The University’s Creative Consultants, a student-run public relations firm through the Public Relations Student Society of America has garnered a national organization on its list of clients for the first time.

The Wilderness Society, which works toward preserving America’s land, is one of 23 clients that will receive free public relations from Creative Consultants this year. But, they are hoping to add even more clients, said Kaitlyn Darr, a fifth-year public relations major from Columbus, Ohio and the director of Creative Consultants.

“I will make as many teams and [add] as many clients as long as there are students eager to do it,” Darr said.

Some clients include the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, the University’s Graduate School and local Athens businesses such as Revolutionary Massage and Wellness. She said the program is not just for public relations majors, although one must be a member of PRSSA in order to apply.

“We want to diversify services by getting more diverse students,” Darr said, saying the program can help anyone in any major to become a better communicator.

Creative Consultants, which has been on campus for more than 10 years, divides members into teams of five to six students, Darr said. Each team has an account executive, who meets with Darr twice a month, and a junior account executive.

The teams are required to talk to their client at least once a week. Darr contacts each client herself on a monthly basis.

Some responsibilities of each team include updating graphics, creating logos, writing press releases, holding events, making brochures or business cards, and creating Web sites or social network accounts for clients.

“There’s a different level of need [for each client],” Darr said, adding the team must create individual goals for its client, which may vary from team to team.

The experience students acquire from Creative Consultants can help to build their resume and prepare them for a career after graduation.

“It was like planning a wedding,” said Marah Lidey, a third-year public relations student from Savannah. “It taught me how important details are – there is so much that goes with it.”

Lidey, who joined PRSSA two years ago, participated in Creative Consultants as a freshman, but plans on joining again this year.

Creative Consultants, which is exclusive to the University, has been recognized nationally by PRSSA. Darr was recently invited to speak about the program at the PRSSA National Conference in San Diego, Calif., Nov. 6 through 10.

Darr said the attention the program is receiving this year doesn’t change Creative Consultants’ goals. The group is not planning on giving up its ideals to become a national program.

Though they would like a few more national accounts, they “want to maintain the quality of service for clients and for the students involved,” Darr said.

There will be an informational meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. in room 102 of the Miller Learning Center for anyone interested in becoming a member of PRSSA and the Career Consultants program.