{"id":2122,"date":"2015-07-13T19:51:13","date_gmt":"2015-07-14T01:51:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/challengedetroit.org\/blog\/?p=2122"},"modified":"2015-07-13T19:51:13","modified_gmt":"2015-07-14T01:51:13","slug":"fellow-spotlight-amanda-gettgen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.challengedetroit.org\/blog\/fellow-spotlight-amanda-gettgen\/","title":{"rendered":"Fellow Spotlight: Amanda Gettgen"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this week\u2019s Fellow Spotlight, we are checking in with Amanda Gettgen<\/a>. She fills us in on what she enjoys most about Detroit, her host company, Marketing Associates<\/a>, and what she enjoys most about being a Challenge Detroit Fellow.<\/p>\n

Tell us about living in Detroit. What neighborhood do you live in and what\u00a0things make it unique and exciting?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Balcony<\/a>Moving to Detroit and immersing myself in one of the most significant cities in the world – rich in history\u00a0and movement, passion and grit, entrepreneurial spirit and innovation, community and culture – is\u00a0undoubtedly the best decision I have ever made. I live on the 25th floor of a high-rise apartment on\u00a0historic Washington Boulevard in Downtown Detroit. From my balcony I can cheer on the Tigers with the\u00a0rowdy fans, admiring the beauty of the \"grandDetroit River and Detroit\u2019s central business district or peer into the\u00a0distance at my hometown in Metro-Detroit. I\u2019m smack-dab in the center of flourishing parks, trendy places\u00a0to grab a craft cocktail or bite to eat, music festivals, places to shop, and a skip away from the Detroit Riverwalk. Added bonus? I live a brisk five minute walk away from work. Strolling through the city streets lined\u00a0with breathtaking historic architecture as the sun rises is my favorite moment of everyday.<\/p>\n

What do you enjoy most about living, working, playing, giving and leading in\u00a0Detroit?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although I\u2019ve lived nearly thirty minutes away from Detroit for the greater portion of my twenty-three\u00a0years on earth, it is a far cry from being actively immersed in the city day in and day out. By working,\u00a0playing, giving, and leading in the city, I am able to immerse myself in the vibrant community, encourage\u00a0the spirit of Detroit, explore the vast opportunities that the city has to offer, and share my experiences to\u00a0promote positive perceptions of Detroit. But what I love most about Detroit, without shadow of a doubt, is\u00a0the people. Detroiters are heart and soul of the city – without them there would be no pulse. The passion\u00a0of Detroit is contagious and I am eternally grateful for the chance to work alongside some of the most\u00a0passionate and resilient people in the world.<\/p>\n

Tell us about your host company and your role in the organization.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"MaMy host company is Marketing Associates, a technology-driven marketing company located in the Campus\u00a0Martius circle downtown. It\u2019s a great place to work and I love that they take advantage of all the fun\u00a0Detroit has to offer by participating in the Live Downtown Games, Connect After 5 Detroit leagues and\u00a0other events throughout the year. But what makes the company really special is the supportive and\u00a0encouraging leadership team that sincerely values hearing my perspectives, opinions and ideas. At many\u00a0other organizations, recent wide-eyed college graduates entering the \u201creal world\u201d have a better chance of\u00a0seeing a unicorn slide down a rainbow than to discuss an idea or strategy they have been working on with\u00a0the CEO. At Marketing Associates I work as a Client Services Associate\/Detroit Ambassador. In this unique\u00a0and dynamic role I manage projects for our diversified clients, assist in the management of the company\u2019s\u00a0social media platforms, plan employee engagement initiatives that encourage employees to explore\u00a0Detroit and give back to the community through the company\u2019s Charitable Giving Team.<\/p>\n

What have you learned from Challenge Detroit in your year as a fellow?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"youWow, this question is difficult to answer. I have learned and grown more than I ever anticipated\u00a0throughout my year as a Fellow. Challenge Detroit has provided me with countless opportunities to listen\u00a0to and learn from political leaders, artists, activist, community leaders, entrepreneurs and an array of\u00a0diverse locally focused non-profit organizations. So, I\u2019ll do my best to summarize the most important\u00a0lessons I\u2019ve learned about work, community, happiness and finding yourself.<\/p>\n