12:10 To The Top: Brandi Sims

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  • Brandi Sims, Founder and CEO, Brandinc PR
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Founder, CEO and public relations consultant for Brandinc PR, Brandi Sims is a southwest Oklahoma resident who was an Army brat and Navy spouse originally from Nashville, Tennessee.

Working in public relations for more than 10 years, Sims has cohosted shows including Amplify Afrika and Optik 21’s Mind Your Business! She has also been a writer for L-Town Neighbors magazine and is a community leader with extensive experience with state and local nonprofits.

Sims’ ties to southwest Oklahoma are strong, and she recognizes her parents as being truly inspirational in her growth as a woman and entrepreneur.

“I believe what has always inspired me is the hard work of my parents, Michell and Miguel Rosario,” said Sims. “Both of them served in the Army and emphasize the importance of hard work, dedication and consistency towards the craft which has always been inspiring to me.”

Graduating from Lawton High School in 2008, while her parents were stationed at Fort Sill, Sims would go on to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a Public Relations cognate from Cameron University in 2012. This was followed by her receiving a Master of Business Administration from Liberty University in 2018, while her husband, Oscar Sims III, served in the U.S. Navy stationed at Little Creek Amphibious Base in Virginia.

Said Sims: “Education is very important to me. Not only by establishing a level of credibility in expertise but also the consistent engagement in learning a skill to perform at the highest level.”

Sims would become a Project Management Professional (PMP) certified through the Institute of Veterans and Military Families from Syracuse University and Project Management Institute.

“Currently, I am a doctoral candidate for Liberty University’s Strategic Media Communications Ph.D. program,” she told Southwest Ledger. “The goal in continuing education is to teach part-time at the collegiate level. Any way that I can elevate the field and continue awareness of communications work, I am happy to do so and look forward to it.”

“My interest in public relations piqued at a very early age, having been exposed to the lifestyle of PR professionals through an MTV series called PR Girls,” said Sims. “The series debuted in the early 2000s and followed college graduates working for top celebrity agency, Lizzie Grubman PR. It was very exciting, cutthroat and creative, which caught my attention and made me interested in a career within public relations.

“I started very early in my career through various internships and volunteer work with local nonprofit groups and banks seeking my expertise. At the same time that I was learning in college about practical skills in PR, I was applying it in the real world, and it made all the difference in progressing quickly in the field.

“I took the steps necessary to progress because I was passionate about my work and developing myself within PR from getting educated to using my skill set to achieve campaign goals.”

After working in the PR field for more a decade, Sims was committed to opening up her own PR agency.

“I was able to achieve this goal and successfully launch my full-service, boutique public relations agency in 2020 called Brandinc PR,” she said. “Since that time, Brandinc PR has represented countless public figures and brands across the country.”

Sims said that current and past clients have come from a variety of backgrounds from arts and humanities, authors, sports figures, lifestyle, beauty and skincare along with nonprofit and political campaigns. In addition, Brandinc PR clients have received major coverage from Forbes, ESPN, USA Today, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, ABC News and others.

She also noted that Brandinc PR was a nominee for 2021 Davos Communications’ Best Agency.

Another goal for the agency was to establish a remote internship program.

“I am not too far from those years spent juggling coffee for CEOs and learning how to write press releases in the hopes that I would eventually earn my place,” she said. “Establishing an internship, which allowed me to work directly with those students who are passionate and would like to grow in their career in communications, was something I felt was strongly needed and a way to give back.”

“Community service is very ingrained within me from the work my mother did with the City of Lawton Parks and Recreation,” she said. Sims serves on the National Public Relations Society of America’s Entertainment and Sports Executive Committee and was appointed in 2021 as the board chair for the Oklahoma Women’s Coalition to represent women’s advocacy and gender equity in Oklahoma.

“I also serve on the board of PRSA OKC Chapter, Marie Detty Youth and Family Services, Lawton Interactive Theatre, Young Professionals of Lawton, Comanche County Memorial Hospital TSET Healthy Living Advisory Council and Cameron University Respiratory Care Advisory Board,” she said. “In the past, I’ve served on boards and committees for Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women, the Marketing Committee for United Way of Southwest Oklahoma, along with several other nonprofit organizations. Through each organization, I have supported countless PR and marketing campaigns, organized community events and developed strategic partnerships to enhance social impact.

“One of my favorites to create was a voter drive during the pandemic to encourage residents’ participation in the upcoming election. Not only was I able to create an event that was safe for attendees, but I also developed partnerships with both state and local agencies and organizations to expand to all audiences.

Being at home with her family is where Sims finds peace in an often hectic and unpredictable work environment. Her husband, Oscar, is a registered nurse who retired from the Navy as a GM2 Expeditionary Warfare Specialist.

“We have two beautiful children, Obrie and Oscar, along with our two dogs, Orion and Adriel,” she said. “If I could describe my homelife it would be a mix of vibrancy and energy along with a ton of love and support. Coming from a large extended family on the East Coast to relocating frequently in relatively unknown areas due to the military has brought my immediate family so much closer because we recognized early on that we’re all we have. It makes us value each other more and stay connected.”

“The changes I would like to see happen in southwest Oklahoma start by having a sense of pride and culture in the community. I think one of the biggest challenges in this region is not having those symbols or easily recognizable things that make it unique,” Sims said. “It could be as simple as creating a new mascot or a saying that residents can be proud of and want to shout it from the rooftops. That’s what makes communities unique and memorable.”

Sims said seeing southwest Oklahoma reflecting diversity, inclusion and equity is something she hopes really takes hold sooner rather than later.

“It’s disappointing to see major organizations in this community still miss the mark when it comes to representation, especially when we know how diverse this community is,” she said. “Diversity is a great thing! And when communities reflect diverse backgrounds and viewpoints in decision making and leadership, it shows in their outcome. When we want to see change in southwest Oklahoma, we’ll make the effort to ensure that all voices are reflected.”