Amy’s confidence and sense of self are inspiring to others, and her ability to “do it all” and still be warm and approachable is refreshing in a time where women are expected to somehow juggle business, family, friends, and other obligations with a smile and a click of their Blackberry. Amy’s approach is not a “know it all” but a woman who truly understands the work/life debate, complete with its joys and pitfalls.

Julie Dennehy, APR
President, Dennehy Public Relations
Director, PRConsultants Group
Mom since 1998 (MS’98)

I have known Amy Smith for over 30 years, and my respect and appreciation grow each year as life just keeps getting more complicated, and she doesn’t miss a beat.

I’ve never been more impressed with anyone’s ability to juggle spouse, children, household and work responsibilities. Amy does not merely “get it done” but rather, she approaches each task with passion and detail to the point where you cannot help but ask the question, “How does she do it?” She touches and has impact on everyone she comes into contact with: teachers, children, parents, clients, friends, clergy.

I keep telling Amy that I’d like to do a Case Study on her work/life balance because everyone always tells me that I cannot excel at being a mom and at my career—I have to pick one. Then I think about Amy Smith and say—SHE DOES IT EVERY DAY! She is the woman who inspired the phrase “Super Mom.” I am her biggest fan.

Lorraine Adler Altschuler
Director, Business Technology
Mom since 1999 (MS’99)

Amy’s attention to detail is second to none. During my 12-plus years working with Amy, I have learned that she is one of the most trusted and honest individuals I know. Amy is candid and direct, and you never need to guess where she stands on an issue. She is sensitive, thoughtful and kind. Amy and her husband Mitch are lifetime friends, devoted and caring parents, active members of their community and successful business owners. Anyone interested in aligning themselves with a successful businesswoman, a highly respected public relations professional and a kind, compassionate, caring individual, need not look any further than Amy Smith.

Robert “Bob” Schiers
President, RAS Associates
Dad since 1980 (DS’80)

    Amy Kossoff Smith, along with her husband, Mitch, manages the busy lives of three active sons (aged 10, 8 and 5). Smith’s personal approach to motherhood is systematic, businesslike and well respected by her peers.

    Personally, she’s a MS’97 (Mom Since 1997). She drives a heavily populated, light blue minivan and is active in the school and community, having volunteered for the pre-school parent committee and public school PTA. She co-chaired a highly lucrative Spring Fling Carnival and has been a Room Parent several times. She can’t resist planning year-end pizza parties and coach gifts for her sons’ soccer & baseball teams, and has been promoted to “Team Manager” for a 3rd Grade Baseball Team that her husband is co-coaching.

    Professionally, Smith has an extensive background in print journalism and in public relations and marketing. An entrepreneur at heart, Smith founded Write Ideas, Inc., a public relations firm in Maryland in 1992. Her expertise in serving Fortune 500 companies within the retail sector has attracted such clients as retail giants Blockbuster, 7-Eleven, Cold Stone Creamery, Marriott and more.

    Smith’s public relations firm places millions of dollars in radio and TV promotions and media publicity each year. She has an extensive track record in developing, pitching and securing broad coverage for her clients’ news in print, broadcast and Internet media. In addition, she has created and implemented a multitude of kid-friendly, innovative publicity programs and campaigns.

    For example, in working on a project including The Children’s Miracle Network, she saw that kids at two local children’s hospitals had few videos. She created a tape collection drive at local Blockbuster stores. Her campaign resulted in a donation of more than 2,300 videos and $220,000 in press and promotions.

    Smith’s firm has worked on many campaigns that are family-oriented including the following:

• National KidsDay
  
• 7-Eleven’s Operation Chill (Police "ticket" kids caught doing good deeds, with Slurpee coupons)
  
• Glaceau’s Vitamin School to promote nutritious lunch options for local high school students.
  
• Blockbuster’s Kids and Family Summer Campaign
  
• 7-Eleven's book tours including Debbie Nigro's Working Mom on the Run.
  

    Smith’s academic foundation is in journalism, having graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism with honors (Kappa Tau Alpha National Honor Society, top 10 percent of graduating journalism class). Her newspaper article on offbeat tactics used on college entrance applications received the first place nationwide award in what is known as the “Pulitzers of the college market,” the William Randolph Hearst Foundation Writing Contest. Then, she won the national writing competition, a first for Northwestern University.

    This win was featured in a University of Florida thesis: "How I Got That Story...Talking with Hearst Winners about How They Did What They Did.” Smith’s interview was published in a journalism news reporting course by Master Lecturer Mike Foley.

    Her articles have appeared nationwide in trade, financial, real estate and local publications including the following:

• You Can Market Your Book (ACW Press) - Smith authored a chapter in Carmen Leal's book titled “Radio Promotions: Putting the Airwaves to Work in Promoting Your Book.”
• Family Safety and Health - National Safety Council magazine article bylines include “12 Ways to Lose 12 Pounds,” “How to Beat the Red and Green Blues,” “Pack Caution and Knowledge When You Travel Abroad.”
• A multitude of Jewish newspapers such as the Philadelphia Exponent, Detroit Jewish News, Chicago JUF News [Bylines include “A Dozen Creative Ways to Meet People,” “Details, details…A Guide to Planning Your Wedding Without Pressure,” and “The College Countdown…It Doesn’t Have to Be a Time Bomb.”]
• Newspaper Association of America's Presstime magazine [Cover story, “Controlling Your Image,” in the Newspaper Association of America’s four-color publication.]
• Virginian-Pilot and Ledger-Star [Three-month college internship. Smith’s articles were published on the front page and in general news, features, and obituaries.]
• A variety of real estate finance publications such as National Real Estate Investor [Smith was a ghost writer for a prominent mortgage finance company. She successfully pitched, placed and wrote hundreds of articles for real estate and mortgage finance publications.]

    Professionally, Smith is a member of Washington Independent Writers and the Public Relations Society of America along with its National Capital Chapter. Also, she is a charter member of PR Consultants Group, a nationwide network of public relations consultants.