Meet the Board: Desiree Pelkey, VP, Membership
Our Meet the Board series gives you an inside look at the people behind the scenes at AMA | Rochester.
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Tell us a little bit about yourself! Where do you work? What do you do? Where are you from?
I was born and raised in North Palm Beach, FL, studied English and Linguistics at UF (Go Gators!), and moved to Rochester in 2016. I found my dream job and dream guy (now my husband) at First American Equipment Finance—one of the top leasing and financing companies in the U.S.
As a VP of Marketing at First American, I help oversee the content strategy for 12 industry-aligned sales and marketing teams. My husband, Adrian, and I live in the North Winton area and have one perfect pup named Ramses, an Akita mix.
How did you get involved with AMA | Rochester?
One of my colleagues at First American, Alison Taylor, was a previous President of AMA | Rochester and shared the opportunity to join the board a few years ago.
Tell us about your role on the AMA | Rochester board, and what your responsibilities include
As the VP of Membership for AMA | Rochester, I am passionate about recruiting, retaining, and delighting our members.
Why is AMA | Rochester important to you, and how does it benefit the community?
AMA | Rochester has been instrumental in helping me meet and network with new people here and gain a real sense of community, despite not being from the area. It offers marketers of all backgrounds and skill sets the opportunity to connect with, learn from, and grow with one another.
Tell us about yourself outside of work and AMA | Rochester. What are your hobbies? What topics do you enjoy? Any fun facts to share?
In Florida, I would scuba dive and snorkel any chance I could get! Rochester is obviously a different story, but I still love being outside and exploring all of the beautiful nature trails and parks Rochester has to offer. I am also a true crime junkie, and I'm constantly on the hunt for the next best true crime podcast, series, or documentary.
What are some of your favorite things about the greater Rochester area?
I love all of the amazing food and beautiful trails in the area.