Meet the Marlins: Kelly Forystek

What is your professional background?

Big Marlin Group was my first big girl job but in college I was always kind of working in marketing within some aspect whether that was doing some small tasks for my college’s D1 hockey team or working in the marketing department for the school’s geography department.

I always knew that I wanted to do some sort of marketing or public relations as my degree was in PR at Western Michigan University.

How did you start at Big Marlin Group?

I moved to Arizona in July of 2020, and I had a few jobs lined up before the world shut down. During 2020, it was hard to get a job, especially your first job out of college and so I was applying and interviewing with a few different marketing and PR jobs, and none really fit. I was taking it day by day in a state I wasn’t too familiar with, but I gave myself a decision day of April 1^st, that if I could not find a job that I was in love with by then, I was going to move back to my home state of Michigan.

I found Big Marlin Group early February of 2021 and when the interview process started, I fell in love! I was offered the position of an Account Coordinator and was ready to learn and grow here.

What is your official title at Big Marlin Group today?

I am an Account Manager now. I was an AC for 15 months until I was promoted.

What is the best part of your job?

So many things! I love getting to know my clients. Every client is just so different and have so many everchanging goals so it’s fun to have different tasks and action items for each one. I just love getting to know my clients and producing the best work that is going to achieve their goals and grow their business.

What is the most challenging part?

I would say some of the more difficult times would be pivoting. I'm a very structured human who likes having a plan and I get a little stressed out sometimes when plans change quickly, so I've had to really grow in my position as an AM when things do change. At the end of the day, you're trying to achieve a goal for a client and if a plan must change for that to happen, you pivot and take the next steps forward and keep going.

If someone wanted to be in your role, what kind of advice would you give them?

So many pieces of advice! Ask questions. Be so curious. I started as an AC, and I don't think I would be doing as well as I am now as an AM if I didn't ask questions when I was an account coordinator. Be your authentic self. Don’t try to be someone you're not and don't try to put on this persona for your clients. Genuinely just be honest, be yourself, be human and ask as many questions as you possibly can when you’re trying to learn this marketing world.

What is your favorite BMG or client memory that you want to share?

Currently, it is the monthly theme days we do here in office. I love being able to change up my day and do something new with my team and get away from our tasks for a minute.

Is there anything else that you would want readers to know about you?

I am a self-proclaimed cat lady. I’m also the biggest homebody. Some people become surprised with my outgoing personality when I tell them that I’m happiest at home, on my couch, with my cats watching TV.