Monday, 18 Jun 07

Profile: Jennifer Hoffman

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JENNIFER HOFFMAN is not your typical PR person. She has signed up to run 150 miles through the Moroccan dessert next year. The Sun Valley, Idaho, native likes to fly fish on northern New Mexico rivers, go hiking with her husband, Tim, and Australian Cattle Dog, Stella, and landscape the yard in her new house. And the former freelance writer and teacher loves to read when traveling, especially Wallace Stegner, Paulo Coehlo, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. SheJumps: What does it mean to be a Jumper? Jennifer Hoffman: Being a jumper keeps me on my toes – I want a big life and being surrounded by people who are willing to take risks to be happy and fulfilled really fuels me. SJ: You recently went from editorial writing to PR, was that a hard jump? JH: Going from writing to PR was an easy jump. I love interacting with new people, talking about ideas, and the thrill of getting a client big coverage. Fortunately I’m able to maintain some of the writing side at the same time, with my weekly column, “Field Notes” in the Albuquerque Journal on adventure, travel, and issues in the West. My PR job keeps me really busy, with lots of travel, but I find that the traveling puts life into perspective and forces me to go with the flow and stop forcing things. SJ: What advice to you have for girls who want to get into PR? JH: For girls who want to get into PR, my advice is be ready to improvise, think on your feet, and spend time being “on” for long periods of time with media during press trips. PR is a fun, high speed job for people who love to be busy and are serious multitaskers! SJ: What interesting people have you met along the way? JH: I have worked with Governor Richardson regularly on his Presidential campaign; written proposals for businesses that range from designer jean companies to the country of Colombia; have interviewed the Indigo Girls; taken part in a World Peace Conference; and spent time with Gandhi’s grandson, Arun Gandhi. I work closely with the New Mexico Film Office, and I am on the set of productions in New Mexico often, so I meet lots of folks from that industry. I recently spent some time with Val Kilmer. SJ: What has been your biggest jump? JH: A while ago I was teaching English and it wasn’t for me, but it was secure and I had a good community of friends and colleagues. It was scary to jump from that to trying to be a freelance writer, something that’s hard to live off of in general. I had to coach myself into believing that it was possible. When I took that leap of faith, the PR gig fell into my lap pretty soon after, and seemed like a diverse, multifaceted opportunity that actually really suited my writing endeavors. I feel really lucky, but also learned how powerful my will and mind can be. It helped me come to the conclusion that there is no reason to live with “okay” – it has to be awesome! My life is so much more full and exciting now. SJ: What’s up next? JH: I’m running the 2008 Marathon des Sables starting in Ourzazate, Morocco, next March. It’s six days, 150 miles, carrying all my own food and water across the Sahara in extreme conditions (120 F during the day, in the 30s at night, windstorms, etc.). I’ve always been a long distance runner and love physical challenges. This is the adult version of all the long, solitary hikes and runs I did when I lived in Sun Valley, Idaho, during high school and college. It’s just a little bigger, and scarier. I can’t think of a better time in my life to go on such a big adventure. My goal is to raise $10,000 for Girls, Inc, a national nonprofit on whose board I serve on in Santa Fe. It supports young girls and encourage them to be strong, smart, and bold. I signed up for the Marathon des Sables because it seems impossibly difficult and I know that more than a physical challenge, it’s a test of mental strength and endurance that I will be able to learn from and apply to everything else I want to do in my life.

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