I was born and raised in, Toledo, Ohio. John Denver wrote a very appropriate song about Toledo that begins “Saturday night in Toledo, Ohio is like being nowhere at all/ All through the day how the hours rush by, you sit in the park and you watch the grass die.”

I moved out of Toledo one month after graduating high school, where I began computer animation and multimedia studies at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Having been raised on a steady diet of science fiction movies and video games as a child, my choice of a career in computer animation made perfect sense to me. I wanted to make the movie special effects I loved, spaceships, explosions and worlds that humans would never set foot on. I fell into architectural visualization out of college and spent the next 8 years making architects’ ideas, floorplans and elevations come to life.

I headed to Chicago in 2007 where I switched my career path to industrial design visualization. Chicago had plenty to offer in terms of art and music, nightlife and cuisine, and I was happy to have spent time there. Ultimately I had my fill and wanted something just a little more relaxed and friendly. This brought me to Cincinnati (having grass, trees and actual topography didn’t hurt the Queen City, either).

Having been a resident here since the fall of 2011, I am very thankful to be a part of the MeM family. I have never worked in such an open, friendly and personable environment, and can honestly say that I enjoy interacting with my coworkers on a daily basis. Everyone refers to their own company as “The [blank] Family”, and “The MeM Family” is no different- except that here, it’s true. When I’m not at my desk buying lamps that don’t work, I can be found playing video games, reading, collecting and scratching dusty hip hop funk and soul records, or watching Detroit football/basketball/hockey/baseball. Go Lions.

I grew up in the quiet town of Blakeslee, Ohio. As you enter the city limits, the wooden sign welcomes you with the slogan “Blakeslee, A Half Mile of Smile”. It was there that I spent many summer days swimming in ponds, riding four-wheelers and helping work on the family farm. As a child, I loved to draw. My Grandma’s fridge was always filled with my drawings (she thought I was the greatest). When my parents bought our first home computer, I found myself creating simple paintings in Microsoft Paint one pixel at a time. It was this love for the Arts that would lead me down my life path.

I attended high school at the neighboring town, where I took every art related class available to me. After graduation, I enrolled at Bowling Green State University in the Graphic Design department. I was unfamiliar with the world of Graphic Design, but thought the combination of Art and computers would be perfect for me. However, this was not the case (at least not at this time in my life).

After a few semesters, I decided to change degrees to Digital Arts with a focus on 3D Modeling and Animation. I created complex character and object models along with animated short stories. The classes were intense and time consuming, but the end product was something that was a true reflection of my creativity.

College was an amazing time of great friends, awesome stories, and tough life lessons. However, all great things have to come to an end. I proudly graduated in 2003.

After graduation I was hired at DNA Productions in Texas to be part of a team that would create two new episodes of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. When the project was completed, I packed up my work experience, along with his new skill sets, and returned to Ohio. I worked several freelance jobs, but had a difficult time landing another full-time position. Then, in 2006, I moved to the Cincinnati area to begin work at Making Everlasting Memories.

Currently, I work as a Graphics Specialist at MeM. I am involved with several of the ongoing projects such as our On-Demand Printing and future product development and implementation. Every day presents new and exciting challenges to utilize my artistic background and design skills.

My spare time is filled with too many hobbies, the biggest being my love for video games. When I’m not glued to my console destroying the competition, I enjoy spending time with my fiancé and working on furthering my art skills. I keep an online portfolio of all my past and current works. Feel free to check them out at: www.cwehrle.com.

It can be said that the essence of a person is the sum of a life lived. The people we have known, the things we have done, the places we have seen and the experiences we have all contribute to make us the person we become. Currently, I serve as a "Training Specialist" here at MeM. But, what this title does not tell you is about my journey to MeM and my journey through MeM.

My technical background began with Johnson & Johnson / McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharmaceuticals, where I completed an internship with the company’s Change Management Department. During this time, I led all efforts to provide technical support to the personal computers of the Over-the-Counter Sales team. I also conducted thorough research on technical solutions for the company’s in-house Child Development Center, which resulted in vast improvements to the Center’s available technology. At the end of my internship, I was selected to be a part of their Information Management Leadership Development Program.

I was able to bring this valuable experience to MeM in 2007, when I joined the company’s customer service team. As a Product Specialist, I fielded dozens of phone calls and e-mail inquiries daily from funeral home customers as well as their client families, resolving technical issues, providing training in MeM product creation and helping end-consumers manage the content of the online memorials. What I also loved about this new role was the ability for me to contribute to the redesign of new system interface screens as well as the testing of applications prior to deployment.

In 2009, I was promoted to a newly created position of Product Services Supervisor where I served as the primary contact point for post-sale support, made recommendations for modification to the existing program interface and maintained the company’s renowned help desk service standards.

After much consideration, in 2011, my family and I made a decision to move back to my hometown of Miami, Florida - where I currently reside and continue to contribute to MeM but of course, in a much different capacity. I work remotely and use the internet and video conferencing tools as a means to meet with fellow employees and train our reseller network. This is only possible because of the attitude that MeM has towards its employees and way of doing business. We are truly a family-friendly organization and always open to new ideas and innovation - principles that are also at the core of my being. I feel truly blessed to work for such a great company.

Outside of work I stay busy spending quality time with my three children and significant other. There's never a dull day in our house - especially when you have twins. My children make sure I stay active (chasing them around) and keep a good sense of humor - no sense in crying over spilled milk, right?. I believe and am thankful that every day is a blessing, and that a simple smile (even over the phone) can makes someone's day brighter.

Contact me gina.mcnally@mem.com or at 513.864.0120

M.B.A., International Business, Xavier University
B.A., Communication Arts, Xavier University

I've been on board with MeM since 2007 and currently serve as lead on communication outreach and marketing efforts for our internal and external audiences.

Prior to joining MeM, I was a news writer for WKRC-TV in Cincinnati, Ohio, going on location to cover breaking news and develop stories for frontline newscasts. I then took the opportunity to use my journalistic skills abroad and accepted a staff writer position with a local magazine in Munich, Germany. My contributions there kept the city’s English-speaking expatriate community up-to-date with the dining scene, cultural events, and people.

Outside of the office, I can usually be found taking part in something international -- whether it's travel, keeping up with global business news, or foreign language. I'm fluent in German and am working on French and Spanish as well (slowly but surely!). My other hobbies include playing sports, going to baseball games, physical fitness, and checking out new coffee shops and restaurants.

Contact me at maria.sheeran@mem.com