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| Linda LaSala & Lisa Ackerman |
As we wrap up 2013, and I hand over the Regional Director duties for FGI, Chicago, to Linda LaSala, I reflect on the Programming and Branding / Communication accomplishments this Board of Directors has achieved over the last 2 years.
First and foremost, we increased our "voice" exponentially by strengthening our digital presence. In today's world, your online presence not only serves as a communication objective, but it - simply put, validates your existence.
We created a Blog, a YouTube Channel, Newsletters, updated the chicago.fgi.org website with upcoming AND past event coverage and tripled the number of our Facebook Fans.
The FGI, Chicago Media Kit created this year is an excellent branding/communications tool we developed to educate our community on "Who we are AND what we do".
We forged and aligned partnerships with city government supported entities and new non-profit, community-focused businesses. All aligned with a similar objectives; to develop, support and promote professionalism in the design and lifestyle related industries in Chicago.
These accomplishments were realized with no marketing budget, but through the volunteer service efforts of our Board and some stellar Interns.
The FGI, Chicago Media Kit created this year is an excellent branding/communications tool we developed to educate our community on "Who we are AND what we do".
We forged and aligned partnerships with city government supported entities and new non-profit, community-focused businesses. All aligned with a similar objectives; to develop, support and promote professionalism in the design and lifestyle related industries in Chicago.
These accomplishments were realized with no marketing budget, but through the volunteer service efforts of our Board and some stellar Interns.
Finally, this Board continued with the Programming mission to bring our Membership professional development content that is current, industry relevant and community connected. My personal top 3 favorite events of my Term were; Branding & "Communications for a Digital Era", "Funding Your Future" and "Delivering the Digital Experience".
It is now time to wish you all Happy Holidays! And, to introduce you to our new Regional Director of FGI, Chicago, and one of my favorite people, Linda LaSala.
Cheers!
Lisa Ackerman
Linda LaSala
Linda has spent over 25 years working as a buyer, designer, and product developer for private label programs. She has worked for or developed product for America’s major retailers, including JC Penney, Dillards, Bon Ton, Macy’s, J.Crew, Sears, Tweeds, the Weathervane, Lane Bryant, Express and more. Her expertise lies mostly in knitwear and she has been known in the industry as a go-to developer of patterns and color ways.
In 2005, when fashion web sites and blogs were just gaining prominence, she created girlawhirl.com, an online magazine for women, as a way to leverage all the trend, travel and fashion information that she gathered as a result of her ‘day job.’ Over the course of the next 3 years, the site grew to be in the top 20,000 web sites in the world and held top google® rankings for many fashion and women-centric search terms. In 2007, while trying to create an online program to stimulate registrations and referrals, she hit on the idea of sharing coupons and daily deals, coining the term Girlawhirl Group-ons, which was trademarked. Later the trademark was sold to a Chicago based company who continue to explode the idea worldwide.
A forward thinker who understands that the next big idea is usually right in front of us, Linda keeps her eyes and mind open to the possibilities. She has just completed a master’s degree that focuses on how women make their fashion shopping decisions and how product developers can use this information to streamline their process and create more trend-right merchandise for the mass market.
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