Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Theresa Meeker Pickett. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Theresa, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I draw immense inspiration from my parents, who exemplify unparalleled dedication and passion in their professions as a doctor and a teacher. Their commitment to finding a true calling rather than just a career has left a profound impact on me. I spent some of my most formative years living in Indonesia due to my father’s work in the medical field. This experience gave me the incredible opportunity to see the world. It was wonderful to have those experiences, but not always easy. I remember the beauty of the green countryside in Wales as much as I do the gnats that unfortunately got in my ice cream outside the gate at Buckingham Palace, and the smile across my face when I saw the Monkey Temple in Nepal as much as the feeling of being car sick from long rural drive to get there. Growing up traveling so much was not easy or leisurely as a child, but it left me feeling like a different person after each place I visited. Since my parents worked so hard, they were able to expose me to the transformative power of travel, igniting my passion for tourism. Moreover, my grandmother, a trailblazing journalist in Nashville, instilled in me the value of hard work. One standout moment from her illustrious career was her front-page feature in The Tennessean, chronicling her intrepid journey to Baghdad and Kuwait at the age of 75.
On my mother’s side, my Italian immigrant grandparents epitomized the importance of tradition and family, laying a solid groundwork for diligent effort and perseverance.
These influences shaped my work ethic and propelled me toward my current path in the tourism industry, ultimately finding a position in marketing for the tourism office in the area where I currently reside, Howard County, Maryland.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Absolutely, I’d be happy to share more about myself. As the Marketing Content & Communications Manager at Visit Howard County, Maryland, nestled between Washington DC and Baltimore, I’m deeply passionate about showcasing our area’s incredible cultural events and fun attractions. Howard County is a beautiful place to be year-round. Summertime here reminds me of growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, where I moved to after Indonesia, because Downtown Columbia comes to life with concerts. Many of them are completely free. At the Columbia Lakefront Stage, LakeFest Weekend starts summer and then there are free concerts there all summer long. Then, the AMPED in the Park series starts at Color Burst Park in the new Merriweather District. Howard County is also home to the renowned Merriweather Post Pavilion, which brings an incredible series of concerts as well.
From the fall-inspired meals at restaurants and outdoor spring events to winter tree lightings and holiday boutique shopping, Howard County is a beautiful, lively place that I’m happy to have called home for almost a decade. Originally, I was drawn to Howard County when I saw it on a map because the day trips you can take as a resident are incredible. Within a short drive, you can dip your toes into the sand in Bethany Beach, Maryland, learn about history in Gettysburg, see the Times Square billboards in New York City, and explore the National Mall in Washington DC. Howard County offers so much to visitors from these other places too!
One recent highlight in my work has been overseeing the completion of our 2024 Visitor’s Guide, which showcases the best of what Howard County has to offer. It was exciting to see some photos I’ve taken be published and some of my writing be used as inspiration while I took on more of an editorial role. In my time here, I’ve been very passionate about going out to get a photo when we need it and to do on-the-ground research for our writing. Having that drive to create written and visual content really helps in my role, as does being able to communicate with our members to be able to gather compelling imagery and information.
I’m also particularly proud of the improvements we’ve made to our website, including the addition of an Accessibility tab for tourists, a new Maryland Koreatown microsite, and enhanced content on the Destination Downtown Columbia page. The projects I’ve worked on since joining the team have vastly increased the average session duration of our website and the impressions and engagement on our social media. Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue driving engagement and awareness through initiatives like our Howard County Restaurant Weeks & Craft Beverages campaign, which showcases the incredible culinary scene in our area. One upcoming project I’m working on is the HoCo in the Know tourism ambassador program, which positions front-of-house employees as experts in Howard County by providing tours of our hidden gems. It’s been incredibly successful so far, and our first tour is coming up soon.
Personally, I’m drawn to Howard County’s unique blend of cosmopolitan amenities and natural beauty, making it a joy to promote to visitors and locals alike. Some upcoming events I’m particularly looking forward to include Earth Day and Books in Bloom in the Merriweather District and SpringFest in historic Ellicott City. These events fit into my broader goal of promoting Howard County because a lot of visitors already know what we offer in the summer during our busy season, but we offer so much in the cooler months too.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Reflecting on my journey, three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge have stood out as particularly impactful: Passion: Being passionate, not just about my work, but about the experiences and opportunities that arise within the travel, tourism, and digital marketing domains has been a driving force in my journey.
Networking: You never know how the person you’re speaking with might help you out or be in a position to share about their interaction with you to someone else later on. That’s why I find it crucial to treat everyone with kindness.
Utilizing the Tools: When I knew I wanted to do digital marketing, I didn’t wait for opportunities to present themselves to move forward with the ideas I had. I learned search engine optimization through blogging, I discovered best practices for social media by creating and managing profiles, and I wrote about travel experiences when I found inspiration.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Absolutely! I am always interested in connecting with others in the travel/tourism and digital marketing fields, or with people who are planning a visit to Howard County and are looking for recommendations. I’m also hoping to connect with more journalists interested in covering all that we offer! You can reach me via email to discuss potential collaborations or partnerships at [email protected], and you can find me on Instagram at @theresameekerpickett.
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