Hi, I'm Brenda.

...Brenda Smith. (Yes, I did just start this page in the Forrest Gump voice.)

If I had to describe myself in one word, it would be: creative. 

Ever since I was a little girl, I've been most happy when I'm creating. In my younger years it was drawing and coloring. In high school I took every single art class I could: drawing, ceramics, photography, 3-D art, and theater. Then in college, I went in another creative direction and got a job doing makeup at Bloomingdale's for Estee Lauder. I fell in love. I thought this is what I want to do. 

That was back in 2007, and since then I've worked for MAC, Bite Beauty, Sephora, Stila, Lancôme, and Clarins, as well as film, print, runway, and bridal. In 2017 I went to Cinema Makeup School in Los Angeles to learn special effects makeup and master my beauty skills. The plan was to work in film and television. Unexpectedly, my life changed courses, and right when I finished at CMS I started a job at DotDotSmile. 

I was hired as the Marketing Coordinator/Copywriter. It didn't take long to discover, I LOVED working in marketing! This was a whole other avenue of creativity that was unfamiliar to me. I had many years of retail under my belt, but by working behind the scenes I was able to combine my sales knowledge with my artist talents.

DotDotSmile was constantly coming out with clothing, hosting events, or offering promotions, so I definitely had my work cut out for me -- And I couldn't get enough! I was creating content. Copywriting was exciting, challenging, fun, and gave me such a thrill! Emails were being sent almost daily; I would write them, and my coworker would design them. We were like a well-oiled marketing machine! 

Then, 2020 happened. Due to COVID, DotDotSmile needed to cutback their staff, and I made it on the shortlist. It was the end of an era. But, there was a silver lining -- With all my experience, I could continue on this career path with a different company. 

After DotDotSmile, I was freelance writing for a new CBD company that specializes in intimacy related products. SaintLeaf hired me to create a brand voice that fit the image they envisioned for their company.  I wrote their website, product descriptions, and extra marketing materials.

In 2022, I got the newly-created position of PR Manager at John Moran Auctioneers. My job duties have included writing over a hundred press releases, with some being sent through Cision's PR distribution services; writing, collaborating, and editing various articles for magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and blog posts; organizing, planning, and executing company events including conventions, conferences, speaking engagements, presentations, sponsored events, and off-site auction previews along with reaching out to media outlets to cover events; growing Moran's social media presence by creating content for their Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Threads platforms including IG Lives, reels, and working with influencers; managing and ordering marketing materials. 

To fully establish my position as a PR/Communications professional, I completed a Master's degree in Strategic Communications from California Baptist University in December 2023. 

Life's crazy, but full of unexpected opportunities just waiting to be taken. One day I'm creating with makeup, the next I'm creating content. Who knew??

What I do know is that I've only just begun.