Shawn Skillman joins communications team at Flock and Rally
February 12, 2020
Flock and Rally, the women-owned integrated communications and marketing firm based in Columbia, South Carolina, celebrates the addition of accomplished public relations professional Shawn Skillman to its team as a senior integrated communications manager.
Skillman serves as a lead storyteller for clients, leveraging his years of experience in newsrooms and in the corporate sector. He joined Flock and Rally in September 2019 after six years with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, where he served as media relations strategist and spokesperson from 2016 to 2019.
Prior to his position at BlueCross, Skillman worked as a sports anchor in television news for eight years at four stations across the country, including Rapid City, South Dakota; Waco, Texas; Columbus, Georgia; and lastly Columbia, South Carolina, where he transitioned to writing the daily newscast as a producer at WLTX.
“Shawn brings a unique perspective and essential experience to our team,” says Tracie Broom, co-founding partner at Flock and Rally. “He is passionate about crafting stories and messages that connect with target audiences to support our clients’ goals and objectives.”
With ten full-time staff, Flock and Rally is managing strategic growth by adding team members with proven areas of strength. The firm purchased a 5,400-square-foot building on Arsenal Hill in 2018 and is in the process of performing renovations.
What started as a partnership focused on event planning and marketing has transformed over the last decade into a full-service creative agency that develops new brands, launches major campaigns, and manages integrated communications and marketing for clients across the state and beyond.
In recent years, the firm has increased its in-house advertising offerings, particularly media buying services, as well as direct access to nationwide digital advertising inventory. The firm also has strengthened its relationships with media in markets across the Carolinas.
“Adding Shawn to our team has enabled us to offer clients an even more thoughtful, empathetic approach to media relations,” notes Broom. “He has proven expertise working with — and within — the press, which provides valuable insight in today’s ever-changing media environment.”
Skillman has received several industry awards from the S.C. Public Relations Society of America (SCPRSA), International Association of Business Communicators (IABC-SC) and the American Advertising Federation (AAF). He also received three Associated Press (AP) awards during his time in television news.
Originally from Hendersonville, North Carolina, Skillman graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in electronic journalism. He currently serves on the board of Palmetto Place Children and Youth Services, SCPRSA and on the United Way Community Impact committee.
