Meet the Team: Marketing and Recruitment Team

The members of the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program’s Marketing and Recruitment Team—Jackie O’Reilly, Kim Schmidt, and Katy Maeder —would like to give you a glimpse of their specific roles and of the strengths that each one brings to their well-rounded team. They all fully recognize that there is no “I” in an effective team, which is why they work so well together and complement one another’s individual strengths.

Networking, critical thinking, strategic planning, and relationship building are a large part of the team members’ job descriptions as representatives of the Blood Donor Program. Their mission is to share about the need for blood product with anyone they come into contact with, whether it is inside Mayo Clinic, with colleagues, or within the community, so that Mayo Clinic will always have an adequate blood supply on hand for patients in need. Read on to get to know each team member a little better.

Jackie

Jackie is the analytical one on the team, always looking ahead to improve any process and willing to try new ideas. With a background in event planning, Jackie keeps her teammates on their toes with her organizational and planning skills. Jackie enjoys the community engagement aspect of her role, which includes participating in local events, meaningful interactions with community members, and networking with local leaders. Most of all, Jackie is a storyteller. She delights in sharing heartwarming stories of blood donation recipients with various local audiences.

Kim

With 35 years of service to Mayo, it is nearly impossible for Kim to walk through the subways without acknowledging and greeting her many friends, acquaintances, and past colleagues who she has had the privilege to work with. Relationship building is one of her greatest strengths in this role. When she is posed with a question related to her role, she usually has someone come to mind who she can tap for the answer. She is also all about smiling—when you smile at someone, it’s contagious. She considers it a joy to be able to come to work each day to do all she can to reach others, inviting them to donate blood to help save patient lives.

Katy

Katy brings a creative edge to the Marketing and Recruitment Team. With previous marketing experience, she has helped to transform the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Program brand. Katy enjoys working on social media content, brainstorming different community campaigns, and networking over a cup (or two) of coffee. While she has only been at Mayo Clinic for a little over a year, she fits in just right with the team. Can't you tell from the picture?

You may find any one of them (or perhaps all three) scurrying through the subway to her next presentation to meet someone who is willing to share their blood donation story.

The next time you see Jackie, Kim, or Katy in the skyways or byways, please feel free to stop and visit. They are always looking to improve their program for the sake of saving patient lives. They also love to hear your remarkable stories.