Meet Matt Afflixio!
Meet Matt Afflixio! Matt is Access's President, with a deep passion for PR. With over 25 years at Access, Matt leads and encourages the agency to always "Be Present. Be Productive. Be Proud." #MeetAccess
How did you get into PR?
I majored in it in college after my mom put the kibosh on Theater Arts. I went through all the majors and found the one that didn’t require math. Voila – PR. Though given all the Excel spreadsheets I must create, read, and interpret… the joke’s on me now.
What has been your favorite project over the course of your career?
Hands down Intuit QuickBooks Small Business Big Game. It was a national search to spotlight Small Business Success. The reward was a Super Bowl ad devoted entirely to that small business. We worked with Bill Rancic, who helped us garner 15 billion impressions for Intuit QuickBooks, along with five hours of broadcast coverage. What’s more, we promoted many outstanding small businesses around the country and changed many, many lives. It was a very proud moment and one that left me with memories and lifelong friends. Oh, to do it again…
What keeps you at an agency vs. going in-house?
Freedom and variety. I was born in agency, and here I shall die. It enables me to flex and create from project to project and client to client. I say that but I have had some of my clients for 20 plus years. I do love the consistency and the ability to go deep. I don’t think my cloth was born for corporate life, though I enjoy getting immersed in my client’s work and successes. My energy and voice are better suited for agency life.
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What makes Access special/unique?
I love this question. There are many answers. For me, it's the ability to connect like no other. Connect to our clients, to the problems that need solving, to the story that needs to be told, to the media, and most importantly to each other. All of us are obsessed with service and going beyond what it takes to get the job done. We are as good as our last success. Everyone knows that and works hard to top their triumphs every day.
What is the greatest lesson you have learned in PR?
It’s PR, not ER. I’m still learning that lesson every day. It feels like ER as you painstakingly care and carve out your time and mindshare to make clients, colleagues, and the work shine. It’s a labor of love and you must like service. I think that’s the other lesson. I’m in the service industry. You must truly understand what that means and be comfortable with all aspects of what that means.
What is the best piece of advice you've ever received from a mentor?
“Kid, you were meant for this business.” I never knew I was any good. But when I received positive feedback from a mentor – even though I didn’t know how to interpret it at first – I understood the importance of feedback and being honest with people. This job is not for everyone. Some are meant for it, others are not. My mentor helped me find my path. I like helping others when the opportunity arises.
What do you think is the most important skill to have to succeed in PR?
Tenacity. Oh, and you must also have to learn how to take a punch and have the ability to order a good bottle of wine.
Advisor | Executive Coach | Fractional CMO
1 年Matthew Afflixio Matt! This sounds just like you, my friend -- I can hear your voice. (And I can vouch that you're more than capable of ordering a great bottle of wine). Partnering with you on several of my businesses over the years was an honor.
Executive Vice President at A-1 Broadcast
1 年Matt is the greatest! Such a great guy. Love working on his projects.
Strategic Communications, Employee Engagement
1 年I have such fond memories of my time at Access, working with Matt and others. I was so new in my career and we were working our butts off. Such a learning experience that opened doors to the rest of my career. Learned so much from Matt, even if I didn’t know it at the time, but I still draw on experiences and best practices from our work. Wonderful to see Matt as a constant guiding star there.