Tricia graduated from Duke University with a degree in English and attended the Radcliffe Publishing Course. She has marketed publications for over 12 years and has been involved in the academic and medical journal publishing industry for 10 years. She agreed to take a few minutes out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions about AMA and marketing.

Why did you join the AMA? To take better advantage of training opportunities and to meet other people who enjoy taking phone surveys and reading their junk mail.

What was the first marketing campaign that caught your attention? Watching Halloween and Christmas specials with my own children, I realize that I still remember the programs being sponsored by Peter Paul (Mounds and Almond Joy) and McDonald's through the 70s and 80s. I find myself still expecting the "brought to you buy" tag line. My hat is off to any marketing campaign that left such a deep impression on me that I'm remembering it twenty years later while I'm watching Charlie Brown on DVD.

Which company's brand do you admire the most? I do love Apple for their consistent, clean, and clever marketing from product to packaging to advertising. All their marketing is graceful and deceptively simple. Their business strategy, product development, and marketing are so elegantly interwoven. I even find myself stopping the DVR when I notice a new Mac TV ad.

What's the most significant marketing trend? It has to be CRM marketing. Just in the 12 years I've worked in marketing, the world has changed so dramatically. When I started in marketing, an ad campaign or direct mail campaign WAS the campaign. Now canvas marketing is a first step (when I do it at all.) We have to know our customers, engage with them, and offer them real services to meet their needs as an extension of our marketing. It is far more challenging and more interesting, too.

Personal Stats: I was raised a Marine Corps brat, living mostly in the Southeast and Southern California, so I am very happy to have made the Triangle my home. I'm married and have two children (under age 3!) and am passionate about showing what dynamic, productive team members working moms can be.