Shameless Pug Plug

Full disclosure, Chubs isn't even my dog! He technically is my son's but we've made a pact. I rub his belly and he licks my feet (sorry if that's TMI). Chubs exudes a positive energy that fills my bucket and makes my pen flow on the daily. Plus, he leaves an unforgettable trail of pug glitter wherever he goes.

What started out by a social experiment as an empty nester and a pandemic survival tactic has turned into Chubs being an Instagram influencer that has garnered him furiends all over the world. If you're not following him, you should (@the_daily_chubs). Told ya this was a pug plug.

Chubs is a true marketing professional. He's been working in the snore development industry for years. We are still working on harmonizing his remarkable talents with my great need for restful sleep. But at the end of the day, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

My first job was at Dairy Queen when I was 13 years old and I haven't stopped working since. From making Runza's famous onion rings to being a hostess with the mostest at Valentino's, I've learned what it means, as well as what it takes, to have a midwest work ethic. 

Using my CoJMC degree from the University of Nebraska, I got really good at making for-profits more profitable through marketing. After doing that for a few years, I came to the realization my passion lies in using my talents for good. 

See my experience on LinkedIn

A great mentor of mine once said, "If you join something be more than a member - be a leader." When I joined the American Marketing Association Lincoln Chapter in 1997, I started on the board. This single step put me in motion on the most AMAzing professional and personal journey. 

Special projects, president of the local board (not once but twice), turnaround chapter of the year, leadership summit co-chair, and president of the national professional chapters council were all transformational experiences for me that I will forever cherish.

I'm no queen but I too have dared to believe in six impossible things before breakfast. It's just what nonprofit people do - making the impossible possible especially when it's needed the most.

Let's bust the myth that big budgets and big ideas are synonymous - they're not. In fact, I can't get enough of the adrenaline rush of tackling a nonprofit marketing project with less. 

It's not scrappy, it's intentionally deploying creative strategies that not only work but do their part in making the world a better place for good.