TorchLight May Contractor of the Month: Marie Huddle
Congratulations to Marie Huddle for her selection as TorchLight’s May Contractor of the Month! Keep reading to learn more about Marie – where she grew up, her journey with computers and what she likes most about the TorchLight team!
Where did you grow up and where did you go to college? What did you study?
I grew up in Gothenburg, Sweden and I actually did not complete college–but my field was marketing. I went to Bangkok, Thailand in my early 20s and ended up staying for 8 years working as a computer/website consultant for embassies and international companies.
What did (or do!) you want to be when you grow up? How did you get into marketing and communications?
I wanted to be a veterinarian but I have lots of allergies so that wasn’t a good option. My boyfriend in Bangkok was a computer major and marketing minor and building websites was in its infancy so it was natural for us to take it from there.
What do you like to do for fun?
I love riding my Can Am with my partner. We also do revolutionary war reenactment together with our kids. I am also very much into watching sports (go Caps go!), theatre and live music. Reading is also something I enjoy a lot and I usually have at least two books open.
Favorite food? Drink?
How could I ever pick just one!? It really depends on my mood but if I had to pick just one I’d have to go back to my roots and chose my grandfather’s favorite dish: kroppkakor. It literally translates to “bodycakes” and is a Swedish potato dish where you take boiled potatoes, make them into round balls, push a mix of fried onion and Swedish bacon into the middle and seal it up. Boil it and serve with lingonberry jam and melted butter. Sounds strange but it is so delicious!
One bucket list destination…
The Masai Mara in Kenya but once again – there are so many places!
What’s the best advice a manager has ever given you?
Own your mistakes. When you own your mistakes, you tend to learn a lot more from them and your manager/s and peers are less likely to be upset than if they find out on their own.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in their career?
Find a mentor and concentrate on learning what you WANT to do not HOW to do things. If you do what you want, you never really feel like you are working and it will show in your performance at work. Even better it will ensure that your personal life will be happier as well.
What work accomplishment are you most proud of?
Making my coworkers feel happy and making their jobs easier. It may sound like a cliché but I take pride in being a good person and helping others.
Another thing I do take a lot of pride in is learning new skills and adapting very quickly. In my position as a contractor for a large DC-based association, this helped me get up to speed and become knowledgeable so we could launch new campaigns and an online scavenger hunt.
What has been the biggest plus about working from home during the pandemic? Challenge?
Plus: Saving gas money and not having to commute.
Challenge: Not having met my coworkers. I feel like I know them but I have never met them!
Finally, what do you like about working for TorchLight?
They are supportive, flexible and never more than a phone call away. I know that Jenn will call and check in on me and that if something happens, I can reach out to her for help.
Congratulations again to our May Contractor of the Month, Marie Huddle. Keep up the good work! Check out our last Contractor of the Month, Alison Pruitt.
Looking for experienced marketing recruiters to meet your search, staffing and job search needs? We’re here to help!
- Contact us about your marketing search & staffing needs
- Search marketing, communications, and creative jobs
