While working at a Dallas-based public relations agency, Casey Shilling often spent time developing story angles with her clients from The Container Store, Kip Tindell (Chairman and CEO) and Garrett Boone (Chairman Emeritus). She found the company’s amazing corporate culture trailblazing – maybe even too good to be true. But when the retailer began looking for someone to bring the company’s public relations efforts in-house, it was that unique culture that prompted her to accept the challenge of developing this new department.
In 1997, Shilling joined the company as Public Relations Supervisor. She was later named Public Relations and Marketing Manager and then Public Relations Director. In 2003, she was promoted to Vice President of Marketing Communications, responsible for directing the retailer’s national and regional marketing, public relations, training and recruiting.
Shilling is responsible for managing all of The Container Store’s PR and marketing efforts including media relations, community relations, corporate communication, copy writing, new market launches, store openings and executive speech writing. Under Shilling’s leadership, The Container Store’s in-house PR team has secured high-profile media placements in outlets such as InStyle, Real Simple, Martha Stewart Living, Parents, USA Today, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Oprah, Today, Good Morning America, CNN and HGTV.
In addition, Shilling oversees all of The Container Store’s training and recruiting initiatives. The Container Store’s organization is unique from other companies because training and recruiting functions fall under the marketing department. The company firmly believes that its employees, its stores and its culture are inherently linked to its brand.
Since joining The Container Store, Shilling has initiated and led the company’s efforts surrounding its inclusion on FORTUNE magazine’s list of “100 Best Companies To Work For” for the past 10 years – including its #1 distinction on the 2000 and 2001 lists. She has truly helped raise the bar of The Container Store’s national awareness as the source for storage and organization, as well as a forward-thinking company with a trailblazing and unique culture.
Shilling began her career as a television reporter and an anchor covering news for Southeastern Oklahoma and North Texas. She used her expertise as a journalist to transition into the marketing and public relations industry and joined Bustin & Co., a Dallas-area marketing firm, where she worked with clients such as Pepsi-Cola, Mrs. Baird’s Bakeries, and FOOTACTION-USA. She then went to work for Meltzer & Martin Public Relations (acquired by Fleishman-Hillard) managing clients such as Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn and The Container Store. She has a degree in broadcast journalism with a minor in creative writing from Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State University).
When not at The Container Store, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and volunteering in the community through the Junior League of Dallas.