15th Anniversary Q&A

Written by Ines Tomic, Resch Strategies Intern

Starting your own business can come with many challenges, but according to Matt Resch, founder of Resch Strategies, patience is the key. From his start in the business to his biggest achievement, this interview covers that and more as I had the pleasure of sitting down with Matt and talking 15 years of Resch.   

Q: How did you get started in this field?

A: “My first job was answering the phones in Governor Engler’s office, that gave me good experience in having to talk to all kinds of people on all kinds of issues. It was the perfect job to get me to think PR was the direction I wanted to go.”

Q: What drew you to this field?

A: “Working in the governor’s office drew me to the field of communications. It was the first time I had to practice the skills needed.”

Q: What’s the most memorable piece of advice you’ve ever received and why has that stuck with you?

A: “It was from my dad, he said always have a firm handshake. My dad isn’t known for giving advice, so when he did it was something that stood out. I thought I should always remember this.”

Q: If you could’ve given yourself advice 15 years ago about starting this company, what would you have said?

A: “Be patient. There’s a lot of stress and anxiety involved in starting a business and feeling like you need things to happen quickly. If you have a plan and are committed to it and can be patient as you grow and learn and experience new things- that patience will help you be successful. Success will come.”

Q: What is your favorite thing about your job

A: “The variety and flexibility. We get to talk to all kinds of different people and work on all kinds of different issues. No two days are the same, that keeps life interesting. Another thing is that we are a people business, so we get to meet and interact with lots of different people, that has allowed me to meet so many interesting and cool people.”

Q: What has been your biggest achievement/success?

A: “Being able to keep this going for 15 years and employing 7 people and providing for my family. I don’t think about it very often but when I do, I think about how this business supports 7 people’s families as well as my own. I think that’s what I’m most proud of.”

Q: What’s been your favorite memory from the past 15 years?

A: “It’s a recent one, when Joe said he and Carly were engaged. This was Carly’s first job and they met here, so we have all been here to witness the whole thing unravel.”

Q: How has PR strategy and the media landscape changed from when you first started until now?

A: “When I started it was very focused on working with members of the news media and helping them in the stories they are writing and helping our clients navigate working with reporters. As digital and social media has grown, that has shifted a lot of our focus. We are primarily working on how our clients are positioned in this very diverse media landscape. “