I am born…(ha ha, no this will not be David Copperfield-esque)
Who am I? That answer is always changing but a few things do seem to remain constant. I’m energized by art, I’m a fiercely loyal friend, and I love learning new things. Growing up in the Midwest, I always promised myself that after college I would venture away from home and see some of the country before finally settling into one spot. Just days after graduation I moved to Atlanta where I lived for nearly 5 years. Atlanta is a great town, full of good friends and fond memories.
After Atlanta I moved to Orlando where it’s hot and humid but the sky in the summer evening looks like something out of a novel about Africa. Orlando did give me one great opportunity – I changed my career, moving from research to marketing.
Next came Danbury, CT. What can I say about Connecticut that hasn’t been portrayed in many movies for Connecticut is very much like those depictions, simultaneously quaint and opulent. Danbury gave me NYC. I loved visiting the Big Apple, taking in museums, walking the streets, even taking life in hand riding in a cab! Everyone should visit if they can and I had some once in a lifetime experiences while living there.
After Danbury I felt my next move needed to be west of the Mississippi. Thus far all my research on regions to live had been concentrated on the east coast and I felt it was time to change that. So, in March of 2001 I moved to Seattle. I spent the first few months gaping in awe anytime I was in my car (Mt Rainier and Mt Baker are both visible from Seattle on a clear day). Yes, there are clear days in Seattle – more than most people think. My breath still catches when I reach the top of the hill on 520 headed downtown and Rainier is perfectly framed in my window. Seattle has it all – ocean, lakes, mountains, farmland, close proximity to Canada, and a true city life. I love it here and I’m glad to call it home.
So, what do I do? Well, that also changes from time to time. I love all aspects of marketing, but in recent years, I’ve been largely focused on event and trade show planning. I’ve worked both sides of the industry and most recently worked at Genie (makers of those blue scissor and boom lifts you see on construction sites).
Terex @ CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2008
Working at Genie offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to plan and execute one of the largest shows Genie or its parent company (Terex) participate in, CONEXPO. I spent the majority of 10 months, including 19 straight days in Las Vegas, working on this event. Our booth was 50,000 sq ft with 51 pieces of equipment from each of the 5 divisions of Terex. In addition to a lavish customer party where Lionel Ritchie performed, we also built a 3-story “green” structure in our booth and Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs and Deadliest Catch worked along side 600 Terex team members during the event. All in all, it was the opportunity of a lifetime, simultaneously exhilarating and exhausting. Something I’ll never forget.