Spotlights
Spotlight on Creativity January 2009
January’s spotlight on creativity is local creative professional Jami Slotnick. Jami has been working in the creative field since 1991, after graduating from Rutgers University/New Brunswick with a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communications. She has been with Munroe Creative Partners, a marketing communications firm with offices in Philadelphia and New York, for 14 years. As Partner/Senior Project Manager, Jami enjoys identifying, pitching (and closing) new business as well as working with art directors and writers to manage print and digital large projects for clients such as Comcast, MetLife and JPMorgan Chase.
In her free time, Jami is a freelance writer reporting on trends in Philadelphia dining, movers and shakers, what’s hot and what’s not as well as interesting and fun things to do in and around the Greater Philadelphia Area. She has written for Philadelphia Style Magazine, PhillyFit Magazine, Main Line Magazine and www.uwishunu.com.
Your name:
Jami Lyn Slotnick
Firm/company:
Munroe Creative Partners
Occupation:
Partner/Senior Project Manager
Current Location:
1435 Walnut Street, Suite 600, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Hometown:
Margate, NJ
Favorite Philadelphia neighborhood:
Rittenhouse & Old City
Best advice you've ever been given:
Live authentically. Follow your heart and dreams and the money will follow.
Your favorite thing about living in the Philadelphia Region:
I love that our great city is very walkable. There’s nothing I love more than to put a great pair of sneaks and go on a walking adventure from University City to Penns Landing. Philadelphia is also very affordable. I think it’s very possible to have a blast from sunrise to sunset with only ten bucks in your pocket. Also, the people in Philly are amazing and helpful. There’s so much connectivity. This translates to great networking opportunities (personally and professionally). I’ve found that Philadelphians really want to help you – in any way they can. Whether it’s advice, or recommending another person to talk with – I’m always amazed how receptive and warm most people are.
Your favorite thing about working in the Philadelphia Region:
I’m really lucky. From start-ups and non-profits to regionally based, large Fortune 100 companies, my job allows me to learn about almost every industry sector you can think of. Our region is so diverse in terms of talent. It keeps things lively when your mix of clients is so varied. I’ve worked with renegade entrepreneurs, well-respected law firms, savvy professional services organizations and have learned (and continue to learn) so much from my clients. From banking to tourism/hospitality to real estate moguls and developers, every client that I have met over my career has only made me smarter, more informed and more able to find new and enterprising solutions to marketing strategies. I am so thankful to have touched so many amazing individuals (mostly marketing/communications directors and CEOs from esteemed businesses and organizations.) All of them have provided me with a rich and robust frame of reference.
How would you market the Philadelphia Region to professionals outside the region?
Technology has completely revolutionized the graphic design industry to the extent that it really doesn’t matter WHERE talented individuals hale from. With video conferencing, e-mail communication and electronic file transmissions and postings, our firm is able to service clients from Main to Florida, From Louisiana to California. Geography has become secondary to the quality of the final deliverable. So whether it’s a new website, annual report, sales collateral or other brand identity executions, it is more about good client service and brilliant executions and less about miles between client and creative firm. This means that business should look to Philadelphia as a hotbed of creative talent at a price that makes sense during these uncertain economic times. Competitively speaking, firms in the Greater Philadelphia Area tend to “sharper their pencils” when it comes to stretching budgets. Creative firms in Philadelphia are a great value.Good talent is good talent – these days it just doesn’t matter of where your offices is (or isn’t!)
What advice would you give to young professionals trying to break into your industry?
My advice would be to marry your true passions with your well-honed skill sets. Love to shop at Urban Outfitters and love marketing? Try to nail a position with that locally-based company! Are you really into helping senior citizens and perhaps you’re a great writer? Consider a career as an in-house marketing coordinator at any one of our area’s senior living centers or outreach programs. Love to take day trips, shoot photographs and journal about your experiences? Consider launching a blog about what makes you happy. You never know what that might lead to.
Another great piece of advice is to try to find a mentor. I was pretty lucky to have Judy Munroe as my mentor. She taught me the ropes by throwing me into the thick of it. That had me biting my nails a bit back then, but it was the best way to learn. I was pitching without really knowing that I was pitching. I was writing proposals and budgets and timelines simply by watching her on a daily basis – that’s the stuff they don’t necessary teach you in large universities. Looking back, she was a pretty unbelievable mentor, not just from a creative standpoint but watching her entrepreneurial business skills in action also helped me gain confidence in my own selling abilities. Trust me; mentors are key when breaking into your industry!
Additional advice is to read local trade publications and stay on top of websites that cater to the industry you want to be part of (www.phillyadclub.com/.) Reach out to those in coveted positions and ask to meet with them for 20 minutes for an informational interview. Simply explain that you’re searching for a mentor. You’ll be surprised how many folks really want to help you! Philadelphians have big hearts (they’ve been there too). Oh, don’t just do one internship; try to do three or even four! Internships are incubators for relationship building and intense learning. And, while you’re fulfilling your internship do WAY more than what is expected of you. Also research and attend industry meet ups, get-togethers, speaking engagements, networking socials and other events like award-recognition parties, etc.
How has the communications/marketing/design industry in Philadelphia evolved in the past five years?
Today, marketing firms and design firms come in all shapes, colors and sizes. There are large firms, boutique agencies and freelancers all teeming with talent and break-through ideas. It’s gotten more competitive with regard to vying for new clients. I think it’s important that firms work TOGETHER and consider collaborating more. I see this as an emerging trend right now, but we need to do more if it. For example, teaming up with a specialist in Flash Animation to help a client revamp certain modules of their site, or partnering with SEO specialists to really take the success of that site to the next level – is paramount; collaboration is key. The notion of using best practices (the right people on the right tasks) to make a project better – to really blow a client away – is an important one.
Munroe Creative Partners is a creative powerhouse, employing award-winning writers, graphic designers and communication strategists who have mastered disciplined creativity by working directly with their clients. They have eliminated the account management layer and have streamlined communications, saving clients time and money. Munroe most often work on a per-project basis — which makes hiring them cost efficient and practical Munroe helps their clients achieve their business, marketing and ROI objectives through insightful design and compelling, focused, brand messages in both print and digital mediums. Clients include Tastykake, QVC, Comcast, SAP, the Port Authority of NJ & NY and Dupont, to name a few.
Click here to see examples of Jami’s work in the region.
To learn more about Jami and her work in the region, visit www.munroe.com/.