At TREW Marketing, each of our Crew members bring professional experience, areas of expertise, and plenty of character. Here we spotlight two Crewers – Irene Bearly, Technical Marketing Manager; and Morgan Norris, Senior Communications Specialist – in an interview about their background, passions, and professional knowledge. They were both also featured in local Austin business publications – ABJ and the Statesman.
Irene Bearly, Technical Marketing Manager
Where are you from originally?
I’m from Houston, TX. My grandparents are from China, and parents are from Taiwan
What university did you go to?
Georgia Institute of Technology – I learned to not procrastinate, never give up, and enjoy sweet tea. GO Yellow Jackets!
What are your passions?
Jesus Christ, my family, reading, trying out new hobbies, which so far include video games, knitting, crocheting, photography, blogging, drawing, kayaking, and training my cat to perform dog tricks
What is your proudest achievement you’ve accomplished thus far?
Supporting my husband through thick and thin
What strengths do you bring to TREW Marketing?
I bring strong project management and multi-tasking skills, and the ability to research and pick up almost any technical topic and create marketable content out of it
In your opinion, what was the most successful marketing campaign you have worked on and why?
I suppose with would have to be the EtherCAT product launch I did with National Instruments because of several reasons:
- The sheer scale of the launch. It was a global launch – where web content and press releases had to be created way in advance and translated into multiple languages simultaneously – and it involved many press meetings and customer meetings. Plus, it was featured in the keynote of NIWeek in a flashy demo that played the Superman theme with chimes and an accompanying LED light show.
- Brand new technology: all the content and landing pages were brand new. I had to start from the ground up and actually explain what the technology was and how it worked. And I had to ensure we positioned NI as a leading technical expert in EtherCAT technology.
- Delicate messaging: the NI EtherCAT product could potentially be seen as a red ocean product with a direct, entrenched competitor. So it was essential to get across its major differentiators and clearly communicate the NI value proposition compared with other EtherCAT products (like comparing apples and oranges)
What advice do you have for future marketers?
My best advice is to always know your client and your client’s audience.
Describe yourself in three words…
Adaptable, Organized, Joyful
Morgan Norris, Senior Communications Specialist
Where are you from originally?
I grew up in Houston, TX and London, England. Consequently, if you and I were to watch a film full of the usually-enigmatic British humor, I could explain the jokes to you. I consider this one of my strengths.
What university did you go to?
I attended the University of Texas with a BS in Public Relations, a BA in Spanish Language, and a Business minor
What are your passions?
I enjoy running and baking/eating baked goods – in which the former allows for the latter in my own life – and I love being able to cook and provide meals for families who need them
What is your proudest achievement you’ve accomplished thus far?
Professionally, in 2009, I managed the logistics and planning for a public relations press room at a large trade show. My team had upwards of 50 journalists flying in for the event and I had the privilege of informing, serving, and assisting those journalists along with our corporate executives for four days. In the end, the event resulted in record coverage and rave reviews from the press.
Personally, in 2010 I became the mother of a beautiful baby girl. She keeps my husband and me on our toes and I am honored to strive to raise her well. Each day is sort of an ongoing achievement.
What strengths do you bring to TREW Marketing?
Besides decoding British humor? I have an eye for copy editing and actually a love for consistency and creating corporate style guides that provide companies the opportunity for cohesive content. I have worked for many years with journalists in the science and engineering industries, and I’ve also continued to climb the steep and seemingly eternal learning curve of social media.
In your opinion, what was the most successful marketing campaign you have worked on and why?
The most successful campaign I have worked on was for Cyth Systems. The campaign was around their Circaflex product, and we were able to humanize the story by pitching to journalists the idea of how real lives and jobs had been changed by Cyth’s product. Taking a step back from technical specs and starting with the big-picture story of human life-change, we were able to secure press meetings at a large 2010 trade show.
What advice do you have for future marketers?
Seek to understand your audience. If you know who you’re talking to, it’s much easier to craft messages that can make an impact.
Also, the rules have changed – only one space should go after each period in your copy. Use two spaces and you’ll immediately date yourself!
Describe yourself in three words…
Learner, Catalyzer, Achiever
You can learn more about the TREW Crew, by visiting the About Us Section
