What drove your decision to get into the marketing business?

I was always very independent and I had a strong desire to use my problem solving ability to help others.

What are you most proud of – your finest hour?

I am most proud of our HBJ Enterprise Award for supporting homeless women and children in our community.

Share a great client story.

DMN3 came up with a big marketing PR idea that worked so well that our client saw their brand image tracking score rise ten points in a 60-day time frame. The chairman presented the brand image improvement at the annual board meeting.

What was the big idea? Use direct mail to tell 1.6 million customers “thank you” for the first time after years of business and include a certificate for two free scoops of ice cream. This “surprise and delight gift” created buzz around the city of Houston. Several radio announcers mentioned the surprise gift on the air and letters poured in from customers thrilled with the attention.

Our client received the “goodwill benefit” of 1.6 million happy customers without paying for 3.2 million scoops of ice cream because DMN3 negotiated the promotion so that the client only paid for redeemed certificates. A real win-win.

What is your method for developing creative solutions for your clients?

Meet with the client to identify goals and collect input, data and research about their brand, target market and competitors. Develop a creative brief (if not provided by the client). Arrange an internal meeting to bring all disciplines together to develop a strategy that addresses the prospects' stage of awareness in the buying cycle and review promotional and PR “big ideas.” Brainstorm to develop two great ideas and present to the client for feedback.

In your opinion, what makes a great brand?

A great brand connects so well with customers that the customer becomes an advocate to friends and family.

Name at least one talent that you wish you could master?

I wish I could take my singing from good to great.

Name your biggest frustration.

My biggest frustration is dealing with people who do not follow through on what they promised.

Describe your childhood & include where you grew up.

I'm the oldest of four girls, and grew up in a blue-collar suburb of Houston. My childhood was perfect...I had a wonderful father who encouraged learning. He was a math teacher who loved his kids and we loved him – I never had the feeling he regretted having all girls. My mother was also fun and she spent a great deal of time running car loads of kids to parties and to radio stations to meet the disc jockeys. She also took us along with her to help the poor – I'll never forget some of those visits or the shacks that the people lived in.

What is your all-time favorite TV program (on air or not)?

X-Files.

When you're not working, what do you do for fun?

Hot yoga, dining in new restaurants and relaxing at our beach home in Galveston.