July Member Spotlight

Each month AWC Austin highlights one very special member making a difference in the communications industry in Austin, Texas. Over lattes, we chatted with Jan Gunter, Communications Manager at Ronald McDonald House Charities. Jan is a lifelong communicator, former beekeeper (it’s true!) and a philanthropy connoisseur. Please take a moment to get to know Jan.

AWC Austin: How long have you been a member of AWC Austin?

JG: I officially joined AWC Austin in May 2012, but participated in the organization long before that. At the invitation of Julie Tereshchuk, Past President, I attended several events in 2011. Julie and I originally connected because the AWC Board meets at the Ronald McDonald House community room. After Banner Brunch 2012, I knew I wanted to be part of this organization. I realized these people were my tribe.

AWC Austin: What do you use your membership for?

JG: Though I’ve been a communicator all my life, I haven’t been in the communications field for my entire career. It’s very valuable to me to learn from other people’s experiences and from the work they’re doing. I love the breadth of experience and age, and enjoy meeting young people growing their careers. I’m also glad seasoned professionals are willing to share their knowledge.

AWC Austin: What insights have you gained so far with regards to how AWC functions and succeeds?

JG: It’s clear to me that this is a very active club across the AWC network. Not only are these women communications professionals, they are passionate and involved in the community. It’s really cool to be part of a group that is working hard on behalf of the shared brain trust. I see that there’s a built-in system for mentoring which is really important to me.

AWC Austin: From what we’ve read online, you are an avid volunteer in the Austin community. What drives your passion for volunteerism and what is your main motive behind it?

JG: I became very passionate about volunteering while raising my kids. Currently, I work with the Mediterranean Festival for my church. The MedFest is the oldest continuously running festival in Austin – we’re celebrating our 80th year this year! Professionally, I work for a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers. I truly understand the value of people bringing their skills and talents to the table to support the causes that we care about.

AWC Austin: What area of communications do you work in?

JG: I hold a broad communications position at Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). I have my hand in PR, web, marketing, social media, email communications, blog, newsletters, print, and more. I’m constantly identifying larger goals and prioritizing/focusing on what needs to be done in order to accomplish the big picture. Every day is different, fun and challenging. For example, I’m now working side-by-side with an intern and my friends at Lights, Camera, Help, learning how to create compelling videos. I now know enough to direct and produce a 3-minute video! The overall staff makes the success of all our deliverables possible. We set ourselves up for success in that way.

AWC Austin: What was your career path? How did you get there?

JG: I studied English at Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma City. I was a teacher for two years, but moved on as quickly as I could. After that, I spent a lot of time in volunteer positions, tinkering with a lot of different things. My husband was a pastor at the time, so many were church related. Whether speaking or teaching, writing or producing newsletters; I was active in some form of communications.

When I was getting back into the workforce after some time away, I applied at RMHC because I really wanted to work for a nonprofit. I didn’t get the position, but they kept my resume on file. Instead, I accepted a job at a property management company as an administrative assistant. It was a great job and I liked it, but when RMH called me a year and a half later, I had to leave to take a job with them. I started managing the donor database, and eventually moved into the communications manager position. My career path hasn’t been strategic; it wasn’t something I plotted out. However, it’s been a natural evolution.

AWC Austin: What do you enjoy most about your job?

JG: I enjoy working with a very collaborative staff that has been given a great deal of freedom to innovate, create and carry the vision forward for our organization’s goals. We’re making the difference for families and I’m so happy I’ve gotten a chance to develop relationships with our guests. One sweet little guy likes to run down the stairs in the morning with his hair all a mess, come looking for me and call me “Jam.” I also like to spend time with another guest, four-year-old Nicholas. This week alone he visited and we took a cricket outside. These children remind me why we do what we do. I have also really enjoyed working with interns in the last couple of years. I keep their professional and education goals in mind, as well as their personality, in order to make sure they benefit from the semester they work with us. They bring value to the table in terms of helping us reach our goals. It’s been a real privilege to work with them and help them with their career paths.

AWC Austin: As the manager of projects requiring written communications, how do you overcome writers block?

JG: I write best when I’m keeping an audience in mind. If I feel like I’m actually writing for somebody, that makes a big difference. I’m not writing for 1,000 people, I’m writing for one person or a small group. I don’t know that I’m able to shift into that at will, but I know that’s when I produce my best material.

AWC Austin: What has been your most proud professional accomplishment?

JG: I think it may be in the area of social media. We launched into the social media world about four years ago. We just dove right in and learned as we went. We were fearless, willing to learn, grow, make mistakes and adjust strategy. Creating our web presence and using it to add value to what we’re doing helps the public know us better and connect with us in a multitude of ways.

AWC Austin: What is your favorite thing about living and working in Austin?

JG: Austin’s a great city. People really like being connected here. I like the casual approach to things and that it’s a city with a soul. It’s definitely a cool place to live and work. I love places like Barton Springs and the Hill Country, and the geography of our city and state. I’d like to spend more time just being connected to the land.

AWC Austin: Do you have a favorite lunch spot?

JG: Hyde Park Grill is a great spot. We had a volunteer meet up there recently. I really love Torchy’s Tacos. Take me to Torchy’s any day!

AWC Austin: Personal motto/statement?

JG: “Geography is simply a visible form of theology.” – John Levenson

AWC Austin: What inspires you? A movie? Someone you know?

JG: People who overcome the odds inspire me, and people who simply live well. Mary Pindleton, a 94-year-old volunteer for RMH, is a huge inspiration. As my CEO says, we all want to be like her when we grow up. She is always genuinely excited to see those she meets and always keeps a positive attitude, even having just gone through a major transition in her life (moving from living on her own to a senior care center). She has nothing but good things to say about it. No matter what comes her way, she turns it into something amazing and wonderful and experiences it fully. I think it’s wonderful to be that type of person.

AWC Austin: Describe your perfect “staycation” in Austin.

JG: I would spend some time at a spa, getting a massage, acupuncture and just rebooting my body. I would also go kayaking on Lake Austin or take a trip to Barton Springs. I’ve never eaten at Uchi so I’d definitely try it. Maybe I would get my hair and nails done too!

AWC Austin: Word on the street is you’re an experienced beekeeper. Please elaborate. Has it affected your outlook on life or work ethic?

JG: (laughs) It’s true. I learned to work hard when I was a kid working for my dad, a commercial beekeeper. I started working for him in the family business, Walker Honey Company, when I was ten, sometimes in the afternoons and after school, but usually on Saturdays and a good part of the summer until I graduated from high school. It absolutely shaped my work ethic. As a kid I didn’t say “oh my gosh this is so fun!” because I’d be sweaty from extracting honey which is, as you can imagine,– sticky work –  but I took a lot of pride in it. My brother, sister and I were the extracting team: filling 5-8, 55-gallon drums of honey a day. It would start out as honey in the comb and by the end of the day turns into honey in the barrels ready to be sold and shipped somewhere. We had it down to a science; we were a true machine. I funded my way through college with the money I earned beekeeping. It was my first and only work experience for a long time. I look back and credit my work ethic to what I learned working for my dad, even when there were many times I thought it was the worst thing in the world!

Jan Gunter’s Resource Rundown:

Here are five websites Jan uses as a communicator.

Kivi’s Nonprofit Communications Blog
Austin Business Journal
The Statesman – It is important for me to stay abreast of local news.
Gaping Void – Hugh often makes me laugh at my desk in the afternoon. I welcome the break!
GOOD