Barbara Wayman
About this Executive:
Name:
Barbara Wayman
Company:
Blue Tree Media
Interview Topics:
Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Region:
Region 1 - Central Ohio
BlueTree Media, LLC was founded in 2001 by Barbara Wayman, APR, a former senior publicist for Borden, Inc. Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, BlueTree Media specializes in helping brands identify and deliver consistent messages with the goal of building awareness and increasing market share.
BlueTree Media provides public relations and marketing services for clients in the consumer products, healthcare, manufacturing, professional services, food/beverage and luxury industries. The company’s client roster boasts OhioHealth, Wendy’s International, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Riverside Methodist Hospital and AAA Ohio, among others.
Before founding BlueTree Media, Barbara worked on a number of award-winning campaigns for products such as Cracker Jack, Creamettes Pasta and ReaLemon. A Columbus Business First 40 Under Forty recipient, Barbara holds a master’s in journalism and a bachelor’s in communications from The Ohio State University. She is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Barbara about why she considers Ohio as a choice location for entrepreneurs.
Q. What are the top three things that Ohio uniquely offers that you feel have helped make BlueTree Media successful?
A. The top three things are opportunity, resources and inspiration. There’s plenty going on in the business world, and people are willing to invest in good ideas and good businesses – if they can see the value. In Ohio, you don’t have to go it alone, there are many individuals and organizations who are generous with their talent and interested in helping others succeed. No matter where I go, I find the beauty and diversity of Ohio tough to beat. I am always proud to tell people I am from Ohio – the state of perfect balance!
Q. The Ohio Promise is that you can achieve professional success within the context of a fulfilling life. Based on your experience, how authentic is the promise?
A. That’s absolutely true. Ohioans work hard, but we definitely value family time, the outdoors and recreational activities like Ohio State University football games! So many successful business people I’ve met in central Ohio are able – and more than willing – to include supporting the community into their regular tasks. They serve on boards, volunteer for annual fundraisers and support a myriad of organizations. When I get together with friends, work is one of the things we talk about, but we also talk about what books people are reading, hot new restaurants, the latest movies and world events.
Q. Thinking of people you know, share a story of somebody in Ohio who, in your opinion, has excelled in achieving both their professional and personal aspirations.
A. My grandfather Irv Beckenstein has always been an entrepreneurial role model for me. As a self-employed accountant for most of his career, he was able to support his family, serve his clients and remain active in his community throughout his life. He’s now 97 and going strong, and I think the strong Jewish community in Cleveland and the solid family ties he established have played a big role in his long and successful life.
Q. What business benefits do you feel your business realizes from having employees who achieve a positive work-life balance?
A. In public relations, we’re communicators who help our clients share their most compelling stories. To do that you need to be able to capture attention and that quite often requires creativity. Working too many long hours without adequate recovery has a negative effect on the ability to dream up unique and novel campaigns. It also limits that amount of new ideas and influences we can bring to our work.
Q. If an executive from your industry was evaluating Ohio as a location for capital investment, what are the top three industry-specific assets you recommend exposure to?
A. Ohio has tremendous human capital in public relations thanks to the many quality universities located here, like Ohio Northern University, Ohio University, Kent State University and The Ohio State University. We also have several large and active trade associations like the Public Relations Society of America, the International Association of Business Communicators and Women in Communication. All have multiple chapters in Ohio that are working to drive the profession forward. Finally, Ohio has a low cost of living which helps businesses and families grow and prosper here, which also lends itself to a solid return on investment over time.
Q. Trailing spouses need to be comfortable that relocating their family to Ohio is a good thing. What should a trailing spouse consider when evaluating Ohio?
A. Sometimes the perception of Ohio from the outside doesn’t match the reality of all the state has to offer. When a spouse hears about a job transfer or opportunity in the Buckeye State, they really should plan a visit or two ahead of the move to get a feel for the place and make their own decisions. A weekend in Columbus, for instance, will clearly show very few cows and lots of great restaurants, shops, attractions and livable neighborhoods.
Q. Real estate professionals often say location, location, location. What are your thoughts on Ohio’s location and logistics capabilities?
A. Ohio is so centrally located, within easy flying and driving time of many of the country’s major cities and destinations. I know it’s become a popular convention spot for that reason. For people with family in the Midwest or East Coast, Ohio can be a great home base that’s close, but not too close.
Q. What is the most unique thing you have discovered about Ohio that you share with others?
A. I love Ohio’s wide green spaces, ever-changing weather and great cuisine, but the best thing about Ohio is its people. For my work I’ve traveled all over the world and there’s just something about the friendliness, openness and genuine warmth of people in the Midwest. In business settings, it is not that difficult to connect to others with whom you might have things in common. Ohioans love to travel and I’ve bumped into fellow Buckeyes as far away as Australia. Lastly, Ohio seems to have produced more than its share of presidents, entertainers, athletes, authors and explorers. The fertile land here seems to go beyond topography into human capacity for exploration and accomplishment.