Athens Academy was pleased to welcome public relations expert Suzanne Rutledge to campus as part of the new Spartan Speaker Series. Ms. Rutledge spoke to Upper School students on Tuesday, January 24, in the Chambers Center.

Ms. Rutledge shared her background as a graduate of the Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, where she studied broadcast journalism. After taking a job with an ABC affiliate news station in Virginia, she decided to shift her focus to public relations in order to tell what she calls “the best stories in the world.”

In addition to her career experience, Ms. Rutledge also shared stories from her family’s travels around the world in recent years. She encouraged students to be organized but to also expect and embrace change.

Athens Academy kicked off its new Spartan Speaker Series in 2022. Geared toward Upper School students, the series features professionals from all walks of life who share their educational and career experiences and answer questions during a casual luncheon format.

Ms. Rutledge brings more than 25 years of corporate and agency public relations experience to her current firm in Athens, See.Spark.Go. Earning her PR chops at world-renowned brands including Coca-Cola and Jackson Spalding, her expertise in media relations strategy quickly elevates brand reputations at a national scale. When she isn’t landing hits in Forbes, Ms. Rutledge is taking advantage of living in Athens with her husband and 15-year-old son and traveling whenever they get the chance.