Jen is currently the Senior Vice President of Marketing for the Chicago Cubs. With her 25 years of experience in the industry, she has worked with global brands, non-profit organizations, and startups. Her category expertise includes consumer goods, arts and entertainment, sports, mixed retail/restaurants, automotive, and military. Her other stints include the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, Leo Burnett, and McCann Worldgroup.
We took two minutes with Jen to learn more about her background, creative inspirations, and recent work that she admires.
Jen, tell me…
Where you grew up and where you live now.
I grew up in Harbor Springs, Michigan. Harbor Springs is a resort town on the shores of Lake Michigan near the “tip of the mitten.” Now I live on the other side of the same big lake. I'm a Chicago boomerang. I lived here for many years after college, then moved to San Francisco and New Orleans, and returned the summer of '23. I just realized that I've always lived near large bodies of water: Lake Michigan, the Pacific Ocean, the Mississippi River. Maybe it's because I'm a water sign. Shout out to my cancer friends.
Your first sports memory.
I have vague memories of when the Detroit Tigers won the World Series in 1984. But what I remember best is the Tigers' “Bless You Boys” campaign from that year.
Favorite sports team.
I always root for the teams I've worked for, so I'm rooting do or die for the Cubs, New Orleans Pelicans, and New Orleans Saints. Now that I'm back in Chicago, I've started following Sky and Red Stars as well. I also married a Nebraska football fan, so… Go, Skase!
your favorite athlete.
Sha Kari Richardson (athletics), Adbert Alzolay (MLB), Taysom Hill (NFL), Herb Jones (NBA), Mallory Swanson (NWSL). That's my starting five. And my sixth man is Jose Alvarado (NBA).
Your favorite sports shows and podcasts.
I like pods hosted by athletes, so I listen to The Compound, The Old Man and the Three, and New Heights. I like Club Shay Shay. And I'm always trying to increase my baseball IQ, so I listen to a lot of Effectively Wild, Flippin' Bats, Baseball Is Dead, and Cubs Pod.
Your favorite sports movie or video game.
bring it on
A recent project that you are proud of.
We partnered with the Netflix show “I Think You Should Leave.” Dan Flashes x Cubs Shirt. Because if you walk by a store and see 50 Cubs fans fighting over a complicated shirt, you're going to want to go in. yes i will.
Someone else's project you've recently admired.
Pop Tarts Bowl Mascot:
