Panelist-Working with a Sponsor: What does it mean and how do you find one?
Jessica Rau is currently Manager of External Communications with McDonald’s USA. In this role, Rau works on developing innovative public relations programs and strategies that support McDonald’s marketing campaigns and new product launches. She also uses new communication channels, such as Twitter, to help promote and build brand trust. She is the official “tweeter” for McDonald’s @McCafeyourday and tweets weekly for @McDonalds. Previously, Rau was Supervisor of Corporate Media Relations with McDonald’s Corporation. She was responsible for promoting and protecting brand McDonald’s by managing proactive and reactive media-based issues, and implementing strategic media relations plans, including McDonald’s International Media Days program. Rau began her career at McDonald’s in February 2004 as Coordinator for the Corporate Media Relations department. She was promoted to Media Relations Specialist in 2005, Supervisor of Corporate Media Relations in December 2006, and assumed her current position as Manager of External Communications with McDonald’s USA in March 2009. Just prior to joining McDonald’s, Rau worked in Advertising Sales for American Marketing and Publishing out of DeKalb, Illinois.
Rau is a founding member and co-chair of McDonald’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) which provides professional development and networking skills to McDonald’s future leaders. She is also a member of McDonald’s Women’s Leadership Network, and actively participates in Junior Achievement which is dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness and entrepreneurship.
Rau was the recipient of McDonald’s prestigious President’s Award in 2007, as well as McDonald’s Circle of Excellence Award in 2005 and again in 2007. In 2008, she received the Early Career Achievement Award from Illinois State University’s College of Business. Rau also received McDonald’s 2009 Outstanding National Marketing Team Award for McDonald’s U.S. Communications Team, and McDonald’s 2010 Bill Lamar Marketing Excellence Award for the McCafe Real Fruit Smoothie/Frappe Beverage team. Rau has a Bachelors Degree in Marketing from Illinois State University.
