Meet Michelle

Published on December 2, 2016, at 11:50 a.m.
by Ashley Stults.

Vice President of Allison+Partners Michelle Bleiberg is nothing short of what a public relations practitioner should be. Her generous spirit coupled with her work ethic has built a strong foundation that has led her to where she is now. Bleiberg’s strategic thinking and professional demeanor have allowed her to climb the PR ladder and become vice president for a global communications firm.

“I always knew, since high school, that I wanted to do some sort of communications,” said Bleiberg.

She attended Texas Tech for college where she received her bachelor’s degree in public relations. While there, she worked for the student newspaper, The University Daily, where she became torn between journalism and public relations.

Bleiberg’s mixed emotions regarding her future career path were quickly dissolved as she took a PR job post-graduation and began her prosperous career.

“In my first job, Ellen Read took me under her wing,” said Bleiberg. “She taught me how to manage certain situations and how to be a true professional.”

Being a true professional is something Bleiberg is known for.

“Michelle presents well, and she can adjust her demeanor and tone accordingly,” said Linda Rutherford, vice president, chief communications officer at Southwest Airlines. “What I really appreciate about Michelle is that she is very calm under pressure. She’s pragmatic and offers great counsel.”

Part of Bleiberg’s ability to offer great counsel stems from proactively educating herself on current events.

“I try to make sure every day that I know what’s going on in the world,” Bleiberg mentioned.

Rutherford confirmed that “Michelle is very well-read. She understands what’s happening in the world.”

This practice is something Bleiberg encourages others to do.

“I read Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Dallas Morning News, and I monitor social media,” she said. “I would encourage others to know what’s going on.”

Another practice Bleiberg encourages is relationship building. That very practice has helped her career.

“I came to Allison+Partners because I was recruited by a colleague. When he became general manager of Allison+Partners, he invited me to come work [here],” stated Bleiberg. “You have to build relationships.”

Reflecting on the past year with Allison+Partners, Bleiberg had only positive comments to make about the company.

“It is a very innovative company with great culture. It’s been a great experience,” she emphasized. Before joining the Allison team, Bleiberg worked at various well-respected companies, serving several different roles.

From 2004 to 2006 she worked as the director of public relations for the Dallas Art Museum. From there she went to work for Burson-Marsteller for more than seven years, managing multimillion-dollar portfolios for businesses such as Shell Oil Company. After her time there, she became vice president of Pierpoint Communications before taking on her current role at Allison+Partners. With such a variety of experience, it is easy to see why Bleiberg is so successful in her field.

When asked what was the most rewarding part of public relations, she replied, “For me, it’s seeing your work come to fruition. Seeing an executive give a speech that you made talking points for … that’s really rewarding.”

Bleiberg went on to note some of the high points of her career saying, “I’ve worked with some amazing clients. I’ve gotten to work for some top companies.” She later mentioned that one of her favorite memories during her career was when she dedicated Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas — the site of John F. Kennedy’s assassination — as a historic monument.

So where does Bleiberg go from here?

“I want to continue to learn, grow and evolve with this industry,” she said. “Even five years ago, everything was so different … I want to continue to evolve.”