As Director of Client Services at dovetail solutions, Marissa is responsible for both the big picture strategy and planning on behalf of our diverse client base, as well as the day-to-day management/oversight of all client accounts and proactively stewards and advises her team and clients on achieving agreed-upon goals and objectives.
- When people ask you what you like most about your role at dovetail solutions, what do you tell them and why?
This answer is always an easy one for me: the dts family. I think there is something special about the closeness of our team. And I believe it shows through in our work — each piece of client work has the fingerprints of a number of our team members on it because we all know that two heads will undoubtedly produce a better work product than one alone can. And the fact that we all value and respect each other enough to seek this input from one another speaks to the dynamic of our team.
My dts family has been by my side through my biggest professional andpersonal milestones — they were rooting me on as I graduated from college, they attended my wedding, they supported me during two cross-country moves, and they provided unending encouragement as I transitioned to my role as mom, and then again as mom of two. I trust my team and genuinely consider them as part of my family. It’s cliché, but it’s hard to consider my role at dts as a “job” because it is really much more meaningful than that.
- What are your hopes (or what do you see as the future) for the ever-changing media relations/journalism landscape?
My biggest hope is that the upcoming generations will continue to support quality journalism. Journalism plays a critical role in our country’s system of checks and balances, as the Fourth Estate. But, as with any industry, we must continually innovate in order to remain relevant.
One thing is certain: The way we digest our news is continually evolving, and I think this constant change brings huge opportunity for creative and quality journalism. Digital will drive media strategy more and more, and I believe the literal form our news takes will need to change. The fight for reader attention is stronger than ever, and I think incorporating visual storytelling will become more pronounced as we work to communicate critical information in the shortest amount of time. But, in reality, this objective has always been at the heart of journalism. AP Style, at its core, is about communicating precisely yet concisely. We just need to take this concept to the next level.
- What is the best professional advice you have received to date?
Details matter. I remember learning this tip very early in my career — that those who pay attention to the details seem to advance the most professionally — and this lesson has rung true throughout my career. You can write a thought-provoking and in-depth article, but if you misspell a name, all of the strategic planning put into that work suddenly seems to matter less. If we appear loose on the details in our work, how can we expect our clients to trust us in all other areas? Ensuring every detail is accounted for is another reason why multiple dts team members contribute to every piece of client work.
- Can you share a fun fact about yourself?
I think many who know me are often surprised to learn that I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. My brother, dad and I all practiced Tae Kwon Do while I was growing up, and I earned my black belt at the age of 10. I’m the first to admit I’m not particularly athletic, but this was the one sport I had a natural affinity for. I learned a lot of life skills from Tae Kwon Do, but my top highlight was earning first place for form in my competition group at World’s Tournament when I was eight years old.