In a landscape where millennial and Gen Z professionals are playing career hopscotch to get ahead, one Marquette alumna is demonstrating that there’s still room for career longevity in one spot.
Lori Richards, Comm ’02, started out as an intern at Mueller Communications, a full-service public relations agency in downtown Milwaukee, even before she graduated college, but because of meaningful mentorship and a clear path forward, Richards found herself blossoming without having to change jobs.
“I graduated on a Sunday, and I started full-time here at Mueller Communications on a Monday. That’s just how it went,” Richards says. “I have no regrets about my path. I think for me that was always the vision — I’m going to put the time in, and I’m going to work really hard.”
Masterful mentorship
One of the keys to Richards’ career success was having a mentor who provided crucial support while navigating a new career path.
Carl Mueller, founder and chairman of Mueller Communications, first met Richards when she was hired as an intern. He quickly learned that there was something different about her as she seamlessly embraced “the Mueller way,” the unique company culture that emphasizes teamwork and caring for others, setting high professional standards, and a commitment to serving the larger community.
“I did much more than watch Lori grow to reach the top of our profession and our company,” Mueller says. “I tried to support and encourage her, and I promoted her above people older and more experienced than her at the time. But she had to earn the respect of others through her hard work and by setting an example for others around her.”
It’s not only Richards’ commitment to high standards and professional excellence that has helped her rise to the top, but also her ability to be a role model and help others along the way. Mueller says that he’s proudest of Richards’ ability to help women find a work-life balance.
“She has helped build a culture in our office that supports working mothers and others with the ability to manage all of life’s challenges and opportunities.”
Securing a new generation
Katie Darragh, Comm ’23, began as an intern at Mueller Communications in November 2023 but met Richards and James Madlom, partner CEO at Mueller Communications, about a year earlier when they were guest speakers in one of Darragh’s communication courses.
“I loved how the impact of the work they did every day was seen so clearly around Milwaukee, and I was immediately interested in Mueller,” Darragh says. “Knowing that I may want to work there one day, I went down and introduced myself to Lori and James. Lori’s passion for supporting young professionals is immediately evident when you meet her, and I felt an instant connection with her upon that introduction.”
A little over two months after being hired as an intern, Darragh started a full-time position and is currently an associate at the agency under Richards’ leadership.
Another person who gained valuable experience under Richards’ leadership is Marquette senior Abby Lamkins. The digital media and public relations major recently finished a yearlong internship with the agency. She says she’s walking away with a better understanding of aligning one’s values with work, just like Richards.
“Lori is a CEO and an influential person in Milwaukee, recently being named a part of TEMPO’s 50 Most Influential Women, and she has never compromised on her values of supporting the community, her employees and the clients at Mueller Communications,” Lamkins says.
Although Richards knows some people may see her straight arrow trajectory as a throwback to a time where people found longevity with one company, she saw a path where she could create her own culture and invest in her future.
“I recognized that this was an opportunity to create my dream job, while working alongside an awesome partner,” Richards says. “I feel so grateful every day because I have the opportunity to be equally as good of a partner and mom at home as I am a professional. To me, it’s important to be able to do it all.”
