I’ve been
involved in corporate branding for years, but when I found myself in the
position of needing to create my own brand, it was an experience in reflection
upon the life and career experiences that shaped me, the people and purposes I
have had a passion for, and the challenges I am ready to tackle. So why Red
Box? Seeking some inspiration, I came across a blog entry that suggested color
association. I immediately saw red. Now, at first I
thought, well, red is my favorite color, but
then I realized it was so much more than that…
As a young child, I was quickly drawn to writing and art. My parents had found
an antique school desk and chair that found a home in our family room. I used
to sit at that desk for hours creating new ideas, pretending I was the “boss”
and handing out assignments to my make-believe team. On top of that desk stood
a red pencil box that
held all my prized utensils. Each day, I would pick from it the tool I would
use to create my newest adventure…
When I got a little older and started spending long weekends at my
Grandmother’s house, my parents got me a red suitcase that said, “Going to Grandma’s” on
the cover. It sounds silly now, but I loved that suitcase. I realize now, it
wasn’t the suitcase so much as what it meant…I was going to spend time with my
“Gramma,” a strong Portuguese mother of twelve who learned to be an
independent, multitasking chief household officer since my Grandfather was
often away in the Merchant Marines. I earned a great respect for my Gramma at a
very early age and have just recently come to appreciate just how powerful an
influence her lessons have had on me…
At the ripe age of 17, I was one of those teenagers who knew exactly what she
wanted to do with her life, firm in my decision to major in Journalism, when I
packed up my crimson red trunk to move to Boston University and attend the College of Communication. Of
course, at the time, I thought I’d use it to be a sports reporter, combining
two of my greatest loves. While that specific career path ended after jobs at
Community Newspaper Group, WEEI Sports Radio and WABU-TV, ultimately,
the lessons I learned both inside and outside the classroom set me on a firm
path to explore my craft. I made friends and found future colleagues that I
still treasure today and it was there that I solidified my desire to be a
leader in helping others to communicate…
After a little over a year with an amazing start-up, SIM Media, I joined
Schwartz Communications, one of the nation’s leading healthcare and technology
public relations agencies, where I would spend the next 6+ years. There, I had
the pleasure to work with some of the most talented people in PR and for some
of the most innovative clients. Among them was Philips Healthcare. In addition
to leading the corporate PR program for the Cardiac Resuscitation business, I
was part of the launch team for the first ever home defibrillator. This alone
would have been an honor, but since a Philips HeartStart Defibrillator—the one
in the red case—was
responsible for saving the life of a dear friend of mine only months earlier,
it quickly became a passion of mine to advocate for sudden cardiac arrest
awareness. I worked that cause for several years, moving on from Schwartz to
lead marketing communications at BD Biosciences and eventually taking a role
directly at Philips to lead Cardiac Resuscitation’s marketing communications
function. There I continued my advocacy for the public use of AEDs, while also
working closely with EMS, Fire, and Hospital customers leading the globe’s most
advanced cardiac care systems. This experience, the passion for the technology
in that red case, and the energy I have for innovative solutions to the world’s
problems, are elements that have fueled me every day…
So, you see, a red box can hold a lot of promise, power, professionalism and
passion and it’s what makes me uniquely capable of presenting to you Red
Box Communications, the strategic marketing communications
consultancy that will put its experience and insights to work for your success.
