Name: Stephanie Pendrys
Title: Depends on the time of day and where I am. Marketing
Writer/Assistant to Program Director/Varsity Track and Field Coach/Mildly Obsessed Runner
Website/Blog: I’m on Twitter and MySpace, and do some blogging for work. I don’t write as much as I would like or probably need to. Sometimes I forget that I toiled in all those creative writing workshops in college.
Location: Upstate New York
Tell us about your educational/professional background.
Bachelor of Arts Degree: History and English with Creative Writing Emphasis from Albion College
Master of Mass Communications (Integrated Marketing Track) from University of South Carolina
Tell us about your current job.
At the moment, I am employed by the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Valley. I spend half my time as an assistant coach/assistant to the Program Director. The other half is spent as a Marketing Writer for the YCCA (YMCA Center for the Creative Arts). I’m also a varsity track and field coach and assistant basketball coach for the Special Olympics.
What does a typical day look like for you?
A couple hours of computer stuff, coach a clinic or practice, back to the computer, meeting or two, off to track practice, sometimes back to the Y for another clinic. Spending way too much friggin’ money on gas.
What kinds of documents do you produce?
Fliers, press releases, media alerts, other promotional materials. Internet-based marketing stuff (blog posts, calendar inserts, forum postings) if I’m promoting a concert or something.
What communication skills are needed for your job?
Ability to talk to people from different walks of life. Knowledge of Publisher, Adobe, etc. Decent writer. Better than average listener.
How did you prepare for your job?
It is similar to what I have done professionally since I got out of college. Actually, even while I was in college. Just what I do. I do spend quite a bit of time reading and keeping up to date about the latest IMC/consumer generated content/internet MKTG trends.
List three of your favorite professional resources/references/tools and tell us why they’re your favorite.
Lots of podcasts (Marketing over Coffee, NPR, Public Relations podcasts, Marketing Podcast, etc.). Good way to keep up to date and also distract myself while knocking out mile repeats and 90 minute runs.
My notes from every class I took with Dr. Collins, specifically Media Law and Public Relations Management. I learned more from him in two semesters than I have in the other 24+ years of my existence. He is a demi-God. All graduates of USC’s MMC program understand this and most likely have their Collins notes as dog-eared and over highlighted as I do.
Grammar stuff…my trusty Bedford Handbook from my freshman year of college. Katie O’Neill (college roommate’s best friend and my personal editor in crunch time) on speed dial.
How do you stay up-to-date in your field?
Lots of e-newletters. Lots of podcasts. Member of Society for New Communications Research & SPJ (Society of Professional Journalists).
How would you define professional writing?
I don’t have a definition. The field is so jumbled right now and there is so much consumer-generated content that it’s hard for me to say what is professional writing and what is written opinion or personal writing. But if I did have a definition, I’m sure it would include the following:
- Presentation
- Accuracy
- Consistency
- Accountability
- Peer standards
Do you have any tips to share with other professional designers/writers/editors?
Make the time to write, even if it’s just a quick entry in your personal blog or journal or hand-writing a letter to a friend or loved one. Read all the manuals and guidebooks, worship your favorite authors, quote from your favorite books, but don’t forget that writing is all about finding your own voice. It can take a long time to find your voice, and it can change over time, but it’s in there somewhere.
Tags: In the Workplace
omg.. good work, brother