Swank Staff
Briahna Gatlin – CEO & Founder of Swank Publishing
Briahna Gatlin is an established urban journalist on the cutting edge of Hip Hop, Rap, R&B and all other forms of music. She has a Bachelors Degree in Magazine Journalism with over 6 years of experience in writing for Source Magazine, Mass Appeal Magazine, XXL Magazine and Red Eye Tribune as well as other printing and online publications. Briahna has participated in various internships throughout the country including VIBE Magazine, Impact Magazine and N’Digo Magapaper. She has written pieces ranging from biographies to concert reviews, feature articles and interviewed an array of signed and unsigned artist within the music industry.
Briahna is a former executive associate of True Star Magazine and served as the Editorial Director for True Star Magazine and Scream Star Magazine, creating and building a brand that has become prominent among the teen demographic within Chicago. Along with this leadership role she was instrumental in creating the concept, content and personality of the publication as well as leveraging various relationships including Warner Bros., Atlantic Records, Jive Records, Sony BMG, Interscope, Island Def Jam Music Group, Solemates Chicago, Self-Conscious Clothing Store and Tribune Foundation as well as other local and national corporations in the publications success.
She also has experience in media consulting, creating media kits & bios, event coordinating along with sponsorship and a vast history of proposal and contract writing. Briahna has over 6 years of grant writing experience in the non-profit sector and also participates as an Instructor in After School Matters Organization for teens. She recently started Swank PR based in Chicago has worked with various clients within the past 5 years working with notable clients that include G.O.O.D Music artist GLC, Mic Terror, Mid C Media/Chrewd, Eighty81 (Jay-Z, Lebron James, Rich Paul), Stevie Williams, Hennessy Black, PHLI Worldwide, Lupe Fiasco Foundation, Raekwon, King Louie, Chrisette Michelle, Sway Calloway (MTV), New Era Cap Brand, Complex Magazine, YRB Magazine, Mos Def, The Shrine Chicago, Sawtooth Restaurant/Lounge, Chicago Bears Kahlil Bell, The Boy Illinois, Notable Producers Christian Rich, Red Stripe, Platinum Producers Da Internz, Naledge of Kidz in The Hall, Grey Goose, & Actress Tiffany Torrence-Davis (Oxygen BGC3). In May 2013 she received Music Publicist of the Year from Chicago notable Mary Datcher/Global Mixx. Swank PR services include Event Public Relations, Client Public Relations, Event Coordination as well as soliciting sponsorship. CEO Briahna Gatlin has branded the company in various and unconventional ways creating a lane for Public Relations in Chicago of what was only considered a minimal asset. Watch Rolling Out ‘My Block’ interview Part 1 and Part 2.
Jeremy Horn – Content Manager
As the Creative Director of the graphic design department of Swank Public Relations; my duties are to design professional electronic press kits or ‘EPKs’ for our clients to pitch to other media outlets and give them exposure. Also, my other duty is looking out of other graphic designers in the Creative Department and giving them high expectations to produce amazing work for our clients. What I like best about Swank is that is a public relations firm that works closely to the music industry. Being a huge fan of music throughout my whole life, I want a full knowledge and understanding of the pros and cons about the music industry. The event that I admire most fond of is The Shrine, a music venue event located in the South Loop of downtown Chicago.
What lead me to Swank was looking at job finder website with my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and as a college graduate of the International Academy of Design & Technology in Chicago in September 2008. I saw the internship opportunity, and I sent out my resume. My boss admired my resume and portfolio website, and I got the internship in January 2012. I have been working with Swank for one year, and I got promoted as the Creative Director for the Design department when my internship was over. I never looked back!
My job as the Assistant Project Manager is to support the Project Manager. Providing assistance to all departments helps ensure quality services to all clients. I help keep staff focus on Swank’s primary goal “Excellent Customer Service.” This includes monitoring client projects, making sure deadlines are met, and tasks are completed and implemented in a timely manner. Provide assistant and oversee the Internship pre-screening process. Providing HR services which allows the Project Manger to focus on client services.
I started as an Intern with no experience in PR. My initial goal was to stay for a short time, gain experience in the business and move on. One year later I’m still here learning and loving what I do. Each day is a new learning experience which bring new challenges and excitement. This area or PR is unique. It allows you to grow as a professional if you stay consistent. You must learn how to balance hard work, master boring repetitive assignments while participating in fun events at the same time.
Davron W. Boyd – Marketing Manager
I was born and raised on Chicago’s notorious south side. Growing up I always had the dream of being a big name rapper. In a city with so much violence, crime, and a high poverty rate, I turned to music to get away from all of the negativity. As time went on I began to realize that, that wasn’t what I wanted for myself anymore. I quickly began to see that the business aspect of the music/entertainment industry began to intrigue me more. Which lead me to becoming a marketing major. My dream has always been to help others succeed in life, which lead me to creating my website. My website was created to help upcoming artist get exposure and help them get the attention they weren’t getting from any other websites. I have high hopes of starting a non-profit organization to help young and upcoming artist, youths in sports and under privileged youth everywhere, obtain scholarships for college and help pay for their college tuition. I ultimately want a job that will allow me to retire my parents and live comfortably and be able to financially support all of my family without a problem.
Through my ups and downs in life I began to realize things I’m good at, and things that I am trying to get better at. My greatest strengths are my work ethic, my creativeness, and my ambition to be successful. I have a great work ethic when it comes to things I like or things I am interested in. Most people see creative from an artistic standpoint. When I say I’m creative I mean I think outside the box, I like to make tasks or projects interactive and fun. My ambition comes from me being around a lot of people that didn’t make it. What I mean by that is a lot of people I know either didn’t reach their dreams or a lot of them never got to reach their full potential because their life was ended at an early age.
