Meet Rachel Jordan-Shuss: Gladys Whitney Hearst Outstanding Chapter Member

by Kristin Johnson

When Rachel Jordan-Shuss decided to get involved in AWC, she bypassed the kiddie section and cannon balled into the deep end of the pool. In 2004 a friend who had volunteered to serve on the Banner Brunch silent auction committee got a job in Washington, D.C., and asked Jordan-Shuss to fill her spot. 

Jordan-Shuss accepted the challenge and was instantly hooked. A year later she was recruited to apply for the board as development chair and has served on the board in various positions ever since. 

At Banner Brunch on April 30, Jordan-Shuss will be honored with the Gladys Whitney Hearst Outstanding Chapter Member Award. Recipients of the award are dedicated to the success of AWC Austin, are respected leaders in the field of communications, and best represent the most desirable qualities of AWC membership. 

Known for her level-headed leadership, Jordan-Shuss is well-suited to her current job as the assistant public information officer for the Division of Emergency Management at the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Recently she discussed her participation in AWC, her advice for members and prospective members on getting the most out of the organization, and how AWC has helped her professionally and personally. 

AWC: You have served in several positions on the AWC Austin board, including president in 2009-2010. What do you find has been most rewarding about your work with the AWC?  

What’s most rewarding is getting to know and work with such an accomplished group of professional communicators. The chapter’s members really are the cream of the crop of Austin communicators. There’s no substitute for having the opportunity to learn from and work with them. 

As far as having a leadership role over the years, I’ve been impressed by how the organization has improved and grown during the short time I’ve been a member. We now have a beautifully designed website for our members that’s interactive and user friendly. We have a highly informative blog, which Emily Babb developed from the ground up. We also have a valuable social media presence that’s fun and engaging.

The board works hard to have outstanding and versatile programming. We are one of the few professional communications organizations in town that consistently offers monthly professional development programming and free networking opportunities for members and prospective members. That’s my perspective on good things that have come out of the past couple of years.

AWC: How do you feel participation has contributed to your professional and personal growth? 

I love that you asked about professional and personal growth. It reminds me of a phrase my dear friend, Cory Leahy, would frequently say during her (AWC) presidential term: “Embrace opportunities for personal and professional growth.” That was her mantra to go forth and step out of your comfort zone to learn and gain new experiences. 

I definitely feel that’s been the case in terms of participation with AWC. In my years with the organization I feel I have strengthened my communications and project-management skills. Being a part of AWC has helped me gain confidence – especially in areas like public speaking. It definitely makes me feel well-rounded. 

AWC: What advice would you give others regarding making the most of membership? 

My number one piece of advice is to volunteer on a committee. That is the best way to make the most of your membership or to learn if membership is right for you. 

It provides ample opportunities for learning new skills such as how to plan an event, develop and implement a marketing communications plan, or lead a team of five or even 20 people. Many times, the things we learn in our professional lives can translate into areas of our personal lives. If you can manage a team when planning an event – by learning how to adjust your management style to different team members who may respond better to different approaches – then there’s a better chance you can definitely handle a family reunion or Thanksgiving dinner with great aplomb! 

AWC: During your term as president, what were the major challenges you undertook? What accomplishments made you most proud? 

I had a bit of an unusual entry into the presidency in that I didn’t have a full year as president-elect. What I did have was an incredible 20-member board that wanted to volunteer their time and who fully committed themselves to their roles even when they had full-time jobs and families. When you work with a group with that kind of dedication you can’t go wrong – you’re always going to win. 

You’re as strong as the team you build and lead, and they were awesome. That’s how I survived being president. 

When you’re president you’re sort of peeking into every project. I’d like to think I’m more of a delegator – I worked hard not to be a micromanager. When somebody’s volunteering their time I want them to have that experience and to learn from it, so I really tried to let them be the owners of their work. And that made me proud. 

AWC: Did you learn how to do that on the job?  

I have found AWC is an exceptional training ground. You really get to practice different things that might interest you that you might not get to try out with your job. 

Management was new to me. My previous experience was working in small communications departments. I’d mainly managed contractors, but never an entire integrated team of 20+ people. 

AWC: Have you applied that to what you do now? 

Yes. I work in emergency management. During times of disaster, I manage public information officer reservists who work with me either at DPS headquarters or at disaster field offices disseminating information to people who may have been affected by a disaster and need to receive aid and assistance to recover. 

I’ve recruited a few AWCers to be reservists. I’m thankful for the network I’ve built through AWC. I know several outstanding graphic designers and photographers, for example, who I can turn to when I have a question during the day. So the ability to tap into that brain trust is invaluable. 

AWC: Is there anything else you’d like to add? 

There are a wealth of members who do an impressive amount of work for our chapter and organization. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work alongside them and learn from them. They are a large part of where I am today. Therefore, I’m very humbled to be honored with this award.