How long have you been working there? Three years.
How did you end up in your job? I responded to an ad that Copithorne & Bellows placed in PRWeek UK. They were looking for someone who had at least five years' experience in hi-tech PR and who spoke fluent French. I must have been one of very few that fit the bill. Three years later, having conquered Europe, I convinced PN to bring me to America.
Describe the physical space you work in My office overlooks Boston's Back Bay. I am surrounded by photos of family and friends and the occasional silly postcard - my favorite being a picture of British comedy duo Morecambe & Wise.
Do you socialize with your colleagues outside of work? Absolutely - folks at PN Boston can often be found in our local watering hole, Charley's, for an after-work beverage.
Who is the funniest person you work with? Why? PN Boston partner Jim Barbagallo, who reminds me of Ray Romano.
Who is the smartest? Ex-colleague Karen Freeman, who understands electronics and technology like no other PR pro I know. Plus, she speaks fluent Japanese.
What was your luckiest break? Organizing a press conference for Hewlett-Packard, which involved developing the opening comments for CEO Carly Fiorina. Meeting one of the world's most prominent businesswomen was a milestone for me. She left behind her name badge, so I brought it home as a souvenir.
What has been your most embarrassing moment while working there? Traveling overseas to a meeting, my luggage didn't make it. I had to present to the client, the global PR team, and my big boss at the time in the outfit in which I had flown - denim shorts, sneakers, and a scruffy T-shirt.
I quickly learned to always fly with a jacket, toothbrush, deodorant, and lipstick in my carry-on bag.
If you could do your job from any location, where would it be? In a 15th-century farmhouse nestled somewhere in the hillside of Provence or Tuscany.
What is one thing about you that none of your co-workers know? My aunt is a Baroness and sits in the UK's House of Lords. And my brother represented Great Britain in the '96 Atlanta Olympics.
Number of PR dept. employees: 35
Address: 855 Boylston Street, 8th floor, Boston, MA 02116
Phone: (617) 450-4300 Web: www.porternovelli.com
If you want to be featured in "Where I Work" or "My Big Break," e-mail careers@prweek.com.
