Member Spotlight: Melissa Bailes
Posted by [email protected] on Aug. 1, 2019 / Member Spotlight / Subscribe 0
Melissa Bailes
Title:
Senior Marketing Specialist
Firm:
Moss
Number of Years in Industry:
21
How did you get started with your career?
After college, I began working in the magazine industry in the production department. After a couple of years, I married and relocated to Charleston, SC and began looking for work. I came across an architectural firm in need of a graphic designer, applied and was offered the job at the end of my interview! The firm was Liollio Architects, an amazing group of talented people with huge hearts and a passion for mentorship. While there, one of the founding principals taught began teaching me business development as well as how to market in the a/e/c industry. I will never forget my time with that firm and am eternally grateful for their belief in my abilities.
What excites you about your work and the contribution you make?
The most exciting part of my work is seeing the lifecycle of a “need” turn into an “idea” and on throughout its phases, gathering steam, gathering people and becoming a 3-dimensional object. For example, hearing about a potential project, working on a proposal or a presentation for that project, and then winning that job. From there on watching its progress as the building goes up, visiting the site during construction, seeing it finished and finally watching people interact with it when it is completed. That entire process always amazes me and having a small part in the process makes me proud. Additionally, I feel good knowing that the hard work and late nights working on proposals and presentations to get a win means that everyone I work with will have a job another day. I don’t always feel like our peers in the a/e/c industry appreciate our contribution.
What helpful tip(s) can you share with your fellow SMPS members?
Take advantage of the message boards on mysmps.org. I love that I can reach out to thousands of other a/e/c marketers and ask a question on any subject. Recently I posted about questions about presentation technology and the feedback I received will aid my current firm in deciding how we plan on moving forward to stay best-in-class.
What is the best communications/marketing advice you've ever received?
Listen, think and then respond. Also, when you are upset, don’t flippantly write an email that may come back to haunt you. Instead, write that crazy email but keep the to/from blank. Once it is written and out of your system, hit delete, take a breath and just let it go.
What are you currently watching on Netflix?
Being such an anglophile, I’ve been watching some of my favorite shows from across the pond. I find they have the best crime shows as well as some hilarious comedy (if you love cheeky dry humor). Currently, I’ve been re-watching Father Brown. It is a bit of comedy and sleuthing by a priest and his motley crew in 1950’s rural England. It is charming and an easy watch with only 6 episodes a season.
If you could visit anywhere in the world you have never been, where would you go?
Anyone who knows me or has seen my home or office knows that London is my absolutely favorite place in the world. It is the only place I feel truly at home, and each time I go I find it harder and harder to leave. Great Britain is my heritage, so maybe it is the ancestral ties that make me feel some comfortable… or just maybe I lived there in a past life! For those you have not ever had a chance to visit, please book a ticket now, it is a place full of history, culture and of course the Royals!
Do you have a secret talent? What is it?
I actually have two “secret” talents, both originating from my youth. The first is clogging, a style of American folk dance quite popular in the early 1900’s and is often associated with bluegrass music. My grandparents were huge bluegrass fans, having cousins who were musicians on the Grand Ole’ Opry, and would often take me with them to music festivals as a child. Wanting to impress, I took lessons and was a member of the “Sea-turtle Tappers,” a group who would meet weekly to dance as well as put on exhibitions throughout south Florida. I really enjoyed it and would love the opportunity to dance again! My other “talent” is twirling rifles and flags. I was on a color guard in middle school and loved spinning the heavy wooden rifles and tossing them high into the air above my head. In fact, my neighbor’s daughter is a member of the local high school color guard. Knowing I used to twirl, she offered me her practice rifle and flag to see if I still had the skills. So I stood out front of my home in my work clothes tossed the flag into the air and had the time of my life… and yes I might have dropped it once or twice!
What was your first real job?
My first “real job” was at age 14. I worked at a local retirement/care facility in Boca Raton delivering breakfast to the home-bound residents. I had to get up at 5:30 in the morning on Saturdays and sometimes Sundays, wear a very stylish black and white striped dress, very sensible shoes and a hair net… just what every teen girl dream of wearing. I would fill the orders in the kitchen for those residents who could not make it to the cafeteria and deliver it to their living quarters. Meeting and interacting with the older and wiser generation have had quite an impact on my life. So many of them were lonely, as their friends and family had already gone ahead of them. I made it a point to keep a smile on my face and take the time to talk and hear their stories hoping it would brighten their day just a little bit. This job taught me about being responsible, the value of a dollar, and most importantly, how little I actually knew about life. Listening to the trials and tribulations those seniors had been through made me realize I had a long, long way to go as far as understanding how things work in this life and I’m still on that journey!
If you could learn anything, what would it be?
About four years ago I began learning the Japanese language. It was and still is on my bucket list of accomplishments to master. I took classes for a few years and although it was quite difficult, really enjoyed it. Unfortunately, life happens, and I stopped studying. I can still remember a few phrases here and there, but I really would like to study again. My goal is to be fluent enough to read basic signs and have simple conversations when I someday visit Japan. Once I check that off my list, it’s on to Korean!
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