Gloria Justice
“Two-way communication has become a reality
in a way we could never have ever imagined
a few decades ago. I love today’s challenges…
and the people who make them possible.
It’s a lot of fun… and very professionally
rewarding!”
During the past 25 years, Gloria Justice has promoted
a wide range of programs for clients and employers within the service
industry — especially healthcare.
Quality assurance leaders Bill Kincaid and Virgil Slee, MD, framed her initial journey. Their Professional Activity Study changed how the world embraced hospital quality assurance and brought the Commission on Professional and Hospital Activities into the limelight.
Here in the United States, Medicare swiftly moved PAS from being a nice “extra touch” to a necessity. It made sense for a government now shouldering the cost to demand proof that they were getting their money’s worth. This gave CPHA a new breed of competition that understood this emerging market — often better than they understood how to evaluate care. The challenge to market a company led by a doctor whose profession viewed marketing as unprofessional was a learning experience.
Next stop: a community hospital wishing to create a Public Information Office (forget about marketing — it took some time for “public relations” to become PC for most community hospitals). Challenges included branding (we called it “positioning” back then) a parent company structure with profit-making ventures, celebrating 100 years of community service, justifying two major building programs, and supporting a unique “hands-on” community-based giving program. Worst PR news story: two-year-old boy who choked to death on a peanut. Best PR news story: Twelve-year-old girl who traveled all the way from Poland to be treated by orthopedic guru Charles Townley, MD.
After seven years passed, she slipped back onto the national scene while starting a home-based public relations service. One of her first clients, St. John Hospital, hired her to handle the open house for their new kidney dialysis unit in Port Huron. This led to a five-year contract as executive director for the National Renal Administrators Association. In this new role, she managed a Leadership Council of five volunteer committees that helped organize publications, government affairs, membership development, and national conferences in Boston, San Diego, Orlando, and Houston.
When her NRAA contract ended, she moved more seriously into the role of “stay-at-home-mom.” Pregnant with their second child and preparing their first for kindergarten, Mrs. Justice started spreading the word that she was open for local business. She had a few clients, but her top priorities became PTA and Girl Scout meetings, field trips, bake sales, and soccer practices. It was a sweet time… and she loved every minute of it!
When her husband retired and slipped into the role of “Mr. Mom” for their then teenage trio, she explored full-time employment. After working one year in sales and marketing for a local assisted living facility, she served five years as curator of education for the Port Huron Museum of Arts and History under the direction of Stephen Williams. Highlights of her museum experience included developing “hands on” learning programs about Tibet, Egypt, and India and coordinating a successful community art project. Called “Stylin’ Pilings,” the latter involved managing a planning committee of 17 community organizations and writing grants to support planning and implementation.
Today, she is involved in several ventures that are all part of Smith Justice Group, LLC.
Glomo, her newest, offers local mobile search marketing services.
Let’s Get Social — Blue Water! has redefined her social media consulting in local terms. And…
Glo Justice Connects keeps her writing press releases and providing other public relations services.
