Chief Marketing Officer for LYNX

BIRTHPLACE: Suburbs of Philadelphia, PA
EDUCATION: University of Florida Grad with a Bachelors of Science in Public Relations and minor in Marketing.

YEARS WORKING IN TRANSIT INDUSTRY: 9½ years
YEARS WORKING WITH LYNX: 9½ years

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY:For the last nine and a half years, I have been focused on marketing LYNX to the Central Florida community.  I worked my way up in the organization starting as a Project Manager trafficking all of our creative work.  I was promoted to Manager of Marketing after two years with LYNX and have been serving as the Chief  Marketing Officer for the last 3 years.  Prior to my LYNX life, I moved around quite a bit (Navy wife – now ex-wife!)  I worked for Walt Disney in Creative Service.  I also worked at Chiat Day Mojo, advertising agency in New York City on the Reebok and American Express campaigns.  I managed a magazine in Gainesville, Florida and served as Director of  Marketing for a law firm in Pensacola, Florida.

BIGGEST SURPRISE IN MARKETING TRANSIT: Biggest surprise in marketing transit would have to be justifying our existence – transit and marketing that is.  LYNX has to beg for its funding every year and so does Marketing.  It amazes me that our community (and in reality our country) does not truly see the benefit of transit, especially here in Florida.  We need to be investing and growing our public transportation network and that will in turn grow our      economy.   Sorry, I will jump off of the soap box now!  At LYNX, we are very fortunate to basically have an in house advertising agency, in that we can produce basically everything that we need other then printing.  Still Marketing is seen as “fluff” – a word I absolutely love.  NOT!!!

BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN MARKETING TRANSIT AND LYNX:Funding is a huge issue for LYNX.  We constantly have to prove our worth to the Central Florida community.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Coach cheerleading for the last 6 years.  Junior Achievement volunteer.

PERSONAL BACKGROUND (family, pets, hobbies, pastimes, etc): I have two fabulous children – Cory, 15, and a freshmen in high school and Taylor, 13 years old going on 20.  They are my world.  They keep me running from      activity to activity – football, cheerleading, lacrosse, softball, you name it.  I also have two golden retrievers – Sunshine and Gator and a monster sized rabbit named Hunny Bunny.  I am the youngest of five kids and a proud single mom!  In my spare time (HaHa!!) I enjoy relaxing by the pool, spending time with my boyfriend and my kids.

CHILDHOOD AMBITION: Scary to say but to work in Marketing and Public Relations
INSPIRATION: My kids and my Lord
FAVORITE BOOK:Burnt Toast by Teri Hatcher – as a single mom it was a great reminder that in life we don’t have to settle for “Burnt Toast”.  Read it – it’s a good laugh too.
FAVORITE COLOR: Blue (and orange)  Go Gators!
FAVORITE CANDY: Banana Laffy Taffy

MOTTO: Galatians 6:9  Let us not get tired of doing what is right for after a while we will reap a harvest of   blessings if we don’t get discouraged and give up.