I am an Arizona native, and the second-born of six children. This awarded me the role of "backup babysitter", and gave me many opportunities to hone my communication & negotiation skills as I attempted to gain possession of the remote control or a coveted spot on the couch.
My sister lovingly bestowing a noogie on my head.
growing up kirby
When people ask, "Do you go by Jen, Jenni or Jennifer?", I often joke that I will answer to "Hey, you! No, the other one!". There was always an adventure to be had, and I was blessed with five best friends (or two or three, depending on our moods) to participate in those escapades. My mother and father are also from very large families, so I got to grow up with scores of aunts, uncles, cousins, and cousins twice or thrice removed. Our family gatherings are big, boisterous, and full of hugs.
Growing up in such a large and vibrant family taught me the value of communication, as well as how vitally important it is to build lasting relationships with others.
my journey into the world of marketing
I have always been very interested in art and music, so after high school I decided to major in Art at the University of Dallas in Irving, TX. After attending for a few years, I made many lifelong friends but discovered that I wasn't quite ready for college. In life there are often pivotal moments that greet us like a fork in the road, awaiting our choices and leading us to our ultimate path. Sometimes those moments don't seem clear until we can view them in hindsight. Realizing that I wasn't ready for college and would need to move back to AZ was very difficult, but that pivotal moment was a turning point in my life and my future career.
As Tex Earnhardt would say, "That ain't no bull!"
Once back in Arizona I had the pleasure of working for the Earnhardt Automotive group. It was there that I was given a chance to work in the field of marketing, and once I had a taste I knew that this was the world for me! Working in marketing gives me a chance to feed my creativity, while also being an outlet for the nerdy analytical side of my brain. It's the perfect marriage! My favorite part of marketing is having the ability to envision a campaign or creative content, then seeing what happens when the campaign is released into the great big world and making any necessary tweaks or revisions to improve performance. Check out my resume/CV to learn more about the experiences I've had in marketing for automotive, healthcare, and SaaS / tech organizations.
fun outside of work
When I'm not working or running my nonprofit (Sober in Cyber), I enjoy traveling with my husband, spending time with my family, and working on crafts such as costuming and quilting. I want to leave the world better than I found it, and I try to apply that motto to my professional career and my personal life. I have also volunteered with several organizations and love trying to make a positive difference in my community. A few of the non-profit organizations I'm passionate about are:
“You are far more likely to succeed if you are having fun, so play just as hard as you work, if not harder!””