Autobiography

When people ask me why I never finished college, I think they expect my response to include some fascinating sob story about how we grew up so poor that I had eat dandelions for food or that I had a sick relative I had to take care of. My real answer always garners a disappointed response and a “so then why didn’t you ever get it done?”.

I grew up in a great household with a wonderfully loving intelligent, and supportive family. I am not the first in my family to go to college, in fact I am literally the last member of my family (of age) that has not earned their bachelor’s degree yet. My family has never held it against me, and they have always been supportive, but as the daughter of a rocket scientist father and psych major mother, I always knew I was not living up to my fully potential.

As a child, I was free to explore whatever interested me. My father would let me blow things up and my mom would ask me how I felt about it. We would sometimes spend the Christmas holiday on a small sailboat in the Bahamas, creating our decorations out of duct tape and a dingy anchor out of a chunk of washed-up brain coral. The freedom to learn and explore whatever tickled my interest was almost too freeing. I knew I loved art and other creative hobbies, but those were always hobbies to me. My logical side of my brain tended to remind me that creativity is fun but hobbies and working for a living were vastly different areas of my life. It took more years than I care to admit and a variety of different careers to show me that I make a living being creative.

I had what some may call “old school” parents; they expected me to listen, not interrupt, observe, try to solve the question before asking for help. Even questions as simple as “Are we there yet?” Could turn into a word problem, “Well, we are passing mile marker x, our destination is mile marker y, we are traveling z miles per hour; when do you think we will get there?”.

My mother had always pursued community service and as her daughter I was expected to volunteer right along with her everywhere she worked. First with Aids Help in Key West, Florida, then at the Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic (Exhibit D-1 & D-2).

At 14 years old, I was able to utilize the years of community service (with mother) to obtain a position as a volunteer assistant swimming instructor at the YMCA. The work ethic and inquisitive nature engrained in me by my parents gave me the tools to work hard, positive attitude and open eyes and ears (always learning). After I turned 15 the YMCA offered me a paid position with my own classes. I enjoyed the position and my classes so much I continued teaching and later lifeguarding for the YMCA for several years (before other jobs demanded too much of my time).

When I was 16, Geico decided to hire one high school student, on a trial basis as a part-time Glass Claims Representative (which previously required high diploma or equivalent). They went to each of the high schools in Stafford and interviewed the kids that were interested. I was the candidate they selected, they advised in no short terms that if “I didn’t cut it they would never hire another high schooler”. The new hire training program was 9am to 5pm and as I was still in high school, I missed the first half of training each day, and I was required to catch up on the fly. It was a challenge but I always enjoy having to exceed expectations. For more than two years I worked 30 hours a week, including holidays, reviewing customer claims, discuss their policy and their options. It taught me to be thorough, and document everything, when things get tough take a moment and a deep breath, there is nothing to be gained from rushing, losing focus or even just succumbing to the vitriol that some people can throw at you when they are upset.

Every job I have ever had has helped me grow and develop new skills. Even the toughest and most thankless jobs (such as Hair Salon Coordinator and Homeowner Association Manager); I would give it my all and think of it as my own “job boot camp”; if I can excel at the worst jobs, I can excel at any job.

As the salon coordinator of a high-end hair salon, I had to learn on the fly how to handle demanding customers, while still making them feel like our only client and not letting them walk all over us. I was put in charge of managing/maintaining the inventory; including receiving incoming inventory, pricing the merchandise, tracking sales, and store use and finally ordering additional inventory as needed. The salon did not allow stylists to talk on the phone while working with any client, so I had to handle all calls, purchases, payments, appointment scheduling (with the appropriate times needed) and messages. At the close of business each day, I had to balance the drawer, credit cards, and receipts, calculate & notate each stylists commission for the day (a percentage of their services and product sales), and make the bank deposit. The owner did required all employees to join the stylists at hair classes so that every employee had a strong understanding of coloring, cutting, perming, straightening and styling processes so that “if you are speaking to a customer, you know what you are talking about”. This lesson has stuck with me at every job I have had since then. Every company I work for I educate myself on the operations, processes, and projects whether it is necessary for the position or not.

A Homeowner Association Manager (exhibit D-3 & D-4) is probably the most universally despised position I have ever held, which caused the people pleaser in me endless agony. I continuously tried to remind myself that I was the unbiased third party protecting the homeowners’ property values by enforcing the community rules and regulations. Though it was little solace when people constantly get upset with you for reminding them of simple neighborhood rules or inability to enforce rules on a neighbor. Each community has its own Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, as well as, Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, and any other rules and regs. Governing documents cover everything from the frequency of meetings, notification of homeowners, what property belonged to the homeowners and what belonged to the HOA, rules, fines & enforcement, changing rules, how to improve property and how to maintain it. No two HOAs have the same documents, as I learned from Silver Residential, even the HOAs by the same developer are not the same. HOA’s are subject to both federal, state, and local regulation. The HOA manager (such as myself) is the HOA members’ source of information and guidance (exhibits D-5 & D-6). The HOA Board or homeowner may call on me to ask how they can repave a parking lot or add a playground and anything short of an absolute understanding of each communities documents would be immediately evident (there is no “let me check and get back to you”). On the federal level, an HOA is required to be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) compliant, to help ensure that all property owners are treated fairly and given appropriate access and consideration to all HOA property. In most neighborhoods the sidewalks were a near constant maintenance item as the maximum height difference between the slabs was 1/10th of an inch. I would regular inspect or hire inspectors to check each section of sidewalk for any change (of which would then require a crew come out and shave the concrete down to flat). The Fair Housing Act to protect individuals from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, familial status, and national origin, holidays tended to be the time I would have to remind the HOA board of this act the most, as not everyone celebrates the same holidays, but if you allow decorations for one religion you are not allowed to ban others. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to protect those that are busy protecting our country from collections and foreclosures. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which I had to reference more than once for the HOA’s that tended to prefer aggressive pursuit of outstanding debt. Violation of Federal lays have severe consequences for all parties involved with an HOA. There is the Property Owner’s Association Act in Virginia to I had to know and understand each community’s pertinent governing documents inside and out.

The Silver Companies was the most personally enlightening and enriching experience, while simultaneously the most difficult and time consuming. In my approximately 12 years at the Silver Companies, I went from the Receptionist, to Executive Assistant, to Project Manager, to Project Manager and Accounts Payable, to finally the Director of Marketing. It is a keep up or get out company which made each of my successes that much sweeter.

I started at the Silver Companies in their Residential Development division, as the Receptionist, to which they later added Executive Administrative Assistant (exhibit D-8). Familiarizing myself with every project we had, the details, the surroundings, etc. helped me quickly become a integral team member. I would use prior experience helping my mom run the Free Clinic and from running the salon to efficiently manage the basic day to day tasks; office supplies, scheduling, general filing, and prioritizing. Which freed up my time to expand my workload into more difficult & interesting tasks.

When I was brought into the Silver Commercial Development division it was to be the Administrative Assistant to Quantico Corporate Center. Initially I was responsible with handling “anything the project needed”, which primarily consisted of tracking the status of all aspects of the project, scheduling meetings and travel, tracking and approving project expenses, and reviewing documents and contracts for execution. contractor insurance/payable compliance, locating potential leads, working with the County on plan review and approvals, permitting, document records.

As the Director of Marketing, I was directly responsible for the creation/design and production of all marketing materials for all Silver Commercial Properties in Virginia. Including, but not limited to:

Researching the areas surrounding the proposed sites for competitive businesses the clients would need too be aware of (ie- locating and then illustrating, all fast food restaurants within 10 miles of a proposed McDonald’s location)

Silver Commercial Development Company –

Directly responsible for the design/creation and production of all marketing materials for all Silver Commercial properties in Virginia (approximately 25 different project)

my recent position at Powell’s Furniture has allowed me to further my appreciation and knowledge of marketing. I was rehired by Powell’s nearly 5 years ago as their Digital/Internet Marketing Manager. My responsibilities included,
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Geo-Fencing
Website Maintenance
Customer targeting g
Re-Targeting
Return On Investment (ROI) Positive
Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Pinterest, Twitter, Snapchat, Youtube

So as I said, to quantify what I have done to demonstrate my capabilities in both the theory and practice of business development and marketing is a bit of a conundrum for me as just putting all the things seems too little, and putting a detailed description of what all the things is seems too much. This event is but a taste of what my tasks and responsibilities entailed. However I have also included for your review ads that were previously used prior to my joining

While there is Ultimately no substitution for a thorough education, There is something to be said for skills I have learned strictly hard work and perseverance. Looking back, I do now know now that I would have achieved greater success in shorter time had I gone a more traditional route initially. Indeed some problems and solutions can only truly be learned through a combination of education and experience.
• I have tried on numerous occasions to quantify my time with silver commercial development and Paul’s furniture into a series of tests goals and achievements. However both positions were fluid things nearly alive in their own demands. I will be given tasks such as we’re having a dark cyber event to announce dark fiber to our project and connection to both the hub of data for Natalie the country but the world. As well as connection to Richmond Virginia in the capital of our state with connectivity through Washington DC in Fort Belvoir. The dark fiber announcement event was to be he noted by the Michelle weislander Craig (I think) the chief evangelistic officer for Google and opened with remarks from the assistant to the commandant. It was the widely publicized well attended secure event. The only direction I was given is the force it was this is the event we’re having make it happen. I came up with the adaptation I came up with the commercial to play in the background on loop I came up with the catering the bartending the parking having sheriffs deputies there to help assist in traffic flow. I came up with the nametags partnered with economic development office for Stafford County who helped fund the event and checked in guests as they arrived as I was busy. I arranged for gifts for the speakers within the government standards of no gifts every $20 it becomes hard to present someone with something worthy of their time did they come appropriately without breaking the law. This event not only got us additional tenants but also attention and helped assist us in becoming a data center level to certified facility. Which benefit are 65 government contracting agencies quite well.
• As I’ve said the logistics, benefits, and potential issues or such an event can have dramatic affect on the overall outcome of a grand project such as going to corporate center. I was interested with all aspects of the event. Including working with a graphic agency to create a five minute long ad. Seen here ( insert YouTube link )
• Each iteration of the ad that came back I was typically sponsorable for editing with the agency that was building yet. Scripting. And final approval. At which time it was ready for me to present to the partners for their final look before the event.