After getting her master’s degree in journalism in 1979, Susan Henderson started as a reporter at the Columbus Dispatch and climbed the corporate communications ladder to become a chief communications officer at Rite Aid before starting her own public relations firm.
Although formally retired today, Henderson is involved in PR and communications through her consultancy firm, Henderson Consulting, LLC. As president, she works directly with smaller clients to address their PR needs in a personable way.
Before her firm, Henderson joined Rite Aid in 2011 as the senior vice president of communications before retiring in 2019 as the chief communications officer.
At Rite Aid, Henderson worked on projects such as expanding the Rite Aid Foundation’s charitable giving efforts by creating a round-up donation program called “Kidcents.”
“The first year there, we raised more than $12 million to provide funding for health and wellness programs for kids,” said Henderson. “That turned out to be a real opportunity for Rite Aid to continue to build its reputation as a strong community-minded company.
Henderson attributes her success at Rite Aid to working at Kohl’s to develop Kohl’s Cares for Kids donation program, where 100% of the net profits from purchased items like books and stuffed animals go to children's hospitals. The program has since gone on to raise over $400 million.
Between working at Kohl’s from 2000 to 2003 as the vice president of public relations and for Rite Aid in 2011, Henderson worked for several companies that furthered her business communication and public relations knowledge.
This included companies like Gagen MacDonald, a consultancy PR firm; Harley Davidson, the motorcycle company; and Wrigley’s Confectionaries, known for their candies and other sweets.
Henderson said these companies gave her the experience needed to continue climbing the ranks in the corporate, business communication, and public relations world.
“All of these companies helped me. All of it was foundational and prepared me for the next stage of my career,” said Henderson. “The communication skills, experiences, and the learning, I got it all.”
Before working for these companies, Henderson credits her experience at Miller Brewing Company as the director of marketing communications as playing a heavy role in driving her career forward.
“At Miller, I went through the chairs of the brand, public relations, the corporate communications teams,” Henderson said. “And then, I did a lot of media relations for government affairs. I helped support the company’s PR efforts and learned a great deal during my 20 years there.”
Henderson credits one of her graduate professors, Dr. Eric Collins, as he advocated that she work for Miller Brewing Company, which led to her first high-level PR and communications job. As a result, Henderson believes that it’s vital that today’s PR and communication experts advocate for the next group of graduates going into the field.
“I think we all have an obligation, in my opinion, particularly if we've been fortunate enough to be successful, to look back and say, ‘How can we help the next generation of people?’” Said Henderson.
Henderson now advocates for students heading into the PR and communications fields by serving on the School of Communication’s Advancement Board, where she is the current chairwoman of the Strategic Communication Subcommittee.
Alongside serving on the board, Henderson also mentors students in organizations like Ohio State’s Public Relations Student Society of America. She also advocates for students by speaking to their classes and sharing her knowledge, connections and resources with students.
Today, Henderson works with organizations like the Arthur W. Page Society and participates in recreational activities such as golfing and kayaking in Chicago and Milwaukee, respectively. Alongside this, she deeply values spending time with her kids and extended family.
Article by student Kobie Parrish
