Introducing Erika Gennari

Hi there, my name is Erika Gennari, and I’m happy to be the newest member of the Business Bullpen team!

I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO, graduated from Webster University with a BS in Media Communications, and worked in business development for a museum (www.citymuseum.org), newsweekly (www.montereycountyweekly.com), and finally a staffing firm (www.kforce.com) before landing in Charlottesville in 2010. My husband and I love the area, especially the seemingly endless baby boom which is supplying our two toddlers with lots of friends.

Over the years, I have had many exceptional mentors who have helped guide me professionally. First was the founder of City Museum in St. Louis, Bob Cassilly who believed that creating a meaningful experience was one of the most important things you could do. Next up would be Erik Cushman, my publisher at Monterey County Weekly in California who taught me to focus on being a valued advisor and offering solutions to our clients. Finally, Charlottesville’s own Marijean Jaggers imparted on me the importance of being authentic, engaged and forever mindful of clients’ needs. All of these experiences reinforced my desire to help businesses connect and grow.

I am thrilled to begin the next chapter with Business Bullpen. My role will be primarily business development and outreach but look out for some interview-style posts with former clients and Tumblr theme users. I hope to be doing a bit of writing as well. Salute!