Dollahon PR announces that Andrew Upshaw has joined the Tulsa, Okla.-based public relations company and is serving in a marketing manager’s role for the business that provides marketing communications services within various industries.
Upshaw, 26, received a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Stephen F. Austin University in Nacogdoches, Texas, in 2011. While attending the university, he competed on the school’s bass fishing team and became the first angler to earn a birth into the prestigious Bassmaster Classic through the B.A.S.S.-affiliated collegiate qualifying process. In that 2012 Bassmaster Classic held on the Red River near Shreveport, La., he finished 31 out of its field of 49 professional anglers.
Since graduating, Upshaw has been combining a professional fishing career with other marketing work. In his new full-time role with Dollahon PR, he will continue to compete in FLW Tour events and in the Bassmaster Northern Opens division. The remainder of the time he will work from the company’s office in Tulsa.
Dollahon PR represents clients in the fishing, boating, hunting and energy industries, providing a variety of marketing services that range from web site development to social media responsibilities. Upshaw is already familiar with two of the agency’s fishing company clients, Gene Larew Lures and Lew’s, both of which are among his fishing sponsors.
“I’ve had multiple opportunities to work alongside Andrew in different settings for more than a year now and I’ve liked what I’ve seen in both his personality and attitude, said Gary Dollahon, who started the namesake agency seven years ago. “He has good ideas and communicates well, and those are two important traits in what we do for our clients.”
“This is a huge step in my early career,” Upshaw said. “I pursued a marketing degree because working in the fishing industry is something I wanted to do and a place where I feel I could greatly contribute and add value. Gary has a lot of experience in the industry and he seems genuinely interested, and patiently willing, to mentor me down this path.”
Dollahon has worked in varying marketing communications roles since 1975. He and his daughter Crystal Myers, also a communications professional, formed Dollahon PR in 2006. Myers was hired by the Gas Processors Association, a client, for a newly created director of communications position in January 2013.
Dollahon PR also provides public relations services to Plano Hunting and Tenzing, and assists numerous other companies in and outside the outdoors industry in a variety of marketing projects.
Upshaw is already serving in his new role with Dollahon PR, having recently located from Hemphill, Texas, to Tulsa.By: Gary Dollahon / Dollahon PR
