Title: Office Administrator – Cleveland
Firm: Porter Wright
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, master’s degree in manufacturing operations, paralegal and e-discovery certificates.
Where did you grow up? Grand Rapids, Mich.
What was your first job? Dairy Queen. First real job: Operations Specialist at General Motors.
What would you be doing if you weren't in your current job? I love my job — the only thing I would do instead (if I had the money!) would be to travel internationally.
What is currently on your iPod? A random mix of music. My three grown kids are into country these days, so I have been known to play some country lately.
Where is your favorite place to go to relax? For a run — I have a great six-mile run that goes through the city, along the river and ends along the lakefront.
What is your favorite TV show? Favorite movie? I must admit, I really enjoy “The Voice.” I love to see random people get the opportunity to hit it big. I like “feel good movies” — I just watched “The Blind Side.” I also enjoy legal thrillers.
What is your favorite cuisine? Anything healthy; I don’t eat much meat.
If you were stranded on a desert island, who or what would you want to have with you? My two kitties. I would say my kids, but they all have their own lives now, so I would not wish a desert island on them.
Who are the most important people in your life? My three children. They are all out on their own now, and are healthy, happy and successful — what more could a mom want!
What is the first thing you read in the morning? Email on my iPhone
How did you get into legal marketing? We have a great marketing staff in our home office (Columbus), but the attorneys in my office wanted a local presence, so I agreed to provide any help that I could locally.
What is the best thing about your job? As the Office Administrator, I have a wide range of responsibilities. It makes things very interesting and offers continual opportunities to grow and learn. I also am fortunate to work with a great team, in my office as well as at our other offices.
What advice would you offer a new entrant to the world of legal marketing? The recent economic downturn changed the legal arena forever. Many folks in our world have not yet accepted that and are waiting for “things to get busy again.” Having watched my previous industry (automotive manufacturing) go through several downturns and upswings, I have witnessed the difficulty associated with implementing change. I also have witnessed the success of companies that recognized and embraced change, and were rewarded with an economic advantage (increased sales and profits). I would advise anyone coming into this world to look for ways to help their organization recognize the need for and implement change.