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Jean McHale

What do you do?
I am currently public relations manager for the Institute for Supply Management. My bachelor's degree in journalism has been very valuable in giving me solid writing, editing and communications skills that have helped me secure a variety of jobs since I graduated in 1986. I've worked as a magazine editor for a non-profit civic service organization and for a trade publication. I've worked in corporate employee communications for a bank, worked as a public information specialist for the Arizona State Supreme Court, and public relations director for a graduate health professions school.

What does your company do?
Institute for Supply Management (ISM) is a non-profit educational association for supply chain/purchasing professionals. ISM offers professional development in the form of seminars, leadership workshops, national conferences, professional certification and networking opportunities.

How did you get your job?
I learned about this job in the classifieds of the Arizona Republic. But I would add that I have landed past jobs because of my membership and involvement in a professional association, the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC Phoenix). This has been the most valuable way for me to advance professionally. By attending meetings and networking events, getting involved on committees, and serving on the board, I learned of job opportunities that never were published in the classifieds.

What has been your greatest professional achievement?
I have the opportunity to give back to my profession by serving as the 2007-08 volunteer Phoenix chapter president of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC Phoenix).

What would be your best advice to current students?
Don't worry if you don't always feel the "passion" for your career or program of study. Just expose yourself to as much as you can. When I was in J-School, I switched from broadcast to magazine sequence after the first semester.

What about you would surprise people?
My first published magazine article appeared in the Wisconsin Hunter-Marksman.