As Rhyme & Reason’s own personal ray of sunshine, Shannon truly knows what it means to understand and connect with her audience. A detail-oriented list maker, Shannon is an account manager who knows how to be, create and do awesome.

ER: What is your role at Rhyme & Reason Design?

SM: I am a Junior Account Executive at R&R handling client relations and project management. My role is to work with our partners to help their marketing ideas come to life through beautiful designs and smart ideas.

I took on managing social media a few months after I started here as well. I work to curate our social aesthetic with our absurdly talented and thoughtful designer, Shea. We meet biweekly and plan out a full month in advance, lining up all the images to show how it will fall in our feeds. We don’t want to have too many graphics or photos next to each other so that everything looks really natural and showcases all the hard work we do with our clients.

ER: How did you come across Rhyme & Reason Design?

SM: I met Scarlett when I was about to graduate college — her best friend is actually my next-door neighbor’s daughter. We got to chatting and I told her that I was about to move to Atlanta, and she suggested we connect after I got settled. After a few dinners, she became a mentor to me; talking through my career options and pretty much helping me transition to full-on adulting. A few years later at one of our dinners, I mentioned that I was frustrated in my current role and thinking about exploring new career opportunities, and Scarlett mentioned that R&R was looking for a new Junior Account Executive. It truly was a case of “right place, right time.” I applied and the rest is history!

ER: What has been your biggest learning moment so far?

SM: Just one? Every day at Rhyme & Reason is truly a learning experience for me! From getting the hang of our meticulous process, the ins and outs of our clients and their needs and tackling all of that with our built-in efficiencies, working here has not only giving me great career perspective, but has taught me that in life you should never to be afraid to ask for help. You (Emily) and Scarlett have also always been super patient with me, allowing me to ask questions, understand things and even make suggestions for improvements.

ER: What one piece of advice would you give to someone looking to work in the creative industry?

SM:  I still feel fairly new myself sometimes! I would say, even to just my younger self, ”Relax!” I remember feeling super panicked when I graduated college and like I was super behind in life – you could drive yourself crazy with all this panic and fear. Keep trying and don’t give up. Keep sending resumes and making connections simply because you want to get to know people. Everything will eventually work out the way it’s supposed to. When I connected with Scarlett originally, I wasn’t looking for a job, and look how that turned out!

ER: Tell me about a project you’re proud of.

SM: Annandale Village is my proudest achievement so far. I’ve owned their project from an accounts perspective from start to finish and it’s been such a joy to get to know their team. The people that are a part of this organization are so passionate about what they do and their mission to provide a more fulfilling life for adults with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries. It really has been so special to work on this project and for such a fulfilling organization.

ER: What do you do you want all of the clients you work with to know?

SM: We are super intentional and we have your best interests in mind. We take the time to truly get to know you, your team and your business. And we have confidence in you to be the best advocate for your company!

ER: What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?

SM:  I’m allergic to caffeine! I figured this out in college, so I luckily never became super reliant on it as an adult. I’m just naturally energetic and have slowly become more of a “morning” person as well. That, paired with a lot of water keeps me going all day!