public relations. Prior to moving to Southaven, Miss., in May of 2010, Kerri was the director of marketing and public relations for J.GuytonGroup, LLC, a full-service real estate company in Tupelo, Miss. She managed the marketing and public relations for the company's realty, residential development and construction divisions. Kerri also designed and produced all of the company's advertising and promotional materials.
For more than five years before joining J.GuytonGroup, Kerri was an account executive for Bobby King Associates Inc. in Tupelo. She worked with tourism clients such as DeSoto County Tourism and the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau to innovatively market attractions, events and shopping and dining venues to potential visitors through consistent communications techniques, creative partnerships and both traditional and non-traditional advertising mediums.
Kerri is married to her college sweetheart, Joey, and they have three children: Parks, Hannah and Myles.
E-mail: kerri@obsidianpr.com
Ryan joined Obsidian in 2010 after working for three years in the higher education and not-for-profit sector. Prior to coming on board with the agency, Ryan worked for The University of Memphis Alumni Association as an events coordinator and alumni affairs liaison. In this role, he planned, implemented and supervised a vast array of events for the U of M, such as large-scale award dinners, 5K runs, lecture series, as well as a Centennial Celebration Campaign for the university.
Born and raised in Memphis, Ryan graduated from The University of Memphis in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism with a concentration public relations. He is a member of the Memphis Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, as well as a long-standing member of MPACT Memphis. Ryan is an avid mountain biker and strong supporter of the Shelby Farms Greenline, Greater Memphis Greenline and the Wolf River Conservancy. He also volunteers for various local organizations, such as Project Green Fork, Eat Local Memphis, the Memphis Farmers Market and the Soulsville Foundation.
E-mail: ryan@obsidianpr.com
Kelli joined Obsidian in 2011 after working for two and a half years in the restaurant industry in South Louisiana. Prior to her role at Obsidian, Kelli managed local marketing and PR efforts for Raising Cane’s, a restaurant company headquartered in Baton Rouge, La.
A native of Lake Charles, La., Kelli graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communication with a concentration in public relations. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America, having served as the newsletter chair for the Baton Rouge chapter in 2011. Kelli is looking forward to becoming active in the Memphis community over the next few months.
Email: kelli@obsidianpr.com
Alex is a sophomore from BYU-Idaho pursuing his Bachelor of Arts degree in communication. He is a member of both the Public Relations Student Society of America and a student-run public relations agency, I-Comm.
Alex grew up in multiple areas of the country, but considers the Northwest his home. His family currently resides in the Memphis area, giving Alex a chance to appreciate the South. Living in different regions of the country and serving his church for two years in Texas and New Mexico, Alex has learned to interact with many types of people. He understands how to cater to the needs of others and applies this skill in every aspect of life. Alex is excited for the opportunity to gain experience with Obsidian and hopes to establish this as his future career path.
