15 Years at Kodak

(clockwise) Part of the dot.com crew my first year at Kodak • the office events committee at Frontier Field • at a concert in NYC for So Kodak • the social media team at photography week at Chautauqua

Today marks an anniversary for me. It doesn't seem like it since it's a Saturday, but 15 years ago July 6th was my first day at Eastman Kodak. I had just graduated from RIT with my Masters degree in May, interviewed at Kodak shortly after and next thing I knew I had my first real job.

(clockwise) In the pits at a Nascar race with the Kodak car • at the 2008 Beijing Olympics • on the Oscar's Red Carpet at The Academy Awards • at the top of Kodak Tower watching the falcons that nested there

This job has been such a huge part of my life for 15 years. I have traveled the world, been to amazing events, spoke in front of crowds and cameras, learned so much and made friendships that will last a lifetime.

(clockwise) posing with the world's first digital camera • meeting Martha Stewart • on the roof of The Kodak Theatre in Hollywood • in Donald Trump's office on the set of Celebrity Apprentice

Some people are amazed that I have stayed with one company for 15 years, almost unheard of in today's job market. But I have had so many different roles and challenges, my job has never been the same two years in a row.

(clockwise) kodak.com team on site at the opening of Disney's Haunted Mansion movie premiere in Hollywood • meeting Ann Curry on stage at the 140 Conference • working a Kodak Challenge photo experience at the LPGA golf tournament • on set of the Celebrity Apprentice

Even as I type this, my group is heading toward a new adventure as we are being sold. We will separate from the Kodak "mothership" yet carry on the brand, something we don't take lightly.

The Kodak I started off at as a visual interaction designer and the Kodak I work at today as a social media manager is a very different one. I have watched other groups be sold and some shut down. Much of it has been hard and I count myself very lucky to be part of a group that will be carrying the Kodak name on and we are all very excited about where we are heading.

(clockwise) PMA in Anaheim • IPEX in Birmingham, UK • CES in Las Vegas • Photokina in Cologne, Germany

Recently the Kodak CEO said something that, regardless of whether you agree with his leadership in the past years or not, struck a cord with me. He said Kodak is one of the last companies in the US where the employees don't think they work for Kodak. They believe they ARE Kodak.

I am thankful for everything Kodak has done for me and I hope that I can continue to do what I do for the brand for some time to come.