Each month we’ll be featuring an interview with a member of the Bogues Group team
Keri Rist, Project + Client Relations Manager
Boston, MA
About Keri
I’ve been a project manager for over 10 years with a focus on marketing and software development. Prior to joining BG, I worked at Bain and Company. I also have experience working as a project manager and business analyst in both the financial services and healthcare industries. One of the reasons I love being a project and client relations manager is because my job is always changing! No project or client is the same and those challenges motivate me every day. When I’m not working, I am spending time with my husband Matt and 2 children, Vaughn (5 years old) and Vivienne (2.5 years old). I also enjoy interior design, home renovations, being by the ocean, reading, and exploring new classes on the Peloton.
What techniques do you use to measure the quality of your work?
Data always speaks volumes so it is important to look at the numbers first. Did a client’s social media engagement improve? Are their email newsletter click rates increasing? Are we hitting our intended deliverables and metrics? These are all consistent ways to quantitatively measure quality and performance. I also am a people person by nature and I typically form bonds with clients that are a combination of professional and friendly. I use those relationships to help gauge how happy a client is with the work BG is doing when it can not be measured by data.
What are the most important skills you’ve learned to apply to PR/marketing, and where/how did you learn them?
It’s important to maintain an agile mindset no matter the industry. Although change can make people uneasy, it is usually very beneficial. When a certain strategy is not producing the results we are looking for, it is often time to take a small, thoughtful, calculated pause and evaluate what is going right and or wrong with the project, and readjust the campaign or strategy accordingly.
What campaign/client are you most proud of and why?
When it comes to our current marketing clients, I am most proud of our long-standing client, Myers Park United Methodist Church, and how far they have come since working with us. They’ve trusted our vision in website design, social media recommendations, and overall communications and I have watched their engagement and membership rise steadily and consistently.
What’s your favorite brand or campaign and why?
As a working mom, Patagonia is one of my favorite brands, mainly because of their overall mission (and living in New England the durable winter gear helps too!). Patagonia provides subsidized on-site child care for their employees, which is an amazing benefit that most brands and companies do not offer. I also love Patagonia because they give back to the environment. To date, the company has donated more than $110 million to nonprofits working on environmental problems facing communities and the planet.
What advice would you give to a beginner entering the events industry?
My advice is to be open-minded with a willingness to learn (and fail at times!), stay current with what’s happening in the industry as it is always evolving, and connect with someone experienced in the industry who can serve as a mentor.