Chapter position: Director at large
Current position: Director of communications and marketing at Wisconsin Dental Association (WDA)
What do you find most beneficial about our chapter? I appreciate the opportunity to build my network by getting to know other area PR professionals of all ages and levels of experience. I also enjoy the monthly programs — great “shot in the arm” continuing education.
What do you like best about being a professional communicator? I’m one of those lucky people who has known what she’s wanted to do since sixth grade when I wrote for the only elementary school “newspaper” in the Milwaukee Public School district — I covered the office “beat.” Worked on school papers in junior and senior high and college. Summer college work study job was with the U. S. Forest Service’s Office of Public Information or the other side of the news story. I love being able to provide people — internal and external audiences — with important and beneficial information. Plus, how many other professions do you know pay you to stick your nose in other people’s business (in a respectful way, of course)?
What social media outlets do you use? I am personally on LinkedIn (established Facebook and Twitter profiles so I could be a backup administrator for WDA sites). The WDA is active on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr, Pinterest and most recently established a presence on Instagram.
What do you like to do outside of work? My hobby is volunteering. For many years when my children were small, it was in the schools and with scouts. Now, my focus is on volunteering with the Southeastern Wisconsin PRSA Chapter (a past president, I’m a director at large on the board, board liaison to the Young Pros and a mentor in the YP mentor program). I also volunteer my time and talents to my church (Wauwatosa Avenue United Methodist Church), including publicity, strategic planning, ringing hand bells, baking muffins monthly for the St. James breakfast program in downtown Milwaukee and co-leading our three-times-a-year “Souper Sundays.”
What’s your favorite part about living and working in Southeastern Wisconsin? Believe it or not, I like the weather, because I like having four seasons. We also seem to be spared many of the major weather events pummeling other parts of the country. As a Wauwatosa resident, I’ve got the best of both worlds — small town amenities (e.g., good public schools and library, walkable community with a historic village area, unique local shopping/eateries) and big city benefits (e.g., career options, an easy drive a to wide variety of cultural and entertainment attractions, larger shopping options and world-class health care at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin to name just two).
Take 5 is a recurring set of questions designed to get to know our chapter’s board members.
