August AMA Member Spotlight
This month, please take a moment and get to know AMA Member Esther Angell
Where do you work?
I work at Enventure Global Technology, which is the industry’s leading provider of solid expandable technology. We provide solutions for the upstream drilling, production and completion markets.
Briefly describe your job.
I do everything but clean the kitchen sink (and that too when it gets yucky). My role is to supervise all of the company’s marketing initiatives. From planning to execution, I oversee marketing strategy, global brand management, events, competitive intelligence, online marketing, public relations, and anything else we can come up with.
If you weren’t at your current job, what would you want to be doing instead?
I would be staying busy – I always say I’d rather be busy than bored.
What is your all-time favorite marketing campaign or brand?
Wendy’s “Where’s the Beef”. It probably has something to do with fond childhood memories (and a little old lady that reminded me of my grandmother). Seriously, it was an effective campaign because it related a clever tagline to an actual product – and talk about staying power!
What’s your favorite food or drink?
My favorite drink is Woods and Waters’ Chocolate Cabernet (unfortunately, only available directly from the vineyard)
How long have you been an AMA Houston member?
A little over 4 years.
What’s your favorite thing about AMA Houston?
Learning. In our field it is absolutely essential to stay on top of trends. AMA Houston helps me interact with other clever marketers and provides opportunities for me to learn best practices.
Esther seems pretty busy, but she’s always looking to interact with other professionals. You can find her on LinkedIn.
Membership / by
Jennifer Uschold
This month, please take a moment and get to know AMA Member Liz Selig-Stephens:
Where do you work?
I work for University of Houston as the Assistant Director of Marketing for University Relations. The University of Houston will educate more than 37,000 students this year and has 304 degree programs between bachelors, masters and PHDs.
Briefly describe your job
On a daily basis I advocate for the University of Houston through marketing and branding a s well as supporting communications to our alumni and donors. We’re currently rebranding the university and my days are typically spent focused on research, media buying, managing e-communications for the university and working with many staff members on video, photography, design, writing, web and marketing.
If you weren’t at your current job, what would you want to be doing instead?
I enjoy my current job quite a bit and there isn’t anything else I’d rather do.
What is your all-time favorite marketing campaign or brand?
My two favorite brands are Coca-Cola and Target.
What’s your favorite food or drink?
My favorite food is Mexican and my favorite drink is Coke (the real thing, not diet).
How long have you been an AMA Houston member?
I’ve been an AMA Houston member since 2000.
What’s your favorite thing about AMA Houston?
My favorite thing about AMA Houston is the people I’ve met. I have some dear friends in the organization as well as some great relationships with partner organizations. The most beneficial experience for me was volunteering my time on the board from 2005-2007. It’s great to learn what others are doing and find ways to improve your own marketing plan and strategy.
Want to connect with Stacie personally? Be sure to say “hi” at the next event. You’ll also find her on LinkedIn, so be sure to connect there as well.
Membership / by
Robin Tooms
This month, please take a moment and get to know AMA Member Stacie Fairchild:
Where do you work?
Bristow Group Inc. – one of the world’s largest providers of helicopter services, providing the safest and most efficient helicopter transportation, maintenance, search and rescue and aviation support worldwide.
How long have you been an AMA Houston member?
3 years
Give us three words that describe yourself:
Happy, very detailed, strong willed.
If I weren’t in marketing, I’d be…
A Veterinarian
What is your all-time favorite marketing campaign or brand?
Houston Texans
What’s your favorite food or drink?
Luby’s Mac & Cheese, Water & lemon
Want to connect with Stacie personally? Talk to her at the next event, or visit her company website at http://www.bristowgroup.com
Tell her you found her on the AMA Member spotlight. She’ll likely be able to chat you up with marketing tips, the Houston Texans or Luby’s. 
Membership / by
Robin Tooms
At the January luncheon, we said thanks to the following volunteers:
- Board Member of the Month: Ana Mena Rodarte, Gelb Consulting Group
Anyone who’s been to our lunches know that they are well organized and fun to attend. That kind of great experience only happens, though, when you have great people behind the scenes. Ana is one of them – she handles all of the registration details for the lunches which is a massive task (that she handles calmly and with a smile)
- Volunteers of the Month:
C’Ella Clayton, who does National Marketing at Transwestern. C’Ella has gone above and beyond with her help on the AMA Houston Professional Development SIG. She’s invaluable to our SIG programming.
Steven Leeper, Freeman Leonard, has not only been helping with our events, but has also signed up new sponsors for the events as well. He’s doing the work of two people now. This is always a big help since it’s the backing of the sponsors that make the events possible.
Thanks to all of you for your help. We truly have the best volunteers!
Events, Membership / by
Robin Tooms
Welcome to our first Member Spotlight feature!
Each month we’ll be asking one of our members to share a little about who they are, and what inspires them.
This month, please take a moment and get to know AMA Member Cheryl Garcia:
Where do you work?
I am Marketing Programs Manager at PULSE – an electronic funds transfer organization that specializes in debit cards.
How long have you been an AMA Houston member?
This time it is two years, but I was also a member in the 1990s for about three years.
Give us three words that describe yourself:
Enthusiastic, Friendly, Snoopy
If I weren’t in marketing, I’d be…
A college teacher (I actually did that before!)
What is your all-time favorite marketing campaign or brand?
Doritos (several iterations)
What’s your favorite food or drink?
Any Mexican food found here in Houston, and gallons of iced tea (unsweetened)
Why did you join AMA Houston?
Two reasons:
- The local learning opportunities in my field are boundless (luncheon speakers, special SIG events, B2B events, etc.).
- The opportunity to network with the caliber of professionals that AMA attracts is a huge draw for me.
Want to connect with Cheryl personally? Talk to her at the next event, and add her to your network on LinkedIn.
Tell her you found her on the AMA Member spotlight. She might even have a few good recommendation on the best Mexican restaurants, but you won’t know unless you ask!
Membership / by
Robin Tooms
Please welcome our New Members. The following professionals joined AMA Houston in September, and we are glad to have them as part of our community:
- Abdullah Al-Abdullah, Saudi Aramco
- Vaneese Bell, Kraton Polymers
- Susan Caldwell, Caldwell Companies
- Robert Castaneda, Employer Flexible
- Maria Iglesias
- Steven Leeper, Freeman & Leonard Marketing Staffing
- Kathleen Leonard, Freeman & Leonard Marketing Staffing
- Summer Rudd
- Monica Yoo, First Financial Group of America
Membership / by
Robin Tooms
Today at the September luncheon, we announced the following honors:
- Board Members of the Month:
- Robin Tooms, Savage: Robin is the VP of Communications for AMA, and oversees all of the event marketing and other communications members see on a regular basis. In August, she was also part of the Chapter Excellence committee and contributed to a successful win for our Chapter Entry this year.
- Tutti Macon, Event-Tastic!: You may have noticed Tutti skillfully working the registration and sign-in area for each and every AMA luncheon. As our Administrator, she works miracles (really!) to keep things running smoothly for everyone who attends our luncheons.
- Volunteer of the Month: Judi Swartz, BusinessWire
Judi has been tremendously supportive of AMA on several fronts, and is always there to help with a referral, any committee needs or special requests. She was particularly helpful with several last minute requests last month.
Thanks to all of our volunteers for their help!
Board Leadership, Membership / by
Robin Tooms
Please welcome our New Members. The following professionals joined AMA Houston in August, and we are glad to have them as part of our community:
- Nell Benton, Axiom Design Group
- Stacey Black, Boardwalk Pipeline Partners LP
- Donia Blossom, Landry’s Restaurants Inc Hotel Division
- Shawn Collier, Origin Design
- Michael Danke, University of Houston
- Amber Konneman, Yancey-Hausman Interests Inc
- Catherine Pemberton, CenterPoint Energy
- Nina Provenzano, Unleaded Communications
- Maigen Sawyer, Ideal Printers Inc
- Lorretta Wallace, University of Houston
- Dana Wilkinson, Landry’s Restaurants Inc Hotel Division
- Samantha Wright, Premium Direct
Membership / by
Robin Tooms
Lindsay Adler, Bernstein Realty Inc
Larry Hall, Baker Hughes Inc
Jessica Lacy, Chelsea Design Group
Janet Meyer, New Leaf Publishing
Robert Neumann, Newton Design
Nicolas Phillips, Clariant Oil Services
George Rose, Temple Inland
Susan Thomas
Barbara Vaughn
Nikki Watson, Ernst & Young LLP
Thanks to our new professional members that joined AMA Houston in July. Welcome aboard!
- Lindsay Adler, Bernstein Realty Inc
- Larry Hall, Baker Hughes Inc
- Jessica Lacy, Chelsea Design Group
- Janet Meyer, New Leaf Publishing
- Robert Neumann, Newton Design
- Nicolas Phillips, Clariant Oil Services
- George Rose, Temple Inland
- Susan Thomas
- Barbara Vaughn
- Nikki Watson, Ernst & Young LLP
Membership / by
Robin Tooms
Today at the August luncheon, we announced the following honors for July and August:
- Board Member of the Month: Becca Castillo, VT2 Studios
As the new VP of SIGs, Becca’s done an amazing job pulling together budgets, marketing plans and events for the SIGs. She’s juggled a lot so far and has gotten us off to a great start.
- Volunteers of the Month: (we have several!)
Bill Krull, Houston Wellness Association, for helping with the tough challenge of getting sponsorships.
Ellen Feely, The Clifford Group, who was tremendous help on the Crystal Award committee this year.
Jen Pearsall, Jen fabulously coordinates our AMA Houston LinkedIn group and Twitter account, and has been posting valuable information about job and events and articles of interest for our members.
Thanks to all of our volunteers for their help!
Board Leadership, Membership / by
Robin Tooms
