Nikki Grandberry, President of PR Partners

Nikki has headed SMZ’s public relations division, PR Partners, since 1999. The firm serves a range of clients, most recently including the Detroit Goodfellows, Big Boy Restaurants, Dorsey Schools and The Wellness Plan. She has also conducted major PR events for LP/ABTCO, the Detroit Police Officers Association and Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputies Local 502.

Where did you learn about PR?
I used to be a news reporter with Channel 2 in Detroit and co-host of Company on Channel 7. So I have worked with PR people from that side of the camera. I always said to myself that if I became a PR person, I knew what kind I would and would not want to be.

Does the size of a client’s budget determine what you’re able to do for them?
Well, it doesn’t hurt, but it’s not always the case. I once took a local nonprofit and, with next to no money, generated so much publicity for the organization that they now have a waiting list of volunteers. I’m proud of that.

If you weren’t in this business, what would you do?
I think I might have been some kind of counselor or paid “listener.” I’m told I make people feel comfortable talking with me and I take that as a compliment.