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Volume F
Alyson Footer
Sr. Director of Social Media
I'm trying to remember what I "wanted to be" when I grew up...I'm sure as a very small kid I wanted to be a nurse, but I think in my teenage years, I wanted to be a news broadcaster. It really didn't make any sense, since I was painfully shy and just wanted to hide behind my mom.
My current position is titled Sr. Director of Social Media. I am in charge of all of the social networking efforts of the Astros, which includes blogging, Twitter, Facebook and video.
Two courses have helped me in my adult life more than any other: Journalism and (don't laugh) typing. My typing teacher was a pain because she was a perfectionist, but obviously, I couldn't do my job now without those skills. I spent eight years as a reporter for MLB.com prior to taking my current position, and seeing we wrote two to three thousand words a day, typing is as much of a tool as tape recorders and notebooks.
For fun, I spend quiet time with friends. I try to catch a movie here and there, but for the most part, I simply enjoy meeting friends for dinner in a casual atmosphere. In baseball, you work constantly, year-round, so any down time is spent as stress-free as possible.
Hints for girls as they select a career: Make sure they know they can do anything if they work hard, are dedicated, and are easy to work with. This whole "it's a man's world" mantra is absurd. Pick something you like to do and work to be the best at it. I also encourage girls to not worry about trying to figure out what they want to do with the rest of their lives when they first start college. I didn't know what I wanted to do until I was almost out of graduate school. Figure out what you're good at, do a bunch of internships, try a lot of different things and make sound decisions when it's time. There's no timetable; you'll know when you're ready.
Favorite book to read over the summer: I enjoy lighter reading when I'm traveling, which I do all summer long. I'm on a lot of airplanes, so there's plenty of time to read; that said, I'm often preoccupied with work things (I tend to worry a lot, even when there's nothing to worry about), so I find that lighter reading fits my lifestyle better. When I was a kid, I loved Judy Blume books (still do) and Sweet Valley High.
Thanks again,
Alyson
Erin Franco
Public Relations Coordinator
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A teacher
What was the best course in school you took that helps you today?
All of my English classes. Knowing how to write clearly and concisely in an interesting way, with correct grammar, is very important for many different kinds of jobs. Being a good writer has helped me in my career very much!
What do you do for fun?
I love to read and to cook. I also really enjoy gardening, shopping, and spending time outdoors with my family and friends.
Do you have any hints for girls as they select a career?
Don't be afraid to start out small with your first jobs and internships. My first internships and jobs had me making a lot of copies and generally doing a lot of tedious, low-level work. You can still shine even though you're doing humble work at first. You shine through your positive attitude and your eagerness to learn and to take criticism. If all they let you do at first is make copies and answer the phone, make those copies perfect and answer that phone with enthusiasm and professionalism.
Your favorite book to read over the summer?
This summer, I plan on reading William P. Young's, "The Shack."
Melissa Fitzgerald
Director of Promotions for the Houston Downtown Alliance
I work as the Director of Promotions for the Houston Downtown Alliance which is the parent organization to the Houston Theater District. I primarily plan special events designed to bring people into the downtown area and into our world class theaters. But working in a small non-profit means you will wear many hats! I have a hand in public relations, marketing, advertising design and sponsorship development along with event coordinating. Its so much fun!
When I was growing up, I always knew I wanted to do something in the arts. At first I wanted to be a writer, then a publisher, then a graphic designer and lastly a curator at an art museum. While the titles of my dream jobs changed frequently, the core of my interest stayed the same. I knew the arts were what I loved and they were where I wanted to build my career.
The course that was most beneficial to me was a journalism course on promotions in college. That class was the equivalent of a baby bird learning to fly for the first time. We were challenged to plan, promote and execute an awareness event for a local non-profit group in the area. I firmly believe that in this industry, as in most, the best way to learn is to just dive in and start swimming.
In my spare time I love to paint, dabble in photography, travel and of course, read!
Think about what excites you, think about what makes you smile and build on that. I always had a lift in my spirits when I thought about being creative, so I always knew that creativity would have to be a part of my career. The time you spend at work accounts for 40+ hours of your week, you dont want to spend that time doing something you hate. You dream job may not look exactly like you always pictured it, but if the core of it is something you love, it will be something you enjoy.
My favorite summer book to read is The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. When I read, I am mentally transported to the places in the pages. The book is set in luxurious mansions on the beach in The Hamptons. I like to imagine Im lounging by the pool next to Daisy in a long 1920s chiffon gown, sipping a glass of iced tea with a cool breeze floating in the air, rather than clinging helplessly to my air conditioner in Houston. Its the quickest and cheapest way to vacation in The Hamptons without leaving my couch!
Disaster Recovery / Business Continuity Consultant
Roswitha Firth
I help companies plan and test their computer systems and business processes to make sure the business can still operate if there is a disaster, like a hurricane or regional power outage.
Architect, pilot
Does not apply -- Honestly. My favorite class was Ancient History with Mr. Sector in the 9th grade. If I had to pick, I would say English classes. This might seem odd because my career is in Information Technology, but a lot of my job involves communication, both written and oral. Being able to write clearly and well is something I need every day, whether I'm writing a report or preparing a presentation. I also do a lot of convincing in my job, so it helps to be able to speak to people in a way they understand, no matter who they are or what they do.
Read, travel, hang out with friends, play with my dogs
Find what you love. Don't be surprised if you change careers at least once in your working life - this is becoming the norm (which is good in case you didn't pick what you really love the first go-round). Don't expect things to turn out the way you had planned. They often don't, and that's okay - it's usually not a catastrophe. I graduated college with a BA in Art History and German Literature. I worked retail in an art gallery for several years before I owned my own business (the art gallery). Then I wound up in Corporate Security before moving into the area I am in now: Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery. There's no possible way to prepare scholastically for all of that ... except to do your best, challenge yourself, and don't take all the easy classes. Easy classes don't prepare you for anything but coasting.
Too many to list. I loved Charlotte's Web and Watership Down growing up. I read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Judy Blume, you name it - I read it. But there are so many books published since I was a kid. I haven't read them but the Artemis Fowl series sounds good. I loved The Princess Diaries movie so I'm sure the books would be great fun. I am a huge Harry Potter fan. My favorite authors include Colleen McCullough, Anita Shreve, and Ian Rankin. I mostly enjoy mysteries and historical fiction, but I'll read almost anything.
Charlene Floyd
Executive Director of the Houston Police Foundation
Enjoy going to work everyday. If you don't enjoy your job, find a job or career that you can enjoy. Always give 110%.
What did you want to be when you grew up?Nurse What was the best course in school you took that helps you today?Business Management What do you do for fun?Golf Do you have any hints for girls as they select a career?Be flexible, take the basic courses in college before selecting a major. Your favorite book to read over the summer?"Spoken from the Heart" by Laura Bush
Nurse
Business Management
Golf
Be flexible, take the basic courses in college before selecting a major.
"Spoken from the Heart" by Laura Bush
Sharone Ferrell
Human Resource Coordinator
My name is Shárone Ferrell. I am currently a Human Resource Coordinator with a Corrosion Engineering company in Houston, Texas. I provide analytical and administrative support to the SVP of Human Resources and HR team. I work closely with employees to assist in all employee relations activities. My job requires advanced computer skills due to the multiple systems I use simultaneously throughout the day. I credit all my experience to past assistance from mentors and school education.
While growing up, I always wanted to become a teacher, mimicking the footsteps of the women in my family. I love interacting with people and assisting others in anyway I can, therefore I felt this would be an excellent career for me. However, as I grew up, life led me to the field of Human Resources. This new career experience still allowed me to interact and help others just as I originally envisioned.
In school, I would say my favorite subject was Reading. I enjoyed reading because I felt that everytime I picked up a book I was learning something new, fun, and exciting. I also favored computer classes which in return gave me the advanced experience I have today.
I encourage young girls to start thinking about their future early. What I mean by this is, look towards the future now. If you want to be a doctor when you grow up, start focusing on what type of doctor you think you want to be. Or, if you want to be a school teacher, what subject of teaching would you like to teach children? Life is all about choices and decisions. If you think about these things now you can focus on having an amazing future.
When growing up I loved reading book series, such as Babysitters Club or Nancy Drew. These books kept my interest and excitement which made me eager to get to the next book.
Always remember, life is what you make it. Make it the best life you can!
Maya Ford
Marketing Manager at the Houston Zoo
I am a Marketing Manager at the Houston Zoo. I get to use my imagination and my love of the environment, animals, and people to help our community. I work on all types of ways to share the importance of animal care, conservation, and environmental awareness including: billboards, television and radio, Zoo maps, tattoos, fun games, and website information. Two parts of my job are really fun and important to me. The first is that I get to have great relationships with exotic animals like the Masai giraffe and the Asian elephant, and their keepers. The other part of my job that I really love is learning, talking and exploring with Zoo guests. Every time I hear a person express interest in an animal behavior, or read an interesting fact about the Houston Zoo, I like to talk to them. I learn something from our conversations and hopefully, they do too. I feel good every day about what I do in my job because in some small way, I help people to take an interest in nature.
What did you want to be when you grew up?When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be a General Contractor and build people's dream homes. In my mind they would all look like custom doll houses. When I was in high school I wanted to be a politician so that I could listen to what people in my community needed and then create rules and programs that helped make them laws. I liked the idea that my vote could actually mean something good for many people. When I got to college, I became sad and confused with my dreams and decided that I wanted to be a free spirit and live on the beaches of the world. I planned that I would catch fish for food, make my own clothing, and be accountable to nature and no one else. While none of those things worked out too well for me, I am happy that I gave myself the freedom to have many options. I am still growing up a little bit more everyday, and I'm happy that I always have so many options to choose and still be useful in my community!What was the best course in school you took that helps you today?My English, math and music courses were very important to me in school. The best marketing professionals are able to be creative, express their idea clearly to the consumer, and prove that their idea works. I really enjoy observing and researching what people like and don't like. I learned how to do that in English studies. We would compare one author's writing style to another and get to come up with our own opinion. Math taught me that everything in life has an equation. The Universe is filled with what seems like chaos, but is all a mathematic equation. One answer for one equation equals an alternate answer for another part of the Universe. This world is a never ending math problem and it always amazes and inspires me to calculate my every move with respect and the understanding that I am an important part of a big equation. I am most comfortable outdoors, and I pay attention to every detail in nature. I'm the person that stops to look at what the ant is doing, or why the birds are chirping extra loud. (Sometimes, I notice that they aren't chirping at all and that makes me nervous.) My world is musical all of the time. I hear rhythm and melody in everything all of the time. I didn't know it then, but those three courses in school are the foundation for who I am today and are very important to my work.What do you do for fun?I LOVE TO READ! I read EVERYTHING including ingredients on food labels, magazine articles, newspapers, and books. I prefer to be outside as much as possible. I spend a lot of time at the beach, camping, hiking or just sitting on my front porch and watching what's happening. I was fortunate enough to travel a lot as a young adult, but when I couldn't I would explore new places by reading about them. I've always loved historical fiction because it would put me in the shoes of another person in another time and place. I also love to learn about other cultures through festivals, films, restaurants, travel and meeting new friends. A friend from another culture is a gift from another land. I think it's great that the world is made of many different cultures, yet we are all still people. Do you have any hints for girls as they select a career?Be true to yourself and choose a career that suits you AND your community. Hopefully, you will have many jobs in your life that will help you develop a strong skill set, better understanding of who your client is, and how to become a strong leader. Sometimes you will find that your job does not completely satisfy you. Money, time, benefits, opportunities to improve yourself and long term goals all play a factor in that. I advise that you try to pinpoint what you want to be by the time you're 20,30,40,50, etc. and that you set small goals to achieve your big one. I had a very hard time doing that, and didn't really get it on paper until my (very)late 20's. Some people know very early, and that's great too, but I didn't. Once I envisioned myself all grown up, I asked a ton of questions to others who have done it before me. Then I asked them for help and mentorship to help me succeed. So far, I am happy to say that I am still on the path of my dreams. It's all because I've been open to new ideas, help along the way and that I invest in a strong community that returns my investment through personal support.Your favorite book to read over the summer?Some books that changed my life so far have been The Poisonwood Bible, Dear God, It's Me, Margaret..., The Historian, and The Power of Now. I really enjoy books based on referrals from my friends, too. They give us a certain kind of connection that's really special.
When I was in elementary school, I wanted to be a General Contractor and build people's dream homes. In my mind they would all look like custom doll houses. When I was in high school I wanted to be a politician so that I could listen to what people in my community needed and then create rules and programs that helped make them laws. I liked the idea that my vote could actually mean something good for many people. When I got to college, I became sad and confused with my dreams and decided that I wanted to be a free spirit and live on the beaches of the world. I planned that I would catch fish for food, make my own clothing, and be accountable to nature and no one else. While none of those things worked out too well for me, I am happy that I gave myself the freedom to have many options. I am still growing up a little bit more everyday, and I'm happy that I always have so many options to choose and still be useful in my community!
My English, math and music courses were very important to me in school. The best marketing professionals are able to be creative, express their idea clearly to the consumer, and prove that their idea works. I really enjoy observing and researching what people like and don't like. I learned how to do that in English studies. We would compare one author's writing style to another and get to come up with our own opinion. Math taught me that everything in life has an equation. The Universe is filled with what seems like chaos, but is all a mathematic equation. One answer for one equation equals an alternate answer for another part of the Universe. This world is a never ending math problem and it always amazes and inspires me to calculate my every move with respect and the understanding that I am an important part of a big equation. I am most comfortable outdoors, and I pay attention to every detail in nature. I'm the person that stops to look at what the ant is doing, or why the birds are chirping extra loud. (Sometimes, I notice that they aren't chirping at all and that makes me nervous.) My world is musical all of the time. I hear rhythm and melody in everything all of the time. I didn't know it then, but those three courses in school are the foundation for who I am today and are very important to my work.
I LOVE TO READ! I read EVERYTHING including ingredients on food labels, magazine articles, newspapers, and books. I prefer to be outside as much as possible. I spend a lot of time at the beach, camping, hiking or just sitting on my front porch and watching what's happening. I was fortunate enough to travel a lot as a young adult, but when I couldn't I would explore new places by reading about them. I've always loved historical fiction because it would put me in the shoes of another person in another time and place. I also love to learn about other cultures through festivals, films, restaurants, travel and meeting new friends. A friend from another culture is a gift from another land. I think it's great that the world is made of many different cultures, yet we are all still people.
Be true to yourself and choose a career that suits you AND your community. Hopefully, you will have many jobs in your life that will help you develop a strong skill set, better understanding of who your client is, and how to become a strong leader. Sometimes you will find that your job does not completely satisfy you. Money, time, benefits, opportunities to improve yourself and long term goals all play a factor in that. I advise that you try to pinpoint what you want to be by the time you're 20,30,40,50, etc. and that you set small goals to achieve your big one. I had a very hard time doing that, and didn't really get it on paper until my (very)late 20's. Some people know very early, and that's great too, but I didn't. Once I envisioned myself all grown up, I asked a ton of questions to others who have done it before me. Then I asked them for help and mentorship to help me succeed. So far, I am happy to say that I am still on the path of my dreams. It's all because I've been open to new ideas, help along the way and that I invest in a strong community that returns my investment through personal support.
Some books that changed my life so far have been The Poisonwood Bible, Dear God, It's Me, Margaret..., The Historian, and The Power of Now. I really enjoy books based on referrals from my friends, too. They give us a certain kind of connection that's really special.
Amy Ferris
Writer, Author, Screenwriter, Editor & Playwright
1. What you wanted to be when you grew up (any school age)
Let's see I wanted to be so many things: I wanted to be a super model or famous actress or an artist. Then I wanted to be a teacher or a nurse or a beautician. Then I wanted to be a writer; an author, a screenwriter, a journalist, a playwright.
Anything and everything art related. Painting, art appreciation. I was much more of a creative type then an academic. I loved art and painting and everything creative, artsy. It taught me - instilled in me - the power and beauty of finishing, creating something from beginning to end.
I paint, I read, I watch movies, I take long rides, I get massages and manicures and pedicures, I go canoeing, bowling, I visit friends, I blog, I write, I cook. I play with my cats and take good care of my husband.
Careers are (somewhat) different than "work." For a career, I would say to find (or uncover) what it is you love - what fills you with a passion and a curiosity and a goodness and joy. Something that gives you an opportunity to grow - something that continues to challenge you, that stretches you. And along with that, ask yourself if it's something that will inspire and encourage others to reach higher, to be stronger, something that will give them hope and courage.
Well, that's not fair. I LOVE my own book, Marrying George Clooney. Okay, okay... here's my list: Cowboy & Wills, A Love Story by Monica Holloway (actually all books by Monica Holloway are extraordinary) Inklings by Jeffrey Koterba (heartbreakingly beautiful) (The Blog) Truth and Consequences by Hollye Holmes Dexter (which is absolutely off the charts brilliant), and anything and everything by Victoria Zackheim (the queen of anthologies!), and Letters to Our Daughters by Kristine Van Raden & Molly Davis (stunning!!!!!)
