Manton, now the chief marketing officer at the national law firm Loeb & Loeb, will return to her alma mater to deliver the key note address for the WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism’s 2009 December Convocation ceremony.
“I’m completely humbled by it, and it’s made me reflect more than I ever thought possible on how I got to where I am,” Manton said.
Manton, a School of Journalism alumna and 17-year veteran of the professional services marketing industry, manages all aspects of Loeb & Loeb’s branding and marketing strategy, including media relations, advertising and online marketing efforts, as well as internal and external communications.
Prior to focusing on the legal industry, Manton worked in two accounting firms in a marketing capacity. One of her first jobs after graduating from WVU was a temporary position at a small firm in her hometown of Pittsburgh, Pa.
Manton remembers that it wasn’t immediately clear to her how that job would further her career, but she took the opportunity and learned as much as she could. She would later discover that it was her willingness to set goals – yet be flexible – that led to her dream job in New York City.
“Opportunities abound – you just have to look for them,” said Manton. “There is not one path to get to where you are going, and it’s OK to take a step sideways and recognize an opportunity that lies in front of you, even if it’s different than what you thought it would be.”
Manton’s service to the legal marketing industry includes several publications and forum addresses. In 2009, the Los Angeles Daily Journal published her article, “Understanding Firm Culture Is Essential to an Integrated Marketing Plan.” In 2008, Manton’s chapter, “Understanding Your Firm and Its Clients: The Key to Marketing Success,” was published in Aspatore’s “Best Practices for Marketing Lawyers.” Manton has also served as a speaker at professional forums hosted by American Lawyer Media and the Society for Marketing Professional Services, among others.
In addition, Manton is the president of the Legal Marketing Association, a not-for-profit organization that provides continuing education and professional development opportunities for legal marketing professionals and attorneys. As president, she oversees LMA’s efforts to serve as a collective voice for the organization’s more than 3,000 members.
Manton says she looks forward to speaking at the December ceremony and credits part of her career success to the School of Journalism.
“I can say unequivocally that the best skill I left the J-School with was my ability to write,” said Manton. “My ability to write persuasively, to be a good solid writer and to understand how to communicate effectively through writing is was what really helped me to gain credibility within all of the places that I’ve worked, especially in the legal industry.”
The WVU P.I. Reed School of Journalism 2009 December Convocation will be held at 9: 30 am on Sunday, Dec. 13. The ceremony will be webcast live from the Mountainlair Ballrooms. More information and link to the webcast are available at http://journalism.wvu.edu/events/december_convocation_2009.
cv/12/04/09
CONTACT: Kimberly Brown, School of Journalism
304-293-3505 ext. 5403
Official release at WVU Today.