Meet the Staff: Kevin Cuddihy

We're starting a new series today on STC's Notebook, Meet the Staff. There are a few new staff members, so we thought it would be a good idea to introduce or reintroduce the entire staff to STC members. This will also give those going to the Summit a way to get to know the people you'll be seeing all over the place running things, so feel free to come up and say hi. We'll start the ball rolling with me, Your Friendly Neighborhood Blogger, and post one every week or so for the next few months. You're welcome to pose questions for the staffer as well, and we'll try our best to answer.

What's your name and title?
Kevin Cuddihy, Media Manager

What is your area of expertise?
I have a background in writing and editing, with experience in software, magazines, other periodicals, and books. My first job out of college was actually part technical writer, as I would help write the instructions for “edutainment” CD-ROMs. My degree is in Communication Studies, and I actually knew since eighth grade that I wanted to do something media-related. So Media Manager is right up my alley!

Titles are one thing—what do you actually *do* at STC?
My main tasks at STC are varied. I’m the assistant editor for Intercom, working with Liz Pohland on that publication. I’m Your Friendly Neighborhood Blogger for STC’s Notebook and also put together the official Summit blog. I coordinate and send out the STC emails as well—membership reminders, education offerings, News & Notes, conference announcements, etc. Coming up in the next little bit, I’ll be working on the program and honors brochure for the Summit, too.

What have you done in previous jobs that prepared you for this job?
I was an acquisitions editor for a nonfiction book publisher at my last job, and I was essentially a one-man department. I would evaluate and acquire books, and then would also be in charge of marketing copy, catalog copy, jacket copy, press releases, media campaigns, even photo captions at times. And since the company was so small, I’d pitch in with the production department and do copyediting and proofreading on a few manuscripts. The job before that, I was the only copyeditor for over two dozen monthly newsletters, again for a fairly small company. These two jobs prepared me for STC by giving me a well-rounded set of skills. The STC staff is small enough that “That’s not my job” really can’t be uttered, and I feel my previous jobs have given me the skills I need in a number of different areas.

Care to tell us a bit about your family/pets/etc?
I’m newly married, with no pets. I grew up always having a dog, though, so that may be an addition.

What do you do when you're not hard at work for STC?
Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of volunteer work. I help out with UMPS CARE Charities, the official charity of Major League Baseball umpires. They do a lot of great work with kids, and they’re just finishing up their annual online auction of sports memorabilia and tickets. They had over 200 items this year, and I wrote the item descriptions for most of them and have been assisting with the publicity. Aside from that, I enjoy playing volleyball and tennis and watching just about any sport, reading, and going to comedy clubs. In addition to being newly married I’m also a new homeowner, so a lot of my time is taken up with the new house and going to The Home Depot every weekend.

Can you tell us about an odd talent or skill you're particularly proud of?
I seem to have many odd talents for some reason. I can juggle, though only round objects—however, I can juggle basketballs if the ceiling is high enough. According to my niece, I can pull a cherry tomato out of her bellybutton after she’s eaten one; I don’t think she realizes yet that I’m just palming a second one. I do a great Tickle Me Elmo impression. I’m an amazing baker. And according to my wife, I’m an Olympic-quality vacuum avoider. But the odd skill I’m most proud of is my insane ability to win items from the claw machine, those stuffed-animal-filled things at arcades and family restaurants. Most of my coworkers with children (at STC and in previous jobs) have a claw-machine-produced stuffed animal somewhere in their house, and I have a box filled with them at home.

Any final thoughts or comments?
Just my standard plea for the blog—if you have any ideas on how I can continue to make the blog better, please send them along. Thanks!