Meet the Members
Elena McSwane
This year's AdClub President (our youngest ever) is a Project Manager and Marketing Liaison for EMI Network, and internet/media agency. Prior to EMI Network, she was an Account Executive at LAO Advertising and Freedman, Gibson & White. Her career started out with a bang when she represented Xavier University at AAF's National Student Advertising Competition. Since then, she's been hooked on AdClub and AAF - now in her sixth year of service on the AdClub board. Elena's energy and enthusiasm as the Membership chair have helped AdClub reach its largest membership in more than fifteen years, and this year she is excited about helping AdClub reach the next level. She took some time out from her hectic day to answer a few questions.
AC: Where did you grow up?
EM: I grew up near Philadelphia in my very early years. In the primary grades we moved to Ft. Thomas. I attended Highlands High School in Ft. Thomas and then majored in advertising at Xavier University.
AC: What cliques were you in?
EM: Drama Freaks and band Geeks
AC: What attracted you to advertising?
EM: I enjoy theater and thought that I could use my skills to present. I also enjoy art and thought that if I could not create the art, maybe I could work alongside designers.
AC: Is there anyone else in your family who is in advertising?
EM: No one else in advertising; my dad is an Industrial Engineer and my mom is a homemaker. My brother is in business and my sister is a teacher.
AC: Tell us about your husband
EM: Ryan is a Senior Accountant at Deloitte. We've been married for two years as of Sept. 2nd. We live in Monfort Heights because Ryan didn't want to leave the West Side.
AC: What accounts did you work on at LAO and FG & W?
EM: Ethicon Endo-Surgery (Bariatric Division), Drake Center, Lifestyle Communities (Builder in Columbus), TSS Technology, PPS Scene Savers, LINK GIS, Sears Carpet & Uphostery Care.
AC: Any hobbies?
EM: The theater bug bit me in second grade when I drew the lead role in the larger Christmas play and I have not stopped since. I really engaged myself in theater during high school and continued throughout college. I even had a performing arts grant while at Xavier. I have participated in almost every aspect of theater from writing a play, directing, producing, set design and construction, costumes, makeup, choreography, advertising, PR, and being in the actual shows, whether dancing, acting, singing or any combination of the three.
AC: Do you belong to a theater company?
EM: I have beeb with St. Catherine Players (in Ft. Thomas) since 2003 and have been in such shows as Godspell, Westside Story and Moby Dick the Musical. Spring 2008 I directed and was in Bye Bye Birdie. As the president of our theater group, I am getting ready for our production of Children of Eden.
AC: Favorite...
Restaurants: Olive Garden, Walt's Barbeque, any good steakhouse.
Movies: Beauty and the Beast, Anne of Green Gables
Music: Barenaked Ladies, DC Talk, Musicals in general
TV: How I Met Your Mother, Big Bang Theory, So You Think You Can Dance, Wipeout
Websites: None really, I spend so much time on the computer at work that I am not into surfing just for fun. Sad, isn't it? I visit YouTube for videos every now and again that people send me. It's mostly for entertainment. For a while I was addicted to the Smirnoff Teapartay video.
AC: And your dream job?
EM: Theater Costume Designer
