By: Hannah Choate | September 11th, 2025

MURRAY, KY — The Murray State University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) hosted its first guest speaker of the semester and Murray State University alumna (class of ‘19), Ashley Bitters, an account director at RunSwitch PR—the largest PR firm in Kentucky.

Her presentation, “If You Don’t Tell Your Story, Someone (or no one) Else Will”, is a motto carried over from RunSwitch PR. However, Ashley puts a unique spin on this statement as she guided the chapter through tips on navigating the public relations and public affairs industry based on her years of experiences working at the award-winning PR agency. 

Starting off, Ashley outlined a simplified process she uses to understand clear objectives regarding what she needs from the client and what the clients from her. Ashley first asks, “Who is the audience? What are we trying to accomplish? What voices are going be be most impactful? What are the top 3 key messages?” The benefits in using this process is that there are now clear specifics and limited opportunity for miscommunication, which is key to determing future steps. 

In addition to this, Ashley explains the benefits of creating and maintaining professional connections while also emphasizing the value of creativity and “out of the box” thinking. To support this, Ashley displayed several marketing and advertising tactics RunSwitch PR previously used to gain traction for various clients in the public and healthcare industry. These tactics included reaching out to YouTube influencers, strategically placing ads in public areas and more.

Ashley’s presentation not only offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse at successful PR strategies but also served as a source of inspiration for students exploring their future in the field. Her real-world examples and approachable demeanor helped bridge the gap between classroom concepts and industry application, making a lasting impression on those in attendance.

"Hearing directly from an account executive at Kentucky’s largest PR agency gives our members a unique opportunity to gain real-world insight and start envisioning what a career in public relations can look like”, Natalie Gardner, PRSSA President said. “This meeting is a chance for students to build connections with a professional and take away advice that will prepare them for internships and life after graduation."

For more information about Murray State PRSSA and future events, please contact murraystateprssa@gmail.com or follow @murraystateprssa on Instagram, Facebook, X, or LinkedIn.

Ashley Bitters' Presentation