Twitter: @xoChristanna
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/christannaciabattoni

PPRA: Christanna, tell us about your background and your current job.

CC: I  joined Skai Blue Media in 2012 with a knack for communications, media relations and true style. As a Senior Account Executive, I use my extensive background in journalism and storytelling to stay two steps ahead of the industry and successfully place clients in popular media outlets, such as Good Morning America, Forbes, People Magazine, Refinery29, Women’s Wear Daily, Philadelphia Magazine and many more. I’ve developed and executed events, activations and opportunities for our clients, such as Dell’s “Ladies Night Out” in both New York and Austin and led media relations for Forbes Magazine‘s Under 30 Summit. I’ve arranged client press previews at publications like Men’s Health, New York Magazine and O, The Oprah Magazine, media dinners with editors from The Huffington Post and Nylon Magazine, represented clients at national market weeks and successfully placed client products on influencers like Olivia Palermo. I’ve directed   photo shoots and style segments for The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, FOX29, NBC10, CBS3 and PHL17. I also serve as this year’s PPRA newsletter chair.

PPRA: Who are your clients and what projects are you working on right now?

CC: I currently manage a variety of lifestyle focused accounts at Skai Blue Media, including supermodel Ashley Graham, who is on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swim. We’re currently working on press efforts for her New York Fashion week show on Wednesday. On Friday, we road trip to Montreal to lead the digital strategy for Global Citizen’s first Canadian concert, and two of our team members are heading to Miami to manage social media at a conference for SELF MADE, a movement started by NY Times Bestseller Nely Galan. For Visit Philadelphia, we launched their Entrepreneur is Residence program in January, and Rakia Reynolds, our President and CEO, is their first EIR. We’re currently working on projects to raise awareness for entrepreneurship in the city of Philadelphia. Some of the other clients I manage are a social good jewelry company based in Detroit called Rebel Nell, the latest and greatest online menswear consignment marketplace called HUNTRS (by a Philly company called OneHunted), model Grace Mahary, who’s launching a solar energy non-profit called Project Tsehigh, and worKS, Kennett Square’s newest retail destination.

PPRA: What is the favorite part about your job?

CC: The ability to express myself creatively by suggesting new ideas and executiving them from start to finish. Also, my team members, who are smart, witty and dedicated. I’ve grown so close to them and they make work fun and exciting.

PPRA: What was your latest and greatest accomplishment at your job?

CC: I recently secured the opportunity for one of our clients to take over one of Vogue’s Instagram accounts from the US Open. I also escorted our client to the VMAs and handled press for her on the red (it was actually white) carpet, which was a great experience.

PPRA: What one piece of advice would you give to your fellow PR pros?

CC: Do your research and don’t rely on traditional PR tactics, like blasting a press release.

PPRA: What book or movie could you read or watch again and again?

CC: Clueless  I can recite the entire script.

PPRA: What’s your favorite spot in Philly?

CC : Kelly Drive. I live closeby and try to walk down there every Sunday to set up my hammock.

PPRA: How do you take your cheesesteak?

CC: From Pat’s…American Wit. Add ketchup.