COLUMBUS, OHIO—HARDI announces the hiring of its new Digital Communications & PR Coordinator, Mike Coughlin. Coughlin joins HARDI with a strong background in marketing communications as well as public relations and sales experience. His responsibilities will include generating content for publications, email communications, social media and the website as well as developing public relations efforts and managing event and editorial calendars. Previously, Coughlin spent five years working under the shaving cream brand Barbasol, generating various forms of communications. He was responsible for external communications including press releases, e-blasts and web content. He also implemented their social media strategy and produced internal communications such as the monthly sales newsletter, which was distributed to a national network of sales brokers.

“I’m really excited to have Mike on board,” said Marketing Manager Chris DeBoer. “He’s got a unique combination of digital media writing, public relations experience and strong social skills. Additionally, his background working for an industrial distributor I think will serve HARDI and its members extremely well.”

Most recently, Coughlin was in a sales position for a floor coatings and chemicals distributor. “I knew sales experience would add an important dimension to my professional experience,” Coughlin said. “I believe all business boils down to sales on some level, and those skills can be applied universally. It’s funny though – who would have thought my experience at a distributor was going to have such a direct correlation?”