As PMA celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, we want you to get to know the people behind the scenes that have contributed to PMA’s success. Each month we will feature a PMA staff member on our blog.
This month we are highlighting Marlene O’Brien, the 18th employee hired at PMA! In March, Marlene will have been with PMA for 38 years. Read on to get to know more about Marlene and her role in helping PMA hit 80 years in business.
Name, title and time at PMA.
Marlene O’Brien, Editorial Manager, 38 years on March 26, 2022.
What made you want to work at PMA?
I just wanted a job, and never thought I’d spend my entire career here. I graduated from Kent State in May 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and didn’t know what I wanted to do. A family member told me to apply and work here until I found the job I wanted, and I am still here. I guess I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.
How has PMA changed over the years since you started?
It is different and the same at the same time, if that makes any sense.
The staff was much smaller when I started. I was the 18th employee, if I remember correctly, and the association had an all-hands-on-deck mentality. You were forbidden from saying “it’s not my job.” Culturally, we were one team with one leader, the president. The hierarchy was a circle with everyone reporting to the president. We all wore many hats and were expected to help in all areas when needed. Repeatedly we were told that we were all in the same boat and if someone else had a leak, we all go down together, so we needed to make sure that everyone was successful. We were located at the old building in Richmond Heights, which was much smaller than our current headquarters. Plus, the world was different back then–smoking in the offices and two-martini lunches. AMSA, as the association was then known by, hired retired men from the industry to work part-time, selling memberships and writing for the magazine. So many people have worked at PMA during my tenure that I’m afraid that I have forgotten many of them. At one point, we had more than 50 staff members, with everyone more specialized.
In 1984, the world was different technology-wise, too. Secretaries had electric typewriters, with only one memory typewriter in the building—we had to sign up to use that. Hand-written letters, memos and articles we passed on to someone else for typing. Any changes to a document meant completely retyping—that was the norm. If not, liquid white out was your best friend. “Stuffing parties” happened regularly, because all communication was mailed and needed to be copied or printed, folded, and stuffed into envelopes. And everyone had to help, no matter your title.
The magazine was very different when I started–all black-and-white pages, with the occasional color ad as time went by. Metal Stamping, the magazine’s name at that time, didn’t really have any competitors, or if it did, we never worried about them. The magazine only had one outside sales rep and loyal advertisers that committed to complete-year packages every year. The magazine was produced by the printer, and we just submitted the items to be included. It wasn’t until about five years later that we hired a full-time editor, production manager and art director to do more inhouse. When I started on the magazine, the staff included a production manager who handled the ads, a part-time editor, an outside sales representative and myself. The circulation was handled by our database manager, who managed all of the association’s mailing lists. Over the years, I have seen the magazine grow and add many more products, but when I started it was the only product, along with PMA Update, a monthly newsletter for members that I also produced.
The industry was very different then too. I remember as a young woman going to my first METALFORM show at Rosemont in Chicago and being amazed at the size of the equipment and the show. But, compared to today, the show was very small. Meeting the exhibitors and members at that show was eye-opening with a substantial number of them having less than 10 fingers. There wasn’t the emphasis on safety back then, and many had the lost fingers to prove it. It was truly a male industry and the few association females that went to work the trade show were usually the only females there.
What has stayed the same over the years is the presence and importance of our members, advertisers and exhibitors. Many of the names have been around for a long time. PMA has always looked for ways to help the industry improve and to be an asset to the membership and industry in general. The importance of advocating for all of the small shops that alone can’t make a difference, but united can make substantial changes, has been a primary focus. Being the voice of the industry also has been a constant in my time here. And, helping those in the industry advance and lead the industry toward new developments has been a recurring theme. Also, some of the issues have stayed the same, like workforce development, finding talent, regulatory issues and the need for continuing education. When I started, the association was creating a fabricating division and fabrication still is an important part of the industry.
PMA’s audiences have basically stayed the same, too—its members, chairs, officers, board of directors, districts, committees, advertisers, exhibitors, prospects, readers, event attendees, many volunteers and staff.
And, working with good people has been a constant over the years, even though the faces and the names have changed. I’ve been very lucky to make lifelong friendships with people I have met at PMA. And I’ve learned about manufacturing, publishing and so much more, but mostly about myself–what I’m capable of, what I enjoy and how I can make a difference.
First event/meeting that you worked on/attended.
My first event was METALFORM at Rosemont in Chicago in 1985. I was amazed at the size of the machines and the size of the show. Compared to today the show was very small. The exhibitors and attendees were very excited to be there, and most people were very friendly. The staff worked all day and evening, attending to all aspects of the show. We didn’t have temporary help, so we had to do it all ourselves. Long days and nights! And, the staff basically was expected to stay together for the few hours we were off in the evening. Ever since going to my first METALFORM, I have enjoyed going to the trade shows and seeing how much it has grown, and seeing old and new friends.
Favorite PMA memory?
This really is a hard question to answer, because there are so many great memories, some not so good ones and a few funny ones. To pinpoint one memory is just too hard. I will treasure the memories of all the people that have taught me so much; helped mold me into who I am today; saw things in me that I didn’t see in myself; and pushed me to be better, to do more, want more. I truly have spent a lifetime at PMA, starting as a young, naïve girl. I have experienced almost all of my personal life experiences while at PMA—marriage, births, deaths, etc.
But, if I had to choose, it would have to be when we had our own trade show, METALFORM, and most of the staff worked the show. We worked long, hard days and played hard in the evening. The camaraderie of the staff, the exhibitors, the symposium speakers and the attendees left a big impression on me. We didn’t get much sleep during those shows, but that didn’t seem to matter much.
What does PMA mean to you?
So many things, including:
- One of my longest relationships
- Doing something that I find value in
- Continually learning and growing
- Being part of a team
- Making a difference
- Contributing to something bigger than myself
- Creating something with lasting value
- Continuous improvement
- Helping others succeed
- Lifelong friendships
- A way to support my family
What is your favorite part of your job? What excites you about working at PMA?
I like accomplishing things and being of value. I do many mundane tasks each day, week and month, but I don’t mind them if occasionally I get to be a part of something bigger, more important. I love being part of a team that is a well-oiled machine, where everyone knows their roles and supports each other. I love working on projects, where you are creating something new. Over the years, my job has evolved, and I have learned new skills depending on the need at the time. I believe my early days at PMA, where you couldn’t say, “it’s not my job,” has stuck with me and I have done many things that weren’t originally “my job.” And, many of those things have taught me about myself and gained me new skills.
I’m interested to see what the future is for publishing. I believe there will always be a need for quality content, but the delivery vehicle might look different in the future. The transition from old to new is a little scary, just like most transitions, but I believe that there is a future for publishing. That is exciting.
What has been your biggest achievement/success while at PMA?
What I am most proud of is redesigning MetalForming and 3D Metal Printing magazines websites, while still doing my full-time job. I was part of a team that met regularly, benchmarked the latest trends and did its best to complete this overwhelming task. MetalForming magazine produces a massive amount of content and designing a new content-management system that allows readers to find the material they are looking for in many ways was very rewarding. Trying to put the needs of the reader first also was a must. Working on a team where we basically started from scratch to create something new was very enjoyable to me. I’m proud that I was able to get it all done, while producing all the other products that we do. I put in many extra hours, burning the midnight oil, but it was worth it in the long run. There is so much more to redesigning a magazine’s website than what you see on the page, and I feel that I excel in analyzing what is needed and helping to make it happen.
If I might add a second achievement, I also am proud that I have taken the initiative to continue to learn new things and keep myself relevant over the years. Technology and trends have changed, and I have kept my skills up to date with what is currently needed. I enjoy learning new things and being of value to others. I am proud to have contributed even the smallest bit to the success the magazine and PMA has had over the years.