Over time, we added event planning — B2B conferences, board meetings and marketing for events — including promotion for Central State University’s “Leadership Conferences” featuring, among others, Anthony Munoz and Gale Sayers. Our company also served as production manager on behalf of an anonymous donor for Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou’s visit to Dayton a few years back.
When was the company founded and how did it get started? An illness in our family changed everything. In 2001, my husband and I learned that our 12-year-old daughter, Lauren, had cancer. I gave up my position as executive producer at ThinkTV to help provide her care. After Lauren’s passing in 2002, we faced a crossroads – and decided to start MagicBox Production Company to offer the video production services I had learned in public and commercial television, with the help of talented professionals in our region. The name “MagicBox” refers to the early design of the television set.
How many employees? There are no fulltime employees. We contract for services for each of our client projects. We get things done for our clients with help from our talented friends.
How has the company grown? MagicBox Production Company has grown and changed over the years. The emergence and great popularity of YouTube totally changed the game – bringing a lot of new players into video production. It was a good time to review and assess what the market needs – and it inspired us to emphasize public relations, event planning and promotion as a greater part of the mix.
Describe your job: My key skill has always been organizing and getting things done on time, regardless of the nature of the project. I work with clients to discover their needs and develop plans that help them reach their goals. This approach has led to many successful projects for MagicBox Production Company’s clients.
What’s unique about your workspace? I think of MagicBox Production Company as a business that exists in virtual space. It isn’t a “brick & mortar” business. I consult with clients via telephone, email and personal meetings at their offices. I form teams of specialists to meet each client’s needs. This keeps overhead low and provides savings to our clients.
What are the things in your workspace I can’t work without? These days I would say my iPhone and Mac laptop. Those and a backup hard drive. The MagicBox Production Company lives in those devices.
What’s your secret to success? The secret is building and maintaining relationships – both with clients and with the professionals who form our project teams. These relationships have kept the company going through many ups and downs over the years. Volunteer activities are a big part of both “giving back” and building the network. Recently, I have become the chief marketing and communication officer for “The Funk Music Hall of Fame and Exhibition Center,” a non-profit organization aimed at creating a museum and performance space for Dayton’s brand of funk music. The Funk Music Center includes a mission to teach music, math and art to K-12 students. I’m also president-elect of the Kettering-Centerville Kiwanis Club, part of an international service organization serving young people. It’s both fulfilling work and a great way to stay in touch with the market.
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