ist magazine July 2021

Feature

MaryKate Reid Marketing Specialist, JK Products & Services 7 Questions with

How/when did you get into the tanning industry? I started as an intern at JK during my sophomore year of college. I have been with the company for well over a year now and I love the flexibility of what I do. As a marketing specialist who loves social media, my favorite thing to showcase is the different aspects of our business. It’s not just about our tanning equipment – it’s about the people who pull it together. What was your first real job? Besides being the go-to babysitter in a large family, my very first job was at a local family pet hospital. It was a summer job, and my sole duty was to play with the boarded dogs. I loved that job – not only because I got to play with dogs, but I was able to take pictures of each dog and send them to the owners. I also got to discover a variety of personalities of each dog and dog breed. Some ran around the entire time and completely covered themselves in mud while others would sit in my lap and enjoy the sun. What do you do to keep fit? I do two things: run and eat whole foods. I wouldn’t say I am a big runner, but you probably won’t catch me going a week or two without doing it. Except for in the summer – southern humidity is not something to mess with! My parents are both avid runners so my sister and I take after that. I also try to keep a close watch on my diet and make sure that the majority of what I eat is natural, whole foods.

Name one of your biggest pet peeves.

Slow drivers! I love driving but when I drive, I have some place to go – I view it as a task that I have to accomplish and slow drivers can make it difficult.

Necessities aside, what one thing could you not go a day without? My iPhone! Yep, I am one of those people who truly could not go a day without my phone. Our phones are our basic modes of communication nowadays as they keep us informed, entertained and connected. Being a social media strategist, my phone is also essential to my line of work, so it would be hard to be creative if I didn’t have something in my hand to quickly take pictures, edit a photo or post a video. What would you sing at Karaoke night? I absolutely love music and singing, so it would probably be a classic hit from the early 2000s. Something from my childhood that is still popular today. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? The easiest answer to a question: Paris, France! I love the city’s style, architecture and culture. I absolutely love fashion, so I would say that also speaks loudly of my choice. Fingers crossed I am able to visit next spring! ■

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July 2021

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