About Marc C. Whitt

Marc C. Whitt has served nearly four decades in public relations, holding senior leadership and teaching positions at public and private colleges and universities in Kentucky and consulting numerous corporate and nonprofit organizations across the United States. He currently serves on the staff of the University of Kentucky Office of Public Relations and Strategic Communications and teaches in the UK College of Communication and Information’s Department of Integrated Strategic Communication.

A Phi Kappa Phi, Marc is the author of the critically-acclaimed book 'PR Lessons Learned Along the Way' (Cherrymoon Media, 2020). Since its release, the book has been named a "recommended read" by PRCA, was the #1 new PR book release on Amazon (June 2020), and has received 10 editorial recognitions from BookAuthority, most notably: “Best New PR Books to Read in 2020, 2021 & 2022”; "100 Best PR Books of All Time"; and "Best PR Books for Beginners." His second book, 'When In Doubt, Make Applesauce! Core Habits of the Masterful Public Relations Professional,' also published by Cherrymoon Media (Nov. 2022), became Amazon’s #1 New Release in Public Relations for its first week.

During Marc’s 35+ years in higher ed, his work has achieved measurable results garnering over 40 honors, including back-to-back CASE Silver Medal Awards for Total Institutional Relations Program. In 2015, he received the James C. Bowling Excellence in Public Relations Award. Presented by the University of Kentucky Journalism Alumni Association and UK Department of Integrated Strategic Communication, the award is given to the "outstanding public relations practitioner with ties to Kentucky." That same year, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Eastern Kentucky University Department of Communication and the EKU Golden Apple Award for Teaching. Additionally, the Kentucky Music Educators Association District 11 presented him with its Friends of Music Award and CASE Kentucky with its Beth K. Fields Service Award for Leadership in Advancement.

In previous years, Marc has served on the Association of American Colleges & Universities Advisory Council on Communications and Public Affairs (two of his eight years as national chair), CASE District III (Southeast US) Board, and the International Town & Gown Association Board. He currently serves on the PRCA International University Advisory Council, the PRSA Thoroughbred Chapter Board of Directors, and the Kentucky Baptist Foundation Board. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degrees from Eastern Kentucky University.

A trumpet player for more than 50 years, Marc performs with and is a founding member of the Madison Community Band, a regional wind band in Richmond, Kentucky.

A native of the Appalachian community of Paintsville, Kentucky, Marc and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents of Emily Fields (Mark), Elizabeth Muncie (Christian), and Jacob; and the grandparents of Annaleigh and Aubrey Fields.

To connect with Marc, go to https://www.marcwhitt.com; and on Twitter, @marcwhitt, or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcwhitt.

#1 AMAZON NEW RELEASE IN PUBLIC RELATIONS — ‘When In Doubt, Make Applesauce! Core Habits of the Masterful Public Relations Professional’ (Cherrymoon Media, 2022) #makeapplesauce🍎

As greater demands and expectations are placed on those who practice public relations, PR veteran and author Marc Whitt contends that we should advance ourselves to the ultimate level of professional skill and excellence: that of a masterful public relations professional. Achieving the masterful status in our profession should become our North Star - our guiding light, he writes. These individuals are the profession's cream of the cream of the crop.

But those wishing to reach the masterful level must embrace and practice eight core habits, as Whitt details in his second book, When In Doubt, Make Applesauce! Core Habits of the Masterful Public Relations Professional. Written in a conversational, thought-provoking, and inspirational style, Whitt suggests in 11 chapters that a masterful public relations professional is a model of unquestionable character and integrity, an effective and strategic communicator, an exceptional networker and relationship builder, a "big picture" thinker and bold doer, a master of the mission and brand, an embracer of lifelong learning and available communication technologies, a servant leader, and one who is resilient.

Adding to this exceptional book are more than 36 PR masters from six countries who share their wisdom and counsel in essays that support these core habits: Seth Arenstein, Farzana Baduel, Dr. Beth Barnes, Dr. Bruce Berger, Jay Blanton, Dr. Felicia Blow, Roger Bolton, Deirdre Breakenridge, Tina V. Bryson, Chad Carlton, Orla Clancy, Dr. Jeanette DeDiemar, Gini Dietrich, Cliff Feltham, Jenni Field, Dr. Jim Gleason, J. Alex Greenwood, Kirk Hazlett, Francis Ingham, Bob Jensen, Katie Neal, Stavros Papagianneas, Dr. Pam Parry, Ben Pinnington, Dr. Kathy K. Previs, Deborah Radman, Rachel Roberts, Morgan Roth, Linda Rutherford, Annie Scranton, Ericka Bahner Seifried, Dr. Jane Tonge, Emma Warburton, Martin Waxman, Mary Beth West, Matthew Winston, and Nancy Wiser.

Available in print and digital editions at Amazon and at most leading booksellers worldwide.

Need an experienced speaker or workshop presenter?

Public Relations. Marketing Communications. Servant Leadership. Nonprofit PR/Community Relations. Arts Advocacy. 

Throughout his professional career, Marc has addressed topics ranging from public relations and leadership to arts PR and marketing and community relations for both large and small conferences, workshops, and meetings. Organizations have included: 

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• International Town & Gown Association

• American Association of State Colleges and Universities

• National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators

• National Association of Music Parents

• Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE Kentucky and CASE District III) 

• Public Relations Society of America Chapters 

• Appalachian College Association

• Kentucky-Tennessee District of Kiwanis

• Leadership Kentucky's Elevate Kentucky

• Kentucky School Public Relations Association

• Various chambers of commerce, and several others.