5 minute read
A Sun Devil at Heart
SUCCESS JORDAN HOUSTON • COLLEGE TIMES J ennifer Kaplan hails from a family of entrepreneurs. A SUN DEVIL AT HEART PHOENIX NATIVE JENNIFER KAPLAN ‘EVOLVES’ WITH PR INDUSTRY Children’s Hospital,” she adds. “And every pizza sold, a portion goes to the hospital.” Born and raised in Phoenix, It was no surprise Kaplan has made a name for herself when the Phoenix as a familiar face in the Valley with resident decided to years of startup experience. tackle the industry After graduating from Central early on—and it’s safe High School, Kaplan studied to say she found her communications at ASU with an footing. emphasis in public relations in 1992. Now, nearly 25 The fi rm founder says she was years after graduating inspired to pursue those areas from ASU, Kaplan is of interest based on her love of celebrating 10 years as the owner “connecting people” in high school. and founder of Evolve Public Whether it was through her role Relations & Marketing. in student government or playing
“I always had this huge plan of a matchmaker for various couples— party and lots of people and other some of which are still married— things that we’ve missed out on or Kaplan thrived on communicating had to modify because of COVID,” and connecting. Kaplan shares. “I can remember the The publicist was even nominated fi rst day, and I can’t even believe it as “Most Talkative” during her senior has been 10 years.” year in high school, she says with a
Founded in late 2010, the laugh. Scottsdale-based company is “This was my path. I don’t get powered by a team of 14 publicists up every day and go to work. It is who manage nearly 100 public who I am,” Kaplan says. “I feel super relations locally and nationally, as blessed that there was this trait that well as social media accounts. I had, and I got to channel it through
Evolve’s clientele includes the college and now throughout my ranks of Waymo, HomeSmart, career.” Senior Helpers, Grimaldi’s and Kaplan graduated from ASU in Lectric eBikes, to name a few. 1996 and opened her fi rst PR fi rm,
“We do their social media—not PRIME 3 LLC, roughly 10 years connect with people and convey businesses across the globe, for all of them—but we’ll handle later. Kaplan co-founded the fi rm their messages in an enticing and according to its website. Kaplan was building out a calendar and curating in 2005, getting her fi rst taste of articulate way. ranked at No. 55. content,” Kaplan expresses. entrepreneurial ownership. While the people skills came Looking to the future, Kaplan
“That’s why it has worked so well; “I come from a family of naturally to Kaplan, the writing hopes to continue to “evolve” Evolve. we’re creating content on the PR entrepreneurs, so that risk to start portion came later, she explains. The owner is working to expand side. It has been a nice complement my own business wasn’t as scary, “A press release needs to be more departments and leadership adding social media.” because I grew up around that,” she articulate in a creative and concise capacities, as well as enhance
Although Evolve is not a “fullshares. “I saw my father and my way to get the media’s attention,” her social media team through service agency,” Kaplan explains, mom do entrepreneurial things in she explains. “But writing wasn’t the implementing tools like search the fi rm works alongside other the industry and fi eld. passion of mine—that is something engine optimization. “great businesses” throughout the “My mom jokes that I was basically I’ve had to learn more in school. “We are heavily focused on community to enhance shared-client born doing it,” Kaplan adds. “The people skills, the connecting growing the business,” Kaplan experiences. In 2010, Kaplan founded Evolve. with people and making people feel says. “Pre-COVID, we had a strong
“We might share clients, and they The businesswoman says she was that I want to help them, is what is trajectory and plan for the company, (other community businesses) do the ready to take on the next chapter just innate in me,” she continues. and that is still in place. We just had advertising or media and branding,” and that the transition “made sense.” Kaplan has garnered numerous a little zigzag and pause due to the she says. “We don’t create any assets “I enjoy when we see our clients’ accolades and recognitions for her pandemic.” as far as collateral.” names out in the community,” she work within the Valley, including As for Kaplan, her schedule isn’t
Evolve also strives to raise shares of her success. “I really feel multiple AZ’s Finest awards relating slowing down any time soon. awareness about its clientele like we are helping them whether to her work surrounding cystic She recently established a through out-of-the-box strategies it’s butts in seats or sales or phone fi brosis, a 2006 Forty Under 40 scholarship at her alma mater, not involving public relations, calls or awareness. I really feel we’re Award from the Phoenix Business Kaplan shares. Kaplan continues, including making an impact directly on their Journal and 2007 Best Corporate The funds will be available ideally collaborations and events. business, and they tell us that.” Event for Budget Over $25,000 for a female looking to pursue a
“What other ways can we get our Although the fi rm does not award via the International Special degree in communications, she client’s names out in the community identify with a particular industry Events Society, among others. says—but is open to considering men that’s not PR? Although a lot of the niche, working with clients ranging For the fi fth year in a row, Kaplan as well. time it will lead to a PR opportunity,” from restaurants, retail and real was inducted in September into the “I’d like it to be a female from here she discloses. estate to entertainment and ASU Sun Devil 100 Class of 2020. wanting to go into communications,”
“Maybe taking a pizza restaurant nonprofi ts, Kaplan says the key to The initiative celebrates alumni who she shares. “I’m super excited about and collaborating with Phoenix a successful fi rm is the ability to own or lead successful, innovative that.” CT
