We sent our client holiday cards this week!  As much as I LOVE paper and envelopes and unique labels (I think that is leftover from my wedding planning days!) I decided to go with a digital card this year in order to donate the ‘paper + postage fund’ to three of my favorite charities and ones that have been a big part of 2010 for me!  We used Paperless Post to create the card and will be sending some donation love to:

The Wounded Warrior Project- Chris, my husband, spent 2010 in Afghanistan and was injured in a helicopter crash.  He was extremely lucky to walk away with a back injury that should be pretty manageable.  Many of our troops are not so lucky and this organization does great things to help injured service men and women once they are home.

The Ishan Gala Foundation- In December 2009 my little friend Edie (daughter of our great friends Emily & Nick) was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma, a type of pediatric cancer that I had never heard of.  It turns out that this organization is located right here in Charlottesville and they are doing amazing things to help kids like Edie and the doctors who are working hard to find a cure! Edie is still fighting and will hopefully have her very last surgery next week!

The Boys and Girls Club of Central Virginia- I have always known that this was a great local cause as the event planning company that I used to work for was very involved in their fundraisers.  This year I had the opportunity to visit their newest C-ville club.  It’s amazing what they offer to the kids in our community and it’s certainly a cause worth supporting!

I love getting to know my clients and their businesses. I spend time ‘on the job’ with them whenever possible. I get to know their employees. I meet with most of them weekly to get an update on what they are up to and to give them an update on our marketing progress.  Notice that I say ‘our’ marketing progress.  That is because I consider myself a part of their team.  I hope they consider me a part of the team too…not just an outsider doing some projects for them.  So, it’s only fair that they (and you, our blog readers) get to know us as well.  Here is a bit about me to start with and as we continue this blogging adventure you will also meet the rest of Team Garnet as well as the designers, printers, friends, family (and dogs) that we couldn’t exist without.

About Jessica:
I graduated from JMU (go dukes!) with a degree in business and a concentration in hospitality management.  My dad gave me a Burger King crown for graduation suggesting that I would never get a real job in ‘hospitality’ but I proved him wrong and went on to spend almost ten years in the world of hotels, restaurants and events.  I started out doing meeting planning at The Boar’s Head Inn followed by sales & marketing and wedding & event planning at The Clifton Inn and The Event Company. I love weddings & events and still help out with them whenever somebody will let me!

Garnet exists because I also love marketing & social media.  It’s the perfect mix of fun, creativity and nerdiness for me.  It helps other people to grow their businesses.  I get a Saturday off once in awhile.  What’s not to love!

Speaking of love- a few of my favorite things: my husband Chris who is SO close to being home from Afghanistan, my family, my friends, my puppy Ellie, JMU, virginia wine, dogfish head 60 minute IPA, etsy, anything in the paper source catalog, the number 7 and my new MacBook Pro.

That’s all for now…