February 24, 2010

Catholic Press Month: Meet the DCR staffers Part II

By Denver Catholic Register

We shared with you last week that February is Catholic Press Month and that as the Denver Catholic Register readies to mark its 110th birthday on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, we thought we would introduce our staffers to you. Last week you met our editorial staffers; today, read about our general manager, Web and advertising people. Be on the watch for next week’s column, which will include details about an open house we’re planning where you can meet the staffers in person.

Right now we’re in the midst of the 2010 Register’s Join the Mission voluntary subscription campaign. Find out more about the campaign in the ad on Page 13 or online at www.archden.org/join. We are hoping to exceed the generous response to last year’s inaugural campaign, which resulted in $10,000 in voluntary subscriptions.

The week of our anniversary, we will have a Mass for our readers’ and advertisers’ intentions. We invite you to send your intentions to us—and we hope you’ll also let us know how the Register touches your life (see box on Page 13).
Our mission at the Register is to inform, evangelize and catechize our readers. We believe the good news of Jesus Christ is needed now more than ever. We thank you for your loyal support.

Name: Jeanette DeMelo
Parish: Holy Ghost, Denver
DCR service: 4 years
Job title: General manager/ Communications director
Describe your job:
I serve as the Archdiocese of Denver’s director of communications and am a member of the senior staff for Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.  I am the primary spokesperson for the Denver Archdiocese, general manager of the Denver Catholic Register and El Pueblo Católico newspapers, and director of the archdiocesan Web site, www.archden.org. In addition, I oversee all archdiocesan media relations and public relation campaigns, and audio-visual communications.   
What do you like about working for the DCR?
I think that the DCR is a megaphone and snapshot of what is going in the Church today. I love getting the “good news” out by telling stories of the way God is working in people’s lives and also by keeping people informed and hopefully engaged in the Catholic life of the archdiocese. Also it’s great when readers give us feedback because that keeps us on our toes and let’s us know we’ve fanned the flames of the faithful.
What motivates you in your work?
that the Holy Spirit guides what I do and uses my work for God’s purpose.  As a communicator, I identify with St. Paul’s exhortation that by “living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into him who is the head, Christ” (Eph 4:15).
Aside from your job, what are you passionate about?
I’m passionate about my involvement with ENDOW—Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women. I love sharing with women about our God-given dignity and gifts. I enjoy the mountains, traveling, cooking a good meal and sharing it with friends and reading a good novel, (check out “Perelandra” by C.S. Lewis).

Name: Tracy Murphy
Parish: St. Catherine of Siena, Denver
DCR service: 4 years
Job title: Interim Web master/Associate director of communications
Describe your job:
I seek to develop the Denver Catholic Register’s presence online via the official archdiocesan Web site at www.archden.org and the Catholic Archdiocese of Denver’s Facebook page www.facebook. com/archdioceseofdenver.  
What do you like about working for the DCR?
As younger generations of Catholics begin to rely more and more heavily on the Web for their news, I take great pride in spreading the Denver Catholic Register’s “good news,” so that all may know the love and power of Jesus Christ.
What motivates you in your work?
When I started in this position I had recently re-discovered my Catholic faith. Having just completed my master’s degree, I felt compelled to use my talents and skills for the sake of the Gospel. The rediscovery of my faith had transformed my life. I wanted to help bring that same joy and peace that I was experiencing into the lives of others. I still feel this same zeal today!
Aside from your job, what are you passionate about?
I enjoy writing, blogging and running—and living in the Highlands neighborhood of Denver with my husband James.

Name: Chad Andrzejewski
Parish: St. Mark’s, Westminster/ Immaculate Heart of Mary, Northglenn
DCR service: 2 years
Job title: Advertising manager
Describe your job:
I manage a team of sales representatives who are responsible for generating advertising revenue for the DCR and providing value as well as quality customer service to our clients.
What do you like about working for the DCR?
It is great to work in a beautiful environment with wonderfully talented people who are trying to serve the mission of the Church with the gifts they have received from God.  I enjoy using skills I have developed in other jobs to help contribute to the DCR in spreading the Gospel and promoting our Catholic faith. 
What motivates you in your work?:
The overall quality of work—the finished product, process improvement as well as the development of people—and providing for my family is what motivates me in my work.
Aside from your job, what are you passionate about?
I am passionate about my family—my wife, 14-year-old son, and 9-year-old daughter.  I enjoy learning more about the Catholic faith, the history of the Church and the people involved with it throughout history.  I also enjoy sports, especially watching football and playing golf.

Name: Chris Nearing
Parish: Notre Dame, Denver
DCR service: 4 months
Job title: Display advertising sales representative
Describe your job:
As a display advertising sales representative I handle both existing and new accounts. I have a small existing base of display advertising accounts that I manage and service, and I also seek out new businesses to advertise in the Denver Catholic Register.
What do you like about working for the DCR?
Everything! It is a blessing to work with such wonderful people! It is the absolute perfect job for me.
What motivates you in your work?
A challenge!
Aside from your job, what are you passionate about?
My faith and my family! I am blessed to have three beautiful, happy, healthy and faith-filled children, and the best wife a man could ever have! I also enjoy cooking, exercising, fishing, gardening, woodworking, traveling, and spending time with my family.

Name: Maria Trahan
Parish: Light of the World, Littleton
DCR service: 2 months
Job title: Advertising sales representative
Describe your job:
I help local and national parishes, schools, companies, and more to market their business, products, and/or services to the 255,000-plus readers of the DCR.
What do you like about working for the DCR?
Being a part of a long-standing, Catholic publication that has been spreading the good news for more than 100 years. Meeting and working with local and national business owners marketing to the Archdiocese of Denver’s geographical area. The entire DCR team—their positive attitudes, faith-filled lives, and their humor.
What motivates you in your work?
Setting goals and exceeding them. Providing excellent customer service to our advertisers and helping to promote their message.
Aside from your job, what are you passionate about?
My faith. My family—my husband, Edwin, and my son, Helaire. Reading, hiking, and shopping at Target.
Name: Haylee Miller
Parish: St. Mark’s Church, Westminster
DCR service: 2 months
Job title: Advertising sales representative
Describe your job:
I sell advertising to local and national businesses and educate clients/advertisers on how to effectively market and grow their business in the Archdiocese of Denver.
What do you like about working for the DCR?
The No. 1 thing I like about working for the DCR and the Archdiocese of Denver is that in the two months I have been here, every day when I walk through the door, I am welcomed with warm hearts and big smiles! I absolutely love the people that I am surrounded by! My DCR coworkers are caring, helpful and humorous and make each day fun and full of laughs! I am so thankful that I work in such a beautiful, faith-filled organization with such a great group of people.
What motivates you in your work?
I am motivated by being able to share my knowledge of marketing and advertising to current and potential clients and seeing them achieve results that increase their business and overall market share.
Aside from your job, what are you passionate about?
I am passionate about my wonderful family! My husband, Jason, (who is also my high school sweetheart) is such a loving and caring person and I am so very grateful to have him. We have two precious children—Dawson, 9, and Makinley, 6—both are complete “Ice Bunnies”! Dawson is a defense hockey player for the Littleton Hawks and has been playing hockey since he was 4. Makinley is an aspiring figure skater and is like a little ballerina on the ice! We spend 90 percent of our free time at the ice rink and we love every minute of it!

Name: Linda Engel
Parish: Our Lady of Fatima, Lakewood
DCR service: 5 months
Job title: Service Directory advertising sales
Describe your job:
I help our advertisers place their ad in the Service Directory.
What do you like about working for the DCR?
A couple of things:
1. The people with whom I work are wonderful, friendly and caring. What a joy to work in an environment that is enveloped with the Catholic faith. The grounds here at the JPII Center are beautiful and it is very peaceful to come to work.
2. The customers that place ads in the Service Directory. My father was an entrepreneur and owned his own business so I grew up in this environment and I like talking with the business owners we serve. I pray each week that our advertisers will do well in our paper.
What motivates you in your work?
When a customer tells me that they have received a good response from the ad they placed.
Aside from your job, what are you passionate about?
The Respect Life movement. Gardening—growing and cooking healthy, fresh food. I never liked to cook until I learned to garden. I also enjoy helping people. I have three foster daughters who are all on their own now; I enjoy spending time with them and watching their lives unfold. Spending time with my husband—having gotten married for the first time at age 51, I count each day of marriage as a blessing.