When you walk through the door at Echo-Factory, Roni’s the first person you see. Around here, she does a bit of everything. She’s part accountant, part event planner, part therapist, part google maps (seriously, if Roni doesn’t know about a restaurant, mall, movie theater, etc., it probably doesn’t exist).
Since Roni’s the glue that holds our agency together, we thought it was about time we shared a little about her with the rest of the world.
1. How long have you been at Echo-Factory?
Two years and five months.
2. What is the craziest job you’ve ever had?
Repossessing pianos. I worked in accounts receivable at a piano company and I would have to go with the movers to repossess pianos. We would go up to the house, show them the unpaid bill and tell them we were taking the piano. The movers were such big guys that we never got any argument. We would go in the house to get the piano and the kids would come out and start crying because we were taking the piano away. It was terrible.
3. What do you like most about working at an ad agency?
Being exposed to copywriters, artists and photographers. I really like knowing how a real agency works; it’s very different from where I’ve worked in the past.
4. When you’re not here, what do you like to do for fun?
I like to hang out with my family (husband, Phil and 16 year old son, Phillip). I spend a lot of time at band competitions. Phillip plays the trumpet in his high school band so I have to take him back and forth to practice, football games and other band events.
I also like to surf. When I’m not watching the band, I’m usually at the beach.
5. Name an ad you love. Name one you hate.
I really like the Kia Soul commercial where the hamsters use the Kia Soul to go back in time to the 18th century and end up at an opera house.
I hate this local commercial for a Malibu drug rehab clinic. It comes on every morning when I’m getting ready for work and it makes me cringe every time.
6. How many tattoos do you have?
I have two, both on my back.
One is of a dragon which symbolizes that my life is complete hence the reason for the three Japanese characters beside it which stand for family, love and strength. I got it five years ago when my son got his second degree black belt. Originally, I had promised I would get a dragon tattoo on my back when he got his first degree black belt, but I didn’t end up doing it. So, when he got his second, I knew I had to do it.
My other one is of a little surfer girl. I always wanted to get a surfer girl tattoo so a friend of mine drew it for me and I finally went and got it in 2002.
7. You go to Comic Con every year. When did that tradition start?
Five years ago. My son Phillip wanted to go and I wasn’t going to let him go alone so I ended up taking Phillip and four of his friends to Comic Con. I signed up to work as a volunteer the first year and have been volunteering every year since then. Disclaimer: For those who’ve never heard of Comic Con, first crawl out from under your rock then continue reading. Comic Con is the world’s largest comic book and popular arts convention.
8. What’s your favorite dessert?
Banana Cream Pie. I hated it up until I was about 25. Yeah, 25 was the turning point. I was at a friend’s birthday party and they were serving banana cream pie. Well, I took a piece to be polite and ended up loving every bite of it.
9. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Italy, no, France, no…ok, I’ll go with France but only because they have the Louvre. I’ve always wanted to go and see all the amazing art there.
10. What book are you reading now?
I’m rereading Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice.