Vanessa joined Taylor Johnson in 2006 and has worked in different capacities, so she considers herself a jack of all trades. In addition to serving as a senior account manager, Vanessa is also the firm’s social media senior account manager and is responsible for Taylor Johnson’s social media.
After graduating from Eastern Illinois University with a degree in journalism, Vanessa pursued a career in television, first working as a producer for a CBS morning show in Champaign and then moving to an NBC affiliate in Peoria, where she also worked as a producer and continued to hone her storytelling skills. While there, Vanessa was the recipient of the Illinois Broadcasters Association’s Silver Dome Award for a program she produced about women in leadership positions in the Peoria area.
But the grueling hours of television news ultimately led Vanessa to make a switch to public relations, and she moved to New York City to handle corporate communications for a financial planning firm and, later, for a media planning company before moving back to Illinois in 2005.
Vanessa and her husband, Dennis, live in Evanston with their three daughters. They enjoy traveling and going to the beach. Vanessa is also an active volunteer in her community, having served on the board of Northminster Nursery School, as president of her daughters’ school PTA, on the fundraising committee for the PTA Equity Project and as an assistant coach for Girls on the Run.
BEYOND THE BIO
With Taylor Johnson since: 2006
People around the office come to me for: Social media, ideas
People around the office avoid me for: proofreading!
Three words that describe me are: Creative, dedicated, team-oriented
Proudest TJ moment: Probably the first time one of my clients was featured on the cover of the Chicago Tribune because of a story idea I conceived and pitched.
When I was growing up I thought I’d be a: journalist.
I never thought I’d be: a mini-van owner (but I love it!)
The best professional advice I received was: don’t take shortcuts with written communications. Even in a casual setting (such as email, text or social media), a complete, wellwritten sentence still matters.
Favorite Chicago building: Chicago Water Tower
Favorite Halloween costume: I’ll forever love when two of my daughters agreed to be suffragettes for Halloween. It was the cutest!
Last good book I read: I love good “escapist” fiction, and having a mystery thrown in always helps. So I love books like Gone Girl, The Woman in Cabin 10, The Girl on the Train.
On my playlist: Always a mix, depends on my mood.
My favorite app: Instagram!
Favorite pastime: Cooking, gardening, spending time with my family outdoors
What I like most about TJ: The people
The worst job I ever had was: working for my father at his body shop. I was his office assistant every summer and during school holidays. He was one tough boss!
Most people don’t know that I: I’m a pretty open book, so I don’t think there is much people don’t know.
My guilty pleasure is: The Real Housewives franchise (specifically New York, New Jersey and Beverly Hills)