Class of 1986
Publicist HELEN SHELTONearns her own media hit.
While publicists such as Lizzie Grubman often garner more ink than their clients, Shelton takes a low-key approach. "I never want to draw attention to myself so much as I want to draw attention to my clients," says Shelton, an executive vice president at Ruder Finn Arts & Communication Counselor in New York City.
However, her communications campaigns for clients such as the Getty Center in Los Angeles, General Motors and Seagram's (she oversaw national public relations and promotions for the Seagram's Gin Live concert tour) have garnered so much notice that Shelton is attracting attention. Last year she was honored by Ebony magazine with its Outstanding Woman in Communications Award in Public
"To be acknowledged by Ebony...that meant so much to me," says Shelton who is her company's first African-American executive vice president. "The award made me reflect on how I've had an opportunity to work with some of the greatest cultural institutions/architects and artists, and performing artists, and been exposed to so many incredible people, places and things. It was very humbling."
An art history major, Shelton earned a master's degree from Boston University s College of Communication. "I've seen a lot and done a lot in my career, and nothing really fazes me," says the New York City native. "I've dealt with getting phone calls from grown men named Pookie at 3 o'clock in the morning because the limo broke down and the artist is stranded. I've dealt with a recording artist who, five minutes before the show, refuses to go onstage because her nails aren't done. But it doesn't matter. I know what my goal is and I'm going to get it done."
