Mote welcomes new PR Manager
Written by: Mary Alice Blackstock
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is pleased to welcome Shelby Isaacson as its new Public Relations Manager.
Isaacson will serve as the primary contact for incoming local to national media requests and serve as a vital representative for Mote in the community. With a background in marketing, communications, public relations and a deep understand of brand strategy, Isaacson brings a wealth of experience to the position.
Isaacson comes to Mote from Grapevine Communications, the most awarded agency in southwest Florida, where she served as the Social Media and Public Relations Manager. During her time at Grapevine, Isaacson worked on notable national PR initiatives such as The Players Centre’s relocation to Lakewood Ranch, Women’s Sports Museum, the 2016 Modern Pentathlon and Center For Sight’s Mission Cataract.
She previously worked as the Online Communications Specialist for an internationally recognized marketing agency specializing in florists, where she expanded the company’s social media base from three to 30 clients within her first year.
Isaacson has served as the Florida Public Relations Association Website Chairman since 2016 and is a founding member of the Bradenton Economic Development’s Young Thought Leaders Group. She is a member of the Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce, Manatee Young Professionals and the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance. Isaacson holds a Bachelor of the Arts in English Literature and Culture from Ellis College of New York Institute of Technology.
Q&A with Isaacson
How did you first hear about Mote?
About 12 years ago I was newly married and living in Oregon. My husband and I had been talking about having an adventure before we had kids. He had recently visited his grandparents in Minnesota where he had picked up decorative tiles for our kitchen and one of them had a shark on it. One day, we were sitting there talking about going somewhere new, and he asked, “What about Florida?” I remembered that the shark tile was from a little place called Mote Marine Laboratory in Florida. so we did some research, visited Sarasota, came to Mote and about six months later, we moved down.
What brought you to Mote?
My husband and I have always loved the outdoors. We’re always outside doing something, you really never know. We love paddle boarding, this weekend we were fishing and playing on our favorite sandbar with our kids, so that was a big factor in my decision to come to Mote. Reading and sharing stories have always been a big part of my life, and Mote has so many exciting developments that this storyteller will never be bored. I also believe that my my experience will help Mote continue to tell a cohesive story. Ultimately, what excites me most is that what we do here can impact generations to come, and who doesn’t want to do that?
What are some of your goals as Mote’s new PR Manager?
My goals are to educate and inform the public in regards to Mote’s mission, our scientists’ significant discoveries and our aquarium’s exciting exhibits in an engaging way. I want to make sure that we continue to grow, share and expand our opportunities because everything’s changing on a daily basis here at Mote and that this is something that they can feel good about supporting.
What do you most look forward to in this position?
I am definitely looking forward to learning a whole new field of study. When you come to work here it’s an education in itself. I’ve always loved science but I’ve never really studied it. So I’m excited to be able to learn from others and to be around people that are so passionate about what they do.