Young Alum of the Month
Name: Kim Lynch
Hometown: New Hampton, Iowa
Major: Public Service & Administration (PSA)
Graduation Date: May 1998
Job Title: Management Supervisor
Employer: Rhea & Kaiser Marketing Communications, Naperville, IL
Major Job Responsibilities:
I work as the team lead for the Hort team at Rhea & Kaiser. Our team handles all communication programs for the Bayer CropScience horticulture portfolio, which includes fungicides, insecticides, herbicides and seed treatments.
We work with the client marketing managers for each respective brand to develop communications objectives each year, based on their business objectives and strategies. Then we work internally to develop an integrated communications program that will help them achieve their business goals. As new brands come to the market, I'm involved in developing the initial brand positioning and the initial communications launch.
Depending on the brand, we execute a wide variety of communications tactics - from print, radio, direct mail, sales literature, programs and public relations, just to name a few.
It's my job to make sure that all of our brands are on strategy and each tactic supports the overall direction. We are the liaison between the client and the agency, so I'm constantly working with our internal team to deliver on what the client needs are.
Working with a client in the ag industry is an added bonus, as I can combine two of my passions - communications and agriculture.
What I like most about my job:
My job can be extremely challenging at times, but in the end, it's also very fulfilling. I would say the number one thing I enjoy most about my job is the people that I get to work with. They are some of the most intelligent people in the industry - both from an agency perspective as well as my clients.
I also love the fact that my job is ever-changing. Depending on the day, I can wear the hat of a problem-solver, a communications strategist, or a budget analyst, among many others. No two days are the same, so it's hard to ever get bored!
Advice to current students:
During your college years when you're preparing for your career - don't be afraid to explore. College is a great time to look at various career paths - investigate anything that's of interest to you. Another key during your college years would be work experience/internships. They are critical - they make you a more marketable candidate. In addition, they help you decide if the particular field is something that you want to pursue long-term. I think it's a great idea to do a variety of internships to see where your true passion lies.
