Brad Ritter, APR
Biosketch
Some people are born entrepreneurs. Brad Ritter is not one of them. In fact, if it were
not for the urging of friends who encouraged him to start his firm and the support of a
former employer, you probably would not be reading this today.
After working for more than 20 years in the media, public relations and corporate communications fields, Brad opened Brad Ritter Communications in Columbus, Ohio, in 1999. Before launching the firm, he was director of corporate communications and special projects for Mills/James Productions, the nation’s 15th largest independent video, special events and multimedia production company.
In late 1998, Brad talked with owners Ken Mills and Cameron James about starting a consultancy. Successful entrepreneurs themselves, they offered their support, and in effect, became Brad’s first client.
More clients quickly followed – a Fortune 500 financial services corporation, an international foods company, a state government agency, a national restaurant chain and an Israeli-based telecommunications company, among others. A second office was opened in Los Angeles.
Brad first started telling stories as the editor of his junior high school newspaper. That eventually led to an 11-year career in television news at network stations in major South Florida and Ohio markets. As a reporter, he appeared on ABC's Good Morning America and CNN, and he was honored with an Emmy nomination. During his career, Brad covered health care, business and politics.
Following news reporting, anchoring and producing assignments, Brad joined Paul Werth Associates, an Ohio public relations/public affairs firm. He spent more than six years counseling corporate and government clients on a variety of communications challenges, ranging from media relations and marketing to special events and internal communications. In 1995, a project he directed received the Public Relations Society of America's "Best of Silver Anvil" national award recognizing the single best public relations project conducted that year.
In 1996, Brad returned to the electronic communications world, directing Mills/James’ marketing and public relations. While there, he launched a successful new business unit specializing in corporate presentations.
A graduate of Bowling Green State University where he studied radio/TV/film and journalism, Brad holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications. He is among the five percent of public relations practitioners accredited by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). He is a member of both the Central Ohio and Los Angeles PRSA chapters and is a former Central Ohio chapter board member. He also is a past president of American Lung Association of Mid-Ohio.
Biosketch - Brad Ritter, APR Biosketch - Janet Ritter, APR Experience