We Love You Pat!
Pat Tobin, CEO, president and founder of Tobin and Associates, is a giant in the African American community.
We here at 3BAAS Media Group have the consummate networking public relations powerhouse in prayer as she continues to show strength and courage in the face of a challenging health crisis.
To family, friends, and everyone who knows her, we lift up this incredible spirit. Always with a warm smile, Pat is that one-of-a-kind individual who had her finger on the pulse of everything that was going on in LA.
BREAKING NEWS: PAT MAKES HER TRANSITION
Pat Tobin is a visionary. After humble beginnings on the kitchen table of her small apartment, she has gone on to create a legacy demonstrative of having a plan, working hard, and persevering until success is achieved.
In an industry once dominated by non-Black males, Pat had the fortitude to step into the little-understood world of community, media and public relations and establish a niche business that has withstood the ‘test of time.’
From the Los Angeles Sentinel:
Tobin & Associates has secured it's place as a Black-owned, female run public relations firms capable of delivering a broad range of image-enhancing programs to small and start-up operations, entertainers, non-profit organizations as well as some of the largest and most dominant companies in the world.
“This industry requires nurturing key contacts and relationships,” Tobin said. “knowing your craft and then exceeding your clients’ expectations!”And that is exactly what Tobin and her professional staff of consultants, staff-support, and contract professionals managed to accomplish over the years, achieving near ‘icon’ status among the clients she has served.
In responding to a question about the reason for so few Black-owned public relations firms, Tobin explained the difficulty of winning clients and helping them understand the value of engaging a specialty firm capable of expanding their image, reputation and sales among ethnic consumers.
“Public Relations is a highly competitive industry and it is hard to win new clients.” Tobin explained. “Many large corporations are expanding their internal community and public relations departments and many do not, or choose not, to see the value of an outside agency.”
Toyota however, the world’s leader in the manufacture and sale of well-built automobiles, in all automotive categories, determined over 20 years ago that a business association with Tobin & Associates was good for their gross sales and profitability.
“In the late 1980’s the Prime Minister of Japan made some derogatory, public remarks about Blacks that, for a time, created a negative backlash among Black towards products manufactured in Japan.” Tobin recalled. “Many of our Black leaders at that time, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Ambassador Andrew Young, Rev. Al Sharpton, and others spoke-out against the Prime Minister’s comments, and I determined that the situation created an opportunity for Tobin & Associates.”
After ‘pitching’ to a number of Japanese consumer product providers, Tobin landed a contract with Toyota, and never looked back. From nationally syndicated cable TV personality Tavis Smiley and award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee to Shell Oil and AT&T, Tobin & Associates has likely been involved in countless community and public relations campaigns which have advanced the concept, product, film, book, or other consumer product in the Black community.
Tobin also contributed to the inspiration, establishment, and advancement of the Black-owned public relations firms throughout the United States, as the co-founder of the Black Public Relations Association where she served most recently as immediate past president and board member.
“As I traveled across country I encountered many of us who were performing a broad range of public relations services to their clients.” Tobin described. “It seemed appropriate to establish a networking organization for us to exchange ideas, share views, and work towards the establishment of programs to further develop and advance our industry.”
Tobin admitted that she is grateful for the long list of clients she and her staff have been privileged to serve over the years and acknowledges that winning the contract is only the first step of building a long and mutually beneficial business relationship.
(Photo by Vinnie Ratcliff: Pat, third from left, shares a special moment with celebrities Florence LaRue, Ja’net DuBois, and Sheryl Lee Ralph)
"We continue to strive to help our client’s meet or exceed their objectives in the markets that they serve.” Pat said. “We must execute each task as if were the best opportunity to advance our client’s product, image or community and public relations programs.”
She made special mention of one of her most significant clients, Chairman and CEO Don H. Barden, the Black owner of Fitzgerald’s Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas. “Mr. Barden is an extremely successful entrepreneur.” Tobin said in describing her firm’s efforts to publicize their 4th Anniversary Celebration where they recognized the achievements of African Americans. Source
But that's why Pat is so beloved. She has a gift for making people look good, understanding that helping others achieve their goals was an art form that she had mastered.
Even with her present battle with cancer, Pat is fighting the way she always has. With class, humor and fierce determination.
Thank you for a job well done Pat Tobin. Stay strong and keep inspiring the rest of us to be the best we can be.
She made special mention of one of her most significant clients, Chairman and CEO Don H. Barden, the Black owner of Fitzgerald’s Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas. “Mr. Barden is an extremely successful entrepreneur.” Tobin said in describing her firm’s efforts to publicize their 4th Anniversary Celebration where they recognized the achievements of African Americans. Source
But that's why Pat is so beloved. She has a gift for making people look good, understanding that helping others achieve their goals was an art form that she had mastered.
Even with her present battle with cancer, Pat is fighting the way she always has. With class, humor and fierce determination.
Thank you for a job well done Pat Tobin. Stay strong and keep inspiring the rest of us to be the best we can be.