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- Your Name:
- Julie Myers
- Company:
- JM Marketing Solutions, LLC
- Contact Info:
- 816.728.0027
- julie@jm-marketingsolutions.com
- www.jm-marketingsolutions.com
- Discipline Specialty:
- Strategic Marketing / Copywriting
- What would you like to tell everyone about your freelance career?
- My focus is on helping clients bring in the business so that they can focus on running their business. Putting their ideas to work and giving them a roadmap on the best ways to reach their customers using a mixture of traditional and new media. I love going in and just talking, making that personal connection, finding out more about their points of pain and figuring out solutions. Being freelance lets me do more of what I love to do ... strategic marketing + creative thinking with a dash of direct and online marketing.
- Notable clients/accounts:?
- I work with several small to medium-sized businesses in a variety of industries, including financial services, banking, education, printing and non-profit organizations.
- Why did you join The Freelance Exchange?
- My friend and mentor, Diane Schmidt of Diane Schmidt & Associates, invited me to a monthly meeting. This gave me the opportunity to talk with other freelancers and find out more about the pros and cons. After attending several meetings, I liked what I saw and heard. In retrospect, becoming involved with The Freelance Exchange was my first step into a freelance career. (Many thanks to Diane who has never steered me wrong yet!)
- How do you benefit from being a member??
- FX offers lots of great networking opportunities. I'm developing deeper relationships with those I've worked with in the past. And I've met lots of new people from many different disciplines who are experts in their fields. I now have a great resource I can go to when my clients need something outside what I can give them. And it provides lots of learning opportunities, giving me exposure to topics and other disciplines I might not have had the chance for in a regular 9 to 5 job.
- What committee(s) are/were you on and what were your duties?
- For the past year I've been a member of the Social Media committee, updating the FX Facebook page with announcements, upcoming events and other items of interest to the group. I'm now taking over as the Social Media Chair from Brody Dorland (which means I have some big shoes to fill!).
- Why did you volunteer?
- FX has been a key organization as I've made my way into a freelance career. I wanted to become more involved and volunteering is one of the best ways I know to get to know the members as well as the organization better. Collaboration is key to our business. Volunteering offers an opportunity to bounce ideas around.
- What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
- The collaboration and synergy you get when you're with like-minded colleagues. Trying something new that may be outside my comfort zone. Getting me out from behind my desk!
- What advice would you give to others as to why they should volunteer?
- If you're concerned about the time commitment, start out small. There are always lots of opportunities to volunteer where it's a 1x time commitment. And you'll gain so much more than you expected. You'll expand your professional network - always a key since you never know where that next referral might come from. You'll get more visibility for your business. And you'll make some really great friends, too.
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- Your Name:
- Sarah Lyons
- Company:
- Kinetic Ink
- Contact Info:
- 816.255.6329
- sarah@kineticink.com
- www.kineticink.com
- Discipline Specialty:
- Copywriting + Strategic Marketing
- What would you like to tell everyone about your freelance career?
- I help small + minority owned businesses and non-profits put their action into words through brand development, permission-based marketing, online presence enhancement, PR + communications, and the recruitment of brand advocates via traditional + new media initiatives.
- Why did you join The Freelance Exchange?
- In addition to my status as a “joiner” and association professional, I joined the Freelance Exchange at the recommendation of a colleague and mentor, Keith Daw. I saw it as an opportunity to start my freelance career on the right foot by connecting with creative and successful professionals in the industry.
- How do you benefit from being a member??
- Joining a professional association is my first piece of advice to individuals hoping to succeed in their careers and the Freelance Exchange embodies all the great things you should look for in an organization: networking, professional development, resources, referrals, and leadership opportunities! For many freelancers, the opportunity to collaborate doesn’t happen very often. With this dynamic network of well-connected professionals, my chances for team work and referrals have grown exponentially in relation to my involvement. Additionally, for a professional who is relatively new to the industry, you can’t get this kind of insight, education and support anywhere else.
- What committee(s) are/were you on and what were your duties?
- I’m currently on the PR Committee for the Freelance Exchange and just wrapped up volunteering in the same capacity for the Portfolio Showcase this year. For the showcase, I worked with Sarah Breshears and the Special Events Team, and with Keith Daw and the PR Committee, to promote the event to local media, agencies, businesses, and FXofKC members. As traditional and new media continue to blend the lines between everything we do, I’m excited to do the same in promoting the FXofKC as a resource, authority, and important part of the community!
- Why did you volunteer?
- I’m just an avid volunteer! In addition to making up such an important part of my own target market, I think volunteers are the backbone of most great organizations and that together we can do pretty awesome things. I tore this quote out of Vogue ages ago: “Their gifts might not have been individually overwhelming, but cumulatively they emerged as far greater than the sum of their parts.” What a cool concept – that together we can do something bigger and better than we’re capable of on our own!
- What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
- When it comes to a bunch of indies driving an organization like the FXofKC to do good for one another, for small businesses, and for the community, that Vogue quote really resonates. I love feeling like I’m contributing to something bigger than just my little creative writing gig in my house every day! Plus, the people are totally brilliant and fun to work with.
- What advice would you give to others as to why they should volunteer?
- It doesn’t have to be giving tons of your time or money; sometimes just being a warm body in a room can help more than you know. And until you put yourself out there to help a cause or an organization or a person who needs a hand, you’re missing a really important part of being an entrepreneur. If you’re a member of the Freelance Exchange, you probably didn’t make it to the fame and fortune you enjoy today 100% independently. And if you’re just getting started, you’ve got countless opportunities to make invaluable connections and contribute in ways you may not even know about yet. Go ahead. Pay it forward. It won’t kill you. And it might just help you get you your next gig.
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| (151 Reads) |
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- Your Name:
- Emily Perkins
- Company:
- à la mode communications llc
- Contact Info:
- 913-261-9225
- eperkins@alamodecommunications.com
- www.alamodecommunications.com
- Discipline Specialty:
- Writing/Editing
- What would you like to tell everyone about your freelance career?
- It has been challenging, but so rewarding as well.
- Notable Clients/Accounts:
- Feature writing for Enhance Magazine, KCH&G Magazine; Creative copywriting for Arch Marketing Group, Tricension, AccelerAction
- Why did you join The Freelance Exchange?
- Interaction. To expand my professional network, as well as to gain insight and advice on having a freelance career.
- How do you benefit from being a member??
- Meet great people, learn from other professionals in my field and gain inspiration for my own business.
- What committee(s) are/were you on and what were your duties?
- QuickConnect Speed Networking Event – I developed the theme for the event, wrote the announcement e-mail and helped monitor timed networking during the event.
- Why did you volunteer?
- I thought it would be a great opportunity to meet new people in the Freelance Exchange and gain exposure for my business.
- What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
- I enjoy planning and watching things come together.
- What advice would you give to others as to why they should volunteer?
- It’s a great way to get involved and meet others.
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| (190 Reads) |
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- Your Name:
- Stephen Weis
- Company:
- Stephen Weis Illustration and Design
- Contact Info:
- 816 407 1273
- stephen@stephenweis.com
- http://www.stephenweis.com
- Discipline Specialty:
- illustration, graphic design, art direction
- What would you like to tell everyone about your freelance career?
- I started freelancing out of necessity 8 years ago and have never stopped. I enjoy taking a project from initial concept through all facets to completion. I particularly enjoy creating identities and logos, greeting cards and picture book illustration. And am interested in creating some album art and book covers.
- Notable Clients/Accounts:
- Brown Recluse Solutions, Promethean Ventures LLC, Jokes On Spokes, University of Kansas, William Jewell College, Special Olympics
- Why did you join The Freelance Exchange?
- Interaction. To get out of the seclusion of my own studio and have access to opinions and advice from peers. The Freelance Exchange provides an excellent platform for such interaction.
- How do you benefit from being a member??
- Easy access to the advice and experiences of other members.
- What committee(s) are/were you on and what were your duties?
- I illustrated the cover of the upcoming membership directory for Phil Watkins' Directory committee.
- Why did you volunteer?
- It was a great opportunity to provide assistance to The Freelance Exchange while getting a bit of exposure too. And it was a chance to collaborate with Phil!
- What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
- Knowing that I've been a help to the community.
- What advice would you give to others as to why they should volunteer?
- First it just feels good! To know you've given back to something you believe in and helped it to progress in at least a small way. Plus it can be a door to new ideas and opportunities.
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| (148 Reads) |
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- Your Name:
- Diane Schmidt
- Company:
- Diane Schmidt & Associates
- Contact Info:
- 913-831-4810
- DSSchmidt1@aol.com
- Discipline Specialty:
- Account and Project Management/Print Production/Proofreader
- What would you like to tell everyone about your freelance career?
- At one time I managed three departments and supervised 65+ employees at a large direct marketing company – putting in lots of overtime as well as dealing with petty issues. For the past 10 years I’ve had my own company, being my own boss. I have the flexibility to work with clients whom I enjoy working with as well as creating my own schedule. The majority of my clients were aware of my working skills – very organized and detailed – and at some point in time I worked with these people as colleagues.
- Notable Clients/Accounts:
- I work with several small to medium-sized advertising and direct marketing agencies. I handle the production work on many national accounts (working with copywriters, art directors, printers and lettershop houses). I also proof numerous national catalogs, newsletters and brochures. For a financial institution, I help keep collateral pieces up-to-date with government and legal regulations.
- Awards/Special Recognition:
- With a team of professionals, I have won several Kansas City Direct Marketing Association AMBIT awards and was credited as the Production Manager on the projects.
- Why did you join The Freelance Exchange?
- I joined The Freelance Exchange to expand my network. Special thanks to Tina Smith, Hillcroft Design, who invited me to my first meeting!
- How do you benefit from being a member??
- I attempt to make every monthly meeting. No matter what the topic is, I always learn something new as well as meet someone new.
- What committee(s) are/were you on and what were your duties?
- 2009 ICE Awards – I attended meetings, ran errands, picked up items, setup and cleanup crew as well as worked the front entrance as greeter and money taker. Also I was a sponsor. 2010 Portfolio Showcase – I’m helping with the mailing list (data cleansing, formatting, reviewing), proofreading mailers and assisting to secure a printer.
- Why did you volunteer?
- I’ve been a member for over a year and I thought it was time to get more involved.
- What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
- I enjoy meeting and working with other freelancers–especially getting to know their backgrounds and levels of expertise and how we can complement each another.
- What advice would you give to others as to why they should volunteer?
- Being a volunteer gives you the opportunity to network, stay connected, get involved and build new professional relationships.
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