A Plank Center Profile: Grant Deady
Published on May 7, 2025, at 7:38 p.m.
by Abby Cope.
Betsy Plank left a long-lasting legacy at The University of Alabama and the public relations field. From being nicknamed the First Lady of Public Relations to pioneering for women in her field, her impression not only affected those at UA, but PR professionals across the country. It’s no secret that public relations is a major part of UA, as public relations is the largest degree path within the College of Communication and Information Sciences, boasting over 1,000 undergraduate students, and it has been in PRWeek’s top five Outstanding PR Education Programs 11 times. A major part of Plank’s legacy at the Capstone, however, would have to be The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations.
Founded in 2005, The Plank Center is a part of the College of Communication and Information Sciences. It is a space built to help educate and navigate on the fast-changing landscape that is public relations with an emphasis on “advancing the next generation of emerging leaders.” Its board of advisors currently consists of 20 board members across 13 states and four countries, all working toward bettering leadership in public relations.
The Plank Center board members are an extremely well-accomplished group of PR professionals. The board and the center offer insight into the profession through mentorship, education and giving a space to ask questions about the PR process. Grant Deady is a member who embodies the legacy that Betsy Plank wanted to leave behind.
Deady is the current vice chairman of The Plank Center advisory board. He has worked with Zeno Group, a PR and communications agency, since its opening in 1998. He currently serves as its chief culture officer and its U.S. president. His commitment to the public relations practice is what prompted him to be nominated to become a member of the The Plank Center board of advisors by current board co-chair Patrick Ford. Deady said he was fascinated by the center since the first event he attended back when he still lived in Chicago.
“I went to the The Plank Center Milestones in Mentoring event in Chicago every November,” Deady explained. “Several years ago, I went to the event for the first time. The event had been happening for years in my own backyard, and I never knew about it. I went and thought it was the best event in the industry, all the most important people were there. I thought, “How did I never know about this?” I started attending and engaging with whatever The Plank Center was doing because I wanted to be a part of it. It’s one of the most interesting and impactful organizations in our industry out there.”
Deady is being promoted from vice chairman to chairman of the board this upcoming June, and acknowledges the dedication it took to get there.
“Pat picked up on that passion and enthusiasm and nominated me for the board, and I was lucky enough to get voted in. It was my enthusiasm and energy for the work itself that has allowed me to accelerate in my position. I just hit it off with the other board members, and they’ve become a big part of my life, both professionally and personally,” Deady said.
Entering his third year on the board, Deady believes that The Plank Center is able to differentiate itself from other centers due to its commitment to connection building.
“The intense focus on mentoring, networking and making connections is so special. I am a huge believer in that. From my perspective, The Plank Center is the only organization of its kind out there that is so hyper focused on that topic,” Deady said. “I had no connections and had to figure it out on my own, and it was extremely hard to get people to meet with me, talk with me or make introductions for me. I have been fortunate enough to land at Zeno, but I’ve never forgotten that feeling, to reach out to someone and have them not be willing to meet with me. It’s very rare I don’t reach out to someone who reached out to me, and that’s what The Plank Center is all about.”
Deady has an understanding of what it’s like to be entering the workforce unsure of future job endeavors, and gave his advice for students looking to land a job in public relations.
“You’ve got to be very committed to getting things done, to figuring things out. Someone gives you an assignment, even if you don’t have a full answer, you have to be the type of person who’s willing to figure it out and work with all the resources around you. Just being able to get things done is an incredible quality to have. I’m a big believer in having grit,” Deady said.
Though Zeno is on par with in-house workdays of other companies, Deady explained that it’s the commitment of his colleagues that makes his agency a step above the rest.
“At Zeno, we ask people to be in the office at least two days a week. I can tell you right now that the young people who are thriving at the agency are there more days a week. They love getting up, coming into office and being surrounded by other more experienced people and absorbing how we work. Watching how we work with other agencies, team members, clients, media, journalists, creators — just being there and absorbing that as much as they can. There’s no substitute for that type of in-person work. Say ‘Yes’ as much as possible,” he noted.
Much of The Plank Center’s positive impact on the public relations field and the development of its emerging leaders comes from The Plank Summit, “a forum for practitioners, educators, and students to discuss crucial leadership issues in public relations” held annually; insights gained from Plank Center studies such as the North American Communication Monitor; and the sponsorship of Platform Magazine, a student-run, PR-focused magazine at The University of Alabama initiated by Betsy Plank and former Plank Center Director Bruce Berger. Plank Center board members also make extensive efforts in connecting students with PR professional pathways and giving their own unique insights into the world of professional PR work.
The hard work put in by members of The Plank Center, such as Deady, helps more than just students at UA, but those across the country pursuing careers in public relations. Hannah Collier, a communications specialist at The Plank Center and UA alum, sees Deady’s efforts day in and day out, and said that his dedication does not go unnoticed.
“Grant’s dedication to excellence is reflected in his roles as vice chair and incoming chair of The Plank Center’s board of advisors,” Collier said. “His leadership at Zeno Group upholds the Center’s high standards for leadership development and mentorship. Committed to empowering the next generation of public relations leaders, Grant ensures aspiring professionals receive the guidance and support they need to succeed in their careers.”
The Plank Center is a piece of public relations paradise on campus. It’s a place that opens doors for PR hopefuls across the country because of people like Deady.
