Faces of Metro EDGE (F.A.M.E. for short) is a quick interview where we introduce you to fellow EDGErs and give you a glimpse into their professional lives and personalities. Jasen has been a member of Metro EDGE since January 2019 and currently serves on the Communications Committee. Reach out and say hi!
Where do you currently work, how long have you been there, and what do you do?
I am the marketing director at the California Automobile Museum and I have been there for just over two years. We have a pretty small team at the auto museum, and my job is to market all of our events and general admission. I built our website, manage our social media, send out email newsletters and do all of our graphic design. In addition to working at the museum, I consult for the soon-to-be open Sacramento Regional Fire Museum, the Sacramento Area Museums and Kitayama Brothers (a cut flower farm in Watsonville).
Prior to that?
Before I started at the museum, I was working at a middle school helping students with disabilities learn in integrated classrooms. I actually really enjoyed working with the kids, but ultimately it wasn't the right career for me.
What is your educational background?
I studied business administration at Chico State with a focus in marketing and a minor in entrepreneurship. After finishing my undergrad, I felt like I learned a lot about how to market a business, but I wanted to know more about why people connect so deeply with brands and advertisements. This led me to a double master's program in cognitive psychology. Cognitive psychology focuses on how people learn from text and graphics; this really comes in handy when trying to understand a business target market and how they will engage with our content.
What is the best part of your job?
My job allows me a lot of creative control of the messaging and graphics used at the museum. One of the best things about the museum is our rotating special exhibits. I really enjoy collaborating with our curator, Carly Starr, to set the style and direction of our exhibits. I also get to work with lots of local Sacramento businesses and non-profits. One of my favorite parts of my job is helping the museum integrate its offerings into the community.
What do you love about living in Sacramento?
Sacramento is such a fantastic place that has always felt a little like an underdog; I love Sacramento's drive to show how great of a city it is. Nearly every aspect of Sacramento is always striving to be better, more inclusive and engaging.
What is one thing that might surprise people about you?
I think people would be surprised, and a little dismayed to find out that I am actually a huge Los Angeles Lakers fan. I rarely miss a game and often watch games all the way through even if it is a 40-point blowout (that happened quite a few times over the last 6 years). Being a Lakers fan in Sacramento is not a popular stance to take, but I was born in Southern California, and my dad is also a Lakers fan. I also enjoy basketball and love what the Sacramento Kings are building right now with De'Aaron Fox and the rest of the squad.
When you aren't in the office, where can we find you?
You will probably find me on my couch working on projects for my other clients. I keep myself pretty busy trying to help the organizations I work with better connect with their customers through engaging content. I have made it a personal challenge to master all of the tools available in the Adobe Creative Suite so that I can continue to improve the quality of work that I can deliver to customers.
Right now, if I'm not on the couch working on client projects, I am probably working with my brother renovating the house that we recently bought together.
What advice can you offer a young professional looking for a similar job/career path as you?
My career took a different path than I thought it would. I really wanted to make sure I was fulfilled by the work that I do, so I was kind of picky about what jobs I applied to after graduating. This made it more challenging to get my career in marketing started. I always tried to be the best I could be at any opportunities that were presented to me. I would advise other young professionals to embrace what is in front of them and do the best work that they can. People tend to recognize you when you are embracing opportunities and challenges head-on.
How has Metro EDGE enhanced your resume?
Metro EDGE has been great for connecting me even further into the Sacramento community. Most organizations around town are connected to Metro EDGE in some way or another. The connections I have made through Metro EDGE have helped me immensely. The organization has helped me connect the auto museum and my other clients even further with Sacramento community organizations. A common connection through Metro EDGE can open up all kinds of doors for new opportunities. I have also found a lot of benefits working on the Metro EDGE Communications Committee.
Know an EDGEr who would be perfect to feature for F.A.M.E.? Nominate them by emailing Gina McLaughlin, Communications Committee member.
