Al Martin is president of What Works Public Relations.

Martin has worked at some of the top public relations firms in the world and has developed, managed and implemented marketing communications programs for Georgia-Pacific, SC Johnson, Wendy's International, Excel Corporation, Shure, Inc., Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, AMF Bowling, the Alzheimer's Association, and Kaplan Publishing.

Martin began his career at Hill & Knowlton where he worked on consumer accounts including the grand opening of AMF Marina City Lanes for AMF Bowling as well as Haggerty Enterprises, the makers of Lava(R) Lamps and the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk, for which he was awarded a PRSA Skyline Award.  After leaving Hill & Knowlton, Martin joined Golin/Harris International where he worked on the Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse account.  Then Martin joined Ketchum Public Relations where he worked primarily on the Wendy's International account and developed and implemented the Wendy's Search for Sizzlin' Sounds program, for which he was awarded a PRSA Skyline Award and a Publicity Club of Chicago Silver Trumpet.  After leaving Ketchum, Martin joined Weber Shandwick Worldwide where he worked on the Georgia-Pacific account and was responsible for the 100th Birthday Celebration of Quilted Northern bath tissue and the launch of Quilted Northern Moist-Ones.  In addition, he worked on the SC Johnson account where he managed the new product launch of Windex(R) Glass and Surface Wipes and OFF! Botanicals insect repellent. 

Leaving the PR agency world behind, Martin joined Kaplan Publishing, where he worked on real estate, personal finance and investing books including the Wall Street Journal Bestseller Making Big Money Investing in Real Estate by Peter Conti and David Finkel and How to be a Quick Turn Real Estate Millionaire by Ron LeGrand.  Martin also developed advertising, direct and e-mail campaigns for select titles. 

Martin holds a B.A. in Journalism with a minor in Marketing from Arizona State University and an M.A. in Sociology from DePaul University.  Martin is also a member of the Public Relations Society of America, the American Sociological Association and the National Association of Real Estate Editors.