Do you have a method for coming up with ideas and solutions for clients? Listen to clients. Listen to clients' customers. Listen to clients' prospects. Listen to customers who bought from the competition. Think. Read. Pray. Use Post-It notes. Daydream. Eat. Talk. Write. Whistle. Scour the web. Scour magazines. Scour the sink. Mow. Use more Post-It notes. Watch people. Run things past my wife and kids. Long showers. Listen to music. Read some more. Write some more. Eat. Fish. Drive. Listen some more. Hit the treadmill. Listen. Drum a little on my desk. Whistle some more. Whack the weeds in the backyard. Talk to staff. Eat. Use up the remaining Post-It notes...Pretty much in that order.

What was growing up like for you? Both of my older brothers were afraid to take the hamsters out of the cage once they had passed on to the big “hamster wheel in the sky.” (We went through a lot of them - and actually, they were gerbils.) I think being the designated “Undertaker” probably messed me up somehow...I'm still trying to figure that one out.

What was “your finest moment”, the thing you're the most proud of? Hopefully, it's still to come - but up to this point, it was when an already successful client changed their company's mission statement as a result of some positioning research we had done for them. It was then I realized that our work REALLY did make a difference...On a personal level, I must say having committed “Goodnight Moon” to memory was certainly one of my finer accomplishments when my kids were younger.

If you lived on a desert island, what would you miss most? All the highlights of my typical day: nightly episodes of Jeopardy, my morning cup of tea, watching basketball, and my yoga mat.

What makes a great brand? A great brand understands its customers (and/or potential customers). It doesn't attempt to be everything to everyone, it has focus and purpose. A great brand tells a unique story that connects to its customers and sets it apart from competitors – it delivers the product or service that it represents. A great brand evolves with technology and changing tastes to remain relevant, and it constantly assesses its own areas for improvement.

What attracted you to HuebnerPetersen? The culture of the agency. The authentic drive the agency has towards building success for the brands they work with. The integrity, home grown values and true enthusiasm the agency is built around.

What excites you most about where marketing and technology are headed? What excites me most is the increased interaction occurring between brands and their customers, as well as the opportunity for interaction between customers. It is causing companies to have to become more open and transparent, which in turn, keeps them honest. I also believe this world of open communication is going to create better products and services because customers can more easily give their feedback on wants and needs.

What talent do you wish you had? I really wish I could play the acoustic guitar. I've had one for several years now and have only taken a few lessons, so I still don't really know how to play it. For awhile, I used it as a conversation piece in my family room - but that is not quite the reason I bought it. I am determined to learn to play it though...some day.

Do you have a method for coming up with ideas and solutions for clients? Read. Read. Read. I read as much information as I can about what’s happening in the marketing industry and what other companies are doing to become marketing success (or failure) stories.

What makes a great brand? Great brands have a deep understanding and pride in their own culture. They aren’t satisfied with camouflaging themselves to look and act like everyone else in their market. But instead they look into themselves for the things that are unique and they use those nuances as a benefit to stand out from competing brands. Just looking like you know what you are doing won’t take you very far these days. You have to be memorable.

What talent do you wish you had? Mindreading. People already expect me to posses this talent so I wish I could be more helpful. 

If you lived on a desert island, what would you miss most? The hope that someday people take me seriously when I say I like to draw pictures and think of clever ideas. Hasn’t really panned out.

Do you have a method for coming up with ideas and solutions for clients? 1. Learn learn learn as much as I can can can about the client's problem or situation. 2. I then pretend I'm a Martian that has just landed on earth and I'm seeing things for the first time. This puts me in a position of questioning everything, seeing my problem or situation with completely fresh eyes, and taking nothing for granted. Commence ideas. 3. I'll take some time off, allowing my knowledge, thoughts, and ideas to percolate into my Aha moment. 4. Apply brilliant idea.

What attracted you to HuebnerPetersen? The long relationships they maintain with their clients, as well as the 20+ successful years in business.

What is your favorite blog and/or website? http://design-milk.com/ http://www.smashingmagazine.com/ http://www.thedieline.com/ http://www.readymade.com/ http://www.dwell.com/

What got you into this business? I actually started out in newspapers. After nine years in the business (and a three-year stint at the Rocky Mountain News), my newspaper career came to an end when the Rocky closed in early 2009. During those nine years, I was given a whole bunch of tools that have helped me in the marketing/advertising world. I became a writer, a brainstormer, a designer, a sports editor, a listener and one deadline-driven girl. And thanks to Huebner Petersen, I'm now in the marketing/advertising business because they gave me a chance.

Do you have a method for coming up with ideas and solutions for clients? Listening is an absolute must. If you don't understand the challenges your clients face, then it is almost impossible to provide them with solutions that address their needs. I think before you truly can dig into a project, this is the first and most important step of the entire process.

What was growing up like for you? I'm a twin so sitting alphabetically in class wasn't always cool. My parents taught me the value of having fun as a family. I loved writing, and when I was about 12, I tried to publish a chapter book. (Looking back on it, it was a pretty lame story written by an aspiring 12-year-old.) Our family went to car shows in a 1927 Dodge Brother Sedan. I loved to kneeboard—and still do. I got As in class—always—except for one B in high school. (And I cried.) But Bs aside, I have to admit growing up couldn't have been any better. My daughter often asks if I wish I were still a kid. My response—sure, it would be fun.

What makes a great brand?
 A great brand is equal to a great experience. It is understood, feels good and compels the passing of the story to others. What makes this happen isn’t mysterious, but requires a vision and a determination to stay focused and practice what is preached. For consumers a great brand connects emotionally by providing a trusted relationship. For owners of the brand, greatness is in keeping the trust.

What got you into this business? I remember the day I won grand champion in photography at the county fair. The success was enough encouragement for me to mow more yards and shovel more sidewalks to save up for a Nikon F3 and peruse photo journalism throughout high school. I enjoyed telling stories visually and when I studied art I found telling these stories through communication arts to be exciting, rewarding and challenging. I continue to find the excitement, reward and challenge in learning to better communicate with a changing world.

What excites you most about where marketing & technology are headed? The increasing connectivity of individuals and the personalization of the web. Understanding that trust comes from experiences, and value is created during these experiences. Peoples willingness to interact with brands begins a narrative while social networks provide access and incentive to listen to opinions and stories. The consumers have taken notice of this resource and the leveraging of this resource into everyday decisions is becoming more relevant and accelerating.

What makes a great brand?
 I think a great brand is built on listening to consumers—understanding their wants, needs and frustrations. In turn, a company can strive to fix problems and exceed expectations to create a strong brand.

What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could sing, and not just in the back row of your local choir. I wish I could sing like Whitney, Mariah or Christina! Plus, then I could save a lot of room on my return address labels by not needing a last name.

What frustrates you the most? When people don’t recycle. It’s so easy and so important.

What makes a great brand? One thing that I think makes a great brand is connectivity. When purchasing a product, we make it a personal experience. We choose a brand that we are proud to be associated with. This is why we will pay more for a certain brand of a product over cheaper brand’s product that serve the same purpose. I would prefer to buy from a more expensive company when I know that their priorities and values are similar to mine. When we buy a product it is becoming a small part of our lives, and we want to connect to it in a special way.

If you lived on a desert island, what would you miss the most? Ice cream. No hesitation. I love ice cream. Period.

What talent do you wish you had? Honestly, there are quite a few talents I wish I had. Playing the banjo, charisma, extreme couponing, computer science, stand-up comedy, passing a lie-detector test. However, if I had to pick just one talent, I would have to say break-dancing. I could watch people break-dance all day. It is so fascinating. They move their bodies so quickly and with such ease. They do all sorts of tricks. They are flexible. There really are no downsides to being a break-dancer. The most acrobatic I get is a somersault, so it looks like I will have to stick with a desk job.

What was “your finest moment”, the thing you're the most proud of? To date: Completing a marathon and a half (39.3 miles) in Keystone, Colorado (approximate elevation 10,000 ft.). Not bad for this east coast girl!

Tell us about your pets? One VERY spoiled, solid black cocker spaniel named Bojangles. "Bo" spends as much time in the office as I do! He works very hard counting sheep while I count beans and crunch numbers.

What talent do you wish you had? I would love to sing! My children claim that even God wouldn't think my singing was a joyful noise!