Mim of the Week
Each week we bask in the glow of a fellow MIM. We celebrate her successes! We applaud her grace! We learn valuable lessons! BUT we’re also sure to get some background too, lest we make ourselves feel inadequate for not being as put together ourselves.
MEET ANALISA BLAKLEY
Two titles:
Marketing Director and Mom
Two jobs you’ve had:
Dental Assistant and Brand Director
Two projects you’re most proud of in your career:
Creating the first pomegranate flavored vodka, experimenting with the flavor formulas, mixing up cocktails, designing the package, it was an amazing experience.
Art directing a photo shoot for a national wine holiday campaign when I was a very junior account person (the creative director was “sick” aka hung over). It certainly wasn’t our team’s best work, but I learned a LOT that day. It tested my ability to work under pressure and think on the fly, skills that continue to be tested in my career and as a mom.
Two cute kiddo stories:
Before our second son was born, someone suggested that I tell him that we’re going to the hospital to bring home “his” baby brother. We’re now six months into the brothers Blakley adventures and Rex still reminds everyone that he’s “MY baby Harry.”
We gave our oldest a set of Lincoln Logs when his baby brother was born. In the set was a little toy general in a blue uniform, with a yellow sword and a auburn goatee. Rex named him “Boy” and still carries him everywhere, usually accompanied by a toy dinosaur. My husband and I have become somewhat attached to them as well – we photograph Boy on some of our trips. Boy and Dinosaur are actually very handy to keep with us, they provide hours of entertainment for Rex as he makes up adventures for them anywhere we happen to be.
Two online obsessions:
DPS: Digital Photography School
Amazon (buying gifts for all my long distance friends and family)
Two favorite reads:
Entertainment Weekly
My friends’ facebook status updates or tweets
Two of the messiest areas in your life:
My desk and email inbox
Two hidden talents:
Baking delicious treats and choosing gifts for kids (that they love)
Two of the best trips you’ve been on (biz or personal):
San Francisco/Napa trip with my husband to celebrate my 30th birthday
Germany with my husband, we spent a week entertaining clients so we got a Euro-style vacation on the company’s dime
Two of your biggest inspirations:
Antique stores – I love the weight and permanence of things that have survived the test of time. So much of our world is temporary, even “yesterday’s news” is an outdated term as newspapers begin to disappear. I am inspired by things that last.
Farmers’ markets – the color and freshness of the produce and flowers, the sound from the musicians, the samples from the bakers… All of it makes me want to create something delicious!
Two things you can’t live without:
Digital camera, I’m a total mamarazzi
Paper towels – as much as I try to green up my life, I can’t bear the thought of banishing paper towels
Two exciting things you foresee for our industry:
The opportunities that digital media offer emerging brands and products to gain traction without breaking the bank.
Greater consumer access to providing feedback to brand management gives consumers power to nudge the brand in directions (packaging changes, charitable affiliations, style and tonality of brand messaging) that further enhance their relationship with the brand.
MIM OF THE WEEK HALL OF FAME
MEET ALEXIA TORPEY
Senior Designer
Barkley
Two titles:
Mommy and Designer
Two jobs you’ve had:
Shoe Saleswoman & Waitress (I also think everyone should have to wait tables at one point in their life. It humbles you.)
Two projects you’re most proud of in your career:
-I created a book for my senior year in college with my girlfriends and it still amazes me.
-Currently I am still in love with whatareyouwondering.com and the viral video living on denimday.com. Sorry, guess that is 3.
Two cute kiddo stories:
Georgia, my three year old, used to call grover, F***er. I have a video of it. Lasted about 6 months.
-G looks just like tinkerbell. Blonde hair and when it is up in a pony and has her bangs swept to the side they are like twins. I bought her a shirt with tinkerbell on it that said ‘What attitude?’ This sums up G. So, for Halloween this year was naturally thinking tinkerbell would be PERFECT. I have been trying to plant the seed for awhile.
While we were running erands this weekend we ended up in the costume section. As I was looking for the perfect sweet tinkerbell costume G walked right up to a large Green, felt mess. “A DRAGON!!!! I want this one! A Dragon A Dragon!” All of my hopes for tinkerbell were ripped away. As she jumped up and down in front of me and I looked at the costume I knew I couldn’t deny her. I would have been the exact same way as a child. She is definitely mine, no frills. When we tried it on I have to admit she is the cutest dragon/dinosaur I have ever seen.
Two online obsessions:
Southwest.com, calculating how I can collect points and travel constantly. Tweet Deck, amazing research tool.+ adium (chat), I love that I am one click away from my friends. (sorry, again 3)
Two favorite reads:
I love girlie books, they help me relax. Currently reading ‘My Life in Paris.’ Julia Childs is amazing. Her thoughts and words just make you want to eat and be merry. I also LOVE Jane Erye.
Two of the messiest areas in your life:
My drawers and my purse. I hate that they are messy, but they are the only thing that are just mine.
Two hidden talents:
-I make a mean guacamole dip.
-I am the best make-believe shark around (at least G thinks so).
Two of the best trips you’ve been on (biz or personal):
-Door County, WI as a child with family to celebrate my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary. Some of the best memories of my life.
-Chicago with G, the best person to travel with. She is fun, upbeat, and loves to be busy.
Two of your biggest inspirations:
My parents. They never gave up. Ever.
Two things you can’t live without:
Air and water, I am a little superstitious so I can’t be emotional on this one.
Two exciting things you foresee for our industry:
-The people that make a difference using technology will be the ones that use it with heart, not just as another way to push a message.
-Clients will continue spend less and we will all have to be more creative, or we will not survive. It is frustrating, but will yield amazing results. It will also help us prove our worth as creatives once again.
MEET MEREDITH GOETTE
Co-founder of gigglygear — playful clothing and accessories for kids and moms
Two titles:
Mom
Co-founder of Gigglygear
Two jobs you’ve had:
Sales rep. at a beer company
Bagel girl
Two projects you’re most proud of in your career:
Gigglygear – I wrote the plan, launched the brand and sold the product into more than 100 stores nationwide
Mentoring some of the finest marketers today. I am proud to have been part of their growth.
Two cute kiddo stories:
My daughter Davia constantly reminds me, “I’m just like you when you were my age,” whenever I request that she stop talking or pay better attention. I have my dad to thank for that one!
Trystan explained to me that he was never going to go away to college or even get married because he wants to live with me forever. Bless his heart — he will be out of my house by 18!
Two online obsessions:
Facebook
food/recipe sites – always looking for something other than spaghetti and mac & cheese to make for dinner
Two favorite reads:
All the Fancy Nancy books
My Sister’s Keeper
Two of the messiest areas in your life:
Dining room table – it has become a dumping ground for the entire family
My office – piles of papers that need to be filed
Two hidden talents:
Connecting the right people/brand together. I have a knack for knowing what works.
I can act – really, I can!
Two of the best trips you’ve been on (biz or personal):
Italy and France with my husband pre-kids. We backpacked around and really experienced Europe.
NY – Marketing cruise with Dawn – the toughest yet most fun business trip I have ever taken.
Two of your biggest inspirations:
Definitely my mom! She was an amazing example of a working mom who always managed to put family first. She inspires me every day.
My other inspirations are the powerful and amazing women I have had the pleasure to work for and learn from. I am grateful to have worked with some of the most talented women in marketing today!
Two things you can’t live without:
Mascara
Wine – white or red – doesn’t matter
Two exciting things you forsee for our industry:
The amazing effect social media has had on consumers is fascinating to watch. I can’t wait to see what is next.
Companies are finally getting the value in connecting their brands in an authentic way to their consumers’ lives . . I love it!
——
Meet Sheri Austin
Partner, Account Services
The Alchemedia Project
Two titles: Mother, Marketer (hmmm, guess that’s why I’m profiled here 
)
Two jobs you’ve had: Partner/The Alchemedia Project and Adjunct Faculty/Missouri State University
Two projects you’re most proud of in your career:
1.) Conceiving of an industry-specific not-for-profit organization that serves an under-acknowledged segment of the market
2.) Conceiving of the logic applied to a consumer insights approach used by Fortune 500
Two cute kiddo stories:
1.) My eldest son, who was learning to talk while I was learning to multi-task, used to ask for his dinner by name, “Bostie Market.”
2.) My youngest son, who is learning how to be a gentleman by observing his older brother, recently commented while walking the cobbled streets of Europe, “if one must vomit, one should do that with his mouth closed, it’s more polite.”
Two online obsessions: Search Engines, Social Marketspaces
Two favorite reads: Anything Pat Conroy, Harvard Business Review
Two of the messiest areas in your life: Phone Calls (don’t try to reach me at home), Evening Schedules (we’re busy)
Two hidden talents: The girl can cook and write like nobody’s business
Two of the best trips you’ve been on (biz or personal): Wow, how fortunate I’ve been in this department. Only two, huh? Carmel. Paris.
Two of your biggest inspirations: The purest expressions of creativity: nature and art
Two things you can’t live without: Faith. Hope. Love. (Sorry, great things happen in three’s and it’s my hope that you know which of these is the greatest!)
Two exciting things you foresee for our industry:
1.) Consumers rewarding companies for doing the right things the right way. Vote with your wallets, people.
2.) As we, Americans, begin to embrace what it means to be in a technology-driven economy, we will begin to realize new opportunities to prosper. Embrace the renewing of your mind and create the future!
Meet Mary Jo Behrman
Two titles:
“MJ” and Account Director
Two jobs you’ve had:
1. HS/College math teacher 2. Counter-girl at McD’s
Two projects you’re most proud of in your career:
When I was teaching, there were a handful of kids who I really affected. That’s incredible.
Since I became a MIM, I’ve gotten to do a lot of cool work for Grey Goose vodka internationally—the original brand strategy work, various educational materials, a print campaign, and most recently an amazingly rich social networking initiative. I feel like I’ve consistently done my best for the clients and our team—and I’ve grown a lot professionally as a result.
Two cute kiddo stories:
Since my son is 16, he disapproves of me telling any ‘cute kiddo stories,’ so I’ll only report on the past few hours.
He helped me understand what ‘memes’ really are and why rick-rolling is funny. When I rick-rolled my twitter followers through a fake link, “The Top 10 Twitter Traps for Brands,” he rolled his eyes and said that was lame. Then, we watched the ‘never gonna give you up’ video, mimicked the 80’s dancing together, and discussed why Rick’s hair was considered cool. Finally, he took me on a tour of the most popular viral videos right now, and explained why “it’s not madness, it’s SPARTAAAA” is accepted as an hilarious retort. Now, he’s watching a Family Feud rerun and eating cookie dough.
Two online obsessions:
Blip.fm and Yelp. I’m also an avid Facebook user.
Two favorite reads:
The Winter of our Discontent and Who Moved my Blackberry.
Two of the messiest areas in your life:
Home and work.
I’m only half kidding. After 16 years as a working mom (an oxymoronic term for sure), I don’t think I’ve found balance so much as a tolerance for controlled chaos and the ability to plan for it…if you can plan for chaos?
Two hidden talents:
Ping-pong and completing a graceful, 16-count curtsy
Two of the best trips you’ve been on (biz or personal):
When our son was 10 years old, we spent about 6 months backpacking through Europe. We never had pre-set reservations or an itinerary from day-to-day. It was the best time of my life—so few people have such an opportunity.
A few years before my husband and I got married, we spent a week in Vancouver together during our summer break. It was one of those trips during which the weather was perfect, cheap restaurants came through, the B&B’s were charming, we laughed constantly, and feeling really in love was easy.
Two of your biggest inspirations:
Oddly, the first 2 things that come to mind are songs.
The first one is the Beatles’ “Let it Be”. It’s my mantra. Helps keep things in perspective.
The second is a hymn that describes Mary (the holy mother). I might not be particularly religious these days, but when I become too intense, or over-thinking, or controlling, or just too loud, I center myself with this song: ‘Gentle woman, quiet light, morning star, so strong and bright. Gentle mother, peaceful dove teach us wisdom, teach us love’.
Two things you can’t live without:
Coffee and logic
Two exciting things you foresee for our industry:
ONE: I think the traditional office environment is becoming obsolete. More people will work from home (or pool-side) more often, allowing their work schedules to meld more easily with their other commitments and family.
TWO: As consumers continue to take control of the commercial conversation, marketing will require more creativity, intelligence, and intuition…a wonderful challenge!
—-
MICHELLE THOMAS
CEO, Origin Agency
Two titles:
Mom and CEO
Two jobs you’ve had:
Country Kitchen Hostess for one day and CEO of Origin Agency (for much longer!)
Two projects you’re most proud of in your career:
Lance, my husband and Tennyson, my son
Two cute kiddo stories:
When Tennyson was younger he would eat his food so quickly that he forgot he ate it all. Then he would yell, “who ate my food!” and get mad at me for eating it.
I am an ADD driver and I tend to stomp on the brakes a lot. When I do, I do the typical mom-reach-over arm thing. One time Tennyson told me not to worry because he was able to “grapple onto the seat with his butt.” We have since come up with a cartoon character called Captain Butt Grapple who is able to use his awesome butt grappling abilities in various scenarios.
Two online obsessions:
1: polyvore.com
2: Fashionserved.com
Two favorite reads:
1: Hipsters Handbook
2: Men’s Health
Two of the messiest areas in your life:
1: My brain
2: The Lego Situation…
Two hidden talents:
1: I have a prodigious talent of picking the longest line
2: I can run a 7-minute mile (and then I have a heart attack)
Two of the best trips you’ve been on (biz or personal):
Canadian Rockies – It was so beautiful. the water was bright blue and it stays light out until midnight in the summer. Great for making a short vacation feel longer.
Jamaica – ya mon
Two of your biggest inspirations:
1: Tennyson. He is 9 now and old enough to contribute to brainstorm sessions. He comes up with the most hilarious, inventive ideas.
2: Other people’s work
Two things you can’t live without:
Food (I had an unhealthy addiction to McDonald’s cheeseburgers and egg McMuffins until I saw Food, Inc. I haven’t been back since.
Sleep
Two exciting things you foresee for our industry:
I think all of the new technology and how there will be so many new ways of communicating with people that we haven’t even thought about yet. Actually, I would like to have a terabyte chip installed in my brain to hold all the extra stuff that gets in the way.
——
KATIE CANADA
Owner/Creative Director of Departika
departika.com
Two titles:
Only two? I have many…two of them are Creative Director and Bookkeeper
Two jobs you’ve had:
Owner/Designer/Creative Director/Bookkeeper at Departika, and one of my favorites from a prior life: server/beer slinger at Springfield Brewing Company
Two projects you’re most proud of in your career:
1: A sort of social experiment I did for The Springfield Artwalk the week Obama was elected you can view here
2: hmmm… probably this CD cover for the Spokane Music Festival. I made an elementary-style diorama of the stage in front of the farmhouse where the festival takes place. I set the shoebox-diorama in my back yard and took photos of it for the cover art. It is a fairly intimate event so I think it captured the feeling of being there. You can view it here http://katiecanada.com/portfolio/cds/
Two cute kiddo stories:
I think just about everything my kid does is cute, so this is rough. Plus he is just one year, so his vocabulary is limited to about 10 words…
1: My son has been getting zerbits since he could laugh, and I think it is pretty cute that he now gives me zerbits and laughs hysterically after he hears his self-made noise.
2: Sometimes he walks around the house with his hands behind his back (strutting) with his lips pooched out—we call it his Mick Jagger impression (he has never seen Mick Jagger).
Two online obsessions:
1: I am brand new to facebook (denied it for a LONG time)…and all the talk was true—I love it—think I am addicted.
2: Google
Two favorite reads:
1: I am sort of embarrassed to admit it, but I loved the Twilight series. I read all four books in a few weeks. I was obsessed, read it while waiting in line at the drive-through bank, read it while riding in the car (not on a long drive either—4 minute rides), read it during lunch, read it while “playing” with my son. It was really quite sick.
2: I always enjoy reading magazines like Fast Company, Wired, CA and Print…and sometimes In Touch while waiting in line at the grocery store (a good trash-mag is hard for me to resist).
Two of the messiest areas in your life:
at the moment…
1: my email inbox
2: my desk
Two hidden talents:
1: I can style perfectly awesome mall-bangs
2: I can tread water for hours—not really hidden, but not something that just comes up in conversation.
Two of the best trips you’ve been on (biz or personal):
1: month-long travel around Europe with friends after college
2: camping/hiking/friend-visiting trip to Colorado with my husband…visited friends in Durango, camped and floated down the Animas…drove through the mountains up to Boulder (another friend visit)…then camped in Estes Park, then climbed in Eldorado Canyon. It was perfect.
Two of your biggest inspirations:
1: smart people
2: stupid people
Two things you can’t live without:
air and water
Two exciting things you foresee for our industry:
1: the possibility of more fonts on the web
2: ??? I like to live in the now….um…smaller businesses and agencies having a bigger voice
—-
Meet the first Mim of the Week:
BROOKE FRIEDMAN
Vice President, Account Services
Moosylvania Marketing
Two titles:
“Mom” and Vice President
Two jobs you’ve had:
Television Writer/Producer and Hotel Maid
Two projects you’re most proud of in your career:
I think I’m most proud of becoming a better manager which was definitely a direct result of what I learned from becoming a mother.
Two cute kiddo stories:
My 4 year old impatiently giving the family dog her “options” for entertainment. “Lanie, do you want to play with the puzzles, do you want to play with the cars, do you want to play with the blocks – okay Lanie, here’s the deal, I’ve given you your options, what’s it going to be?” (where do they get these things?!?!)
I love the way my 2 year old says his favorite food is “cheez pups” instead of “cheese puffs”
Two online obsessions:
Shutterfly and Bluefly (maybe I have an issue with insects I should look into?)
Two favorite reads:
Mindset and Gifts from the Sea
Two of the messiest areas in your life:
My bedroom closet and the corridor between my work life and home life
Two hidden talents:
Helping friends and family makeover their wardrobe (my own personal episodes of “What Not the Wear”) and making up bedtime stories
Two of the best trips you’ve been on (biz or personal):
Paris at Christmas with my mom and sister
Maui and Kauai with my husband for our 10 yr anniversary
Two of your biggest inspirations:
Traveling and Real Simple Magazine
Two things you can’t live without:
Coffee/wine (not necessarily in that order) and all my unfinished projects
Two exciting things you forsee for our industry:
The authentic consumer engagement that will become a priority when brands are forced to stop talking so much and start listening more.
With the growing significance of digital marketing efforts, budgets will not necessarily be the determining factor for innovative, effective programs.
