You're Doing What With Your Major?

Spotlight on UK Alumna Emilee Coomes

Major:  Integrated Strategic Communications  Minor: Spanish

Current Career: Project manager of marketing and communications for The Speed Art Museum

Please provide a short summary of your career path from college to present.

It has been a winding road. Buckle your seatbelt, and let’s take a ride.

Right out of college I bought a one-way ticket to New York City. I landed with two suitcases, no job and a deadline: find work within one month. Two weeks after I arrived, I began working for Dentsu America, a Japanese advertising agency, where my head client was Toyota North America. After a busy and exciting year in advertising, I was itching for a change. It was time to leave the big city behind for a big chill.

My sister and I took 10 days to drive out to California where we worked for wineries and lived in a Sonoma cottage. We crushed grapes and stained our hands 12 hours a day, seven days a week for the entire harvest. After a busy fall, we headed back East, couch surfing across the Southern border. With California dreaming behind me, I spent a few months in Kentucky then headed to the beaches of Charleston, South Caroline for the summer. At Wild Dunes Resort, I managed the aquatic program teaching swim lessons and water aerobics with personally built clientele, while managing 17 interns for the summer program. After the summer, I stepped back into the wine world, but this time for the land of the Kiwis.

New Zealand came calling, and I answered. It was under the Kiwi sun that I worked a laborious and exciting harvest job in the Marlborough region of the South island. I was the only female American on the staff of over 50 employees. I spent most of my days testing samples and translating Spanish to the South American and European winemakers. It was one of the most liberating experiences.

Foreign grapes behind me, I arrived back in Charleston at the Wild Dunes Resort for another summer of managing and teaching. Summer passed, and I slipped on my cowboy boots for a freelance job in publicity for country music artists in Nashville, Tennessee. I freelanced for a year and worked from either music row in Nashville or in coffee shops across the USA. I took full advantage of my mobility and spent the duration of my yearlong contract travelling, at some points for several weeks at a time, striking the perfect balance between work and travel.  After my contract ended, and I was home from a few weeks traveling in New York, Europe, Nevada and Colorado, I received a phone call from The Speed Art Museum. 

I have been working with the museum for a year in February. Although our museum doors are closed during our expansion, we have opened a satellite space in the Louisville neighborhood, Nulu. We have rotating exhibitions, family art activities, gallery hours, parties, etc. I manage marketing projects that include writing copy for all press marketing materials, managing the ad buys, driving the creative process, securing public relations, while maintaining relationships with media, my vendors, museum members, etc. I work directly with the director of marketing for the museum and mange three interns in my department. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the art world and this museum!

Describe your best boss/supervisor.

I have been lucky to experience a plethora of amazing bosses but I have to say that currently my boss is an exceptional teacher, leader and friend. I continuously learn best practices from him in more areas than just marketing, professionalism and relationship cultivation. He trusts me to take leads on projects and manage aspects from start to finish.

What do you do for networking and professional development?

I keep my contacts abreast of my career, published work, neat trips, etc. and when I see their company in the news or hear something interesting about their industry I strike up a conversation. Nothing too out of the ordinary, but I do maintain relationships with individuals from a variety of industries and keep my connection genuine. A great example of effective networking for me has always been volunteering at special events in industries that I enjoy. When I first arrived in New York City, I reached out to the Advertising Women of New York because I had met members at a conference the year before and asked if I could volunteer in their office. In exchange for my time, I was welcomed to join a few of their events with leading advertising women in New York. It was at one of these events at the Chelsea Piers Driving Range that I hit the perfect drive, which resulted in several interviews.  I think that events that are called “Networking Events” are forced and feel contrived. 

How would you describe a successful job search strategy?

Grow it from grassroots. Start with some kind of goal in mind. “I want to be in the art world.” Then ask yourself, “In what capacity do I want to work in the art world, who do I know in this industry that I can talk with for advice, what city do I want to live in and what companies, institutes does that city offer in the art world?” From there start talking to everyone you know and make people aware of your career path, goals, and interests, but keep it a two way street. In return, express a genuine interest in other’s personal and professional objectives.

What career advice would you give to students and alumni?

Explore. Time is a thief so don’t waste it in a job you can’t tolerate. If you have vacation time, use it. Traveling makes you more interesting because it gives you confidence, provides unique experiences and a plethora of conversational topics. But be smart about it, just don’t up and quit. When I decided to leave my full-time job in New York, I had a plan and a goal. I wanted to explore the states by car with my sister and learn about wine, then take that experience and use it in some capacity. Understand that your degree has layers and multiple uses, and pair that mentality with a memorable personality.

What I know now that I didn’t know as a student:

Real life can be just as fun as college if you let it. Adult spring breaks do exist.

Favorite UK memory/class etc.: 

My college memories all run together as one big sparkling moment in my life, full of amazing people, huge houses and tiny dorms, inspirational professors, cheap beer, tons of trips and athletic events. UK was one of the catalysts that led me to learn more about myself, the world and life.