Please join us in welcoming Melinda Hershey to The Garage Group team! Melinda will be part of our marketing department and brings her expertise as a digital content manager and marketer, project manager, and editor. She’s excited to apply her experience to help companies and brands innovate and grow like startups.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Born and raised in an Air Force family, I bounced around a lot growing up—everywhere from Germany to New Jersey–and somehow landed in Ohio for high school and college. Although I initially didn’t think Cincinnati would become my permanent home, I’ve grown to love our city, and I’m so proud to be a part of the momentum it’s been gaining recently.
After graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a B.A. in Health Promotion and Education, I spent four years doing health and fitness writing, editing, project managing and content marketing. As my interests moved away from the health industry and I started picking up on the buzz happening in the startup and digital marketing scenes in Cincinnati, I found a new home at The Garage Group!
In my free time, I love cooking, reading, working out, traveling and binge-watching Netflix with my dog and boyfriend (like any good Millennial should).
Something interesting people may not know about you?
I completed my senior college internship in Uganda, where I studied local sanitation practices and an anthrax outbreak affecting the hippos and water supply in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It’s still one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
Also, I am indirectly related to Milton Snavely Hershey, the founder of the Hershey Company, via his third cousin or something like that. Unfortunately, distant relatives don’t get any free chocolate.
So, you jumped into The Garage Group. What made you decide to join us?
Ann, Jason and the entire Garage Group team not only know their stuff when it comes to smart innovation strategy and brand-building, but they also have such an obvious and authentic love for the work they’re doing. When I first heard about the company and started getting a feel for its passionate voice, I immediately knew I wanted in on what’s happening here. I’m amazed at how much I’ve already learned in just two weeks of starting my role and can’t wait to dig in to new projects.
What does “an entrepreneurial approach to research and innovation” mean to you?
When it comes to innovation, companies can’t afford to take the easy way out anymore. It’s impossible to successfully use the same approach or template to solve hugely diverse and nuanced problems, especially in such a competitive world. A true entrepreneur figures out how to deliver the most effective solution within a short timeframe by using smart and scrappy methods (all with a dash of calculated risk).
What trends do you see in marketing, branding or innovation at large companies that lend well to a more entrepreneurial approach?
Through working with social media, I’ve seen a huge evolution in how brands are crafting their online identities. Companies are shedding stuffy “marketing speak” in favor of more transparent, authentic presences across their social media accounts in order to quickly connect with consumers in very real and unprecedented ways. It’s fast, smart, empathetic marketing at its best, and it’s been fascinating to watch it unfold.
Where are you being inspired right now?
I recently learned of Jane McGonigal, a game designer and author who suffered a debilitating concussion several years ago. Despite her resulting chronic confusion and depression, Jane was able to move past her accident by creating her own game to find herself again—“Jane the Concussion Slayer.” After recovering, Jane used the “Concussion Slayer” framework to create SuperBetter, a book that helps people increase resilience in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. I can’t wait to read her book!