By Anne Anderson – NRWA Staff Writer
The recent introduction of the NRWA’s new branding makes this the perfect time to introduce you to Kristen Schmidt, NRWA’s 2022 Marketing Committee Chair. Kristen brings to her role invaluable marketing and public relations experience and a passion for hiring and mentoring employees and developing careers. She earned a bachelor of science in journalism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is pursuing a certificate in diversity, equity, and inclusion at The Ohio State University. She also holds a certificate in culinary arts from the Washburne Culinary and Hospitality Institute.
Kristen is an editor, writer, and branding consultant who operates her own business, Wordschmidt Consulting LLC. She works with a wide variety of clients, some in higher education, arts, and construction. She has an affinity for communicators and creatives, and especially loves working with young professionals and people in the hospitality industry.
Kristen has enjoyed a successful journalism career. Before opening her business, she was associate editor at Ohio State Alumni Magazine and editor of Columbus Monthly magazine. She co-founded Six One Fork, an online magazine (currently on hiatus) devoted to the Columbus food and wine scene. In making the decision to find a new direction, she grappled with the issues facing many of our clients: How do changes and trends in her industry affect her career; what are her personal values and goals; where does she want to focus her efforts and skills?
When her professional direction became clear, joining the NRWA was a natural step to meet more industry professionals, learn new skills, and gain credentials. She responded to a request to assist the public image committee and now has been tapped for the board position. Kristen attended the 2021 conference and was extremely impressed with the speaker quality and the online platform’s superior functionality. She appreciates the exceptionally welcoming and supportive nature of the organization.
Kristen notes that we’re living through a once-in-a-generation change in the workforce, a realignment of how people balance life and work. People have been in jobs and industries for years, thinking they have nothing to offer other industries. NRWA members have the power to help them open up their thinking and find new work that is consistent with their values.
In her role as marketing chair, Kristen is eager to build on the work that has begun with the NRWA’s logo change and rebranding, aiming to expand the organization’s reach and reputation. She is focused on understanding what our audiences need and how the various marketing channels can best speak to different people. She is thinking about translating these into powerful collateral and communication materials that deliver a consistent image and message—from writing to video to social media. In addition, she hopes to help build workflow and process structures that will strengthen marketing continuity and sustainability over time.
Kristen is based in Columbus, Ohio, where she lives with her husband, Bear, a professor of political science at Ohio State, and their 5-year-old daughter, Molly. They own a historic mid-century home that “is a lot of work.” You can contact Kristen at kristen@wordschmidt.co or www.linkedin.com/in/kristenmargaretschmidt/.