With a laid back personality and a dedicated spirit, Account Manager Scott McKenzie is the kind of person you want in your corner. Born in Edmonton, but having lived in Ottawa, Victoria, and Calgary, Scott was always an Edmontonian at heart. Scott has made Genumark Edmonton his home base.
Talking to us while on the road, Scott let us glimpse into his life so we could share it with you.
WHAT DO YOU DO ALL DAY?
That’s the great thing about this job, I get involved in all kinds of different things. I am proactive and always looking for the next best item to offer clients, so I do a lot of research.I am also always trying to make new friends (clients). I spent most of my day responding to the requests and needs of my current clients, be it idea brainstorming or quotes.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH GENUMARK?
I have been with Genumark since 2015, so 4 years.
WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE THE PROMO INDUSTRY?
Before entering the promo industry about 16 years ago, I was in the office equipment industry. So I used to sell faxes, printers, and photocopiers. That is how I honed a lot of the skills I use now.
COOLEST PROMOTION PRODUCT YOU HAVE WORKED ON AT GENUMARK?
Awards don’t always get the recognition they need, but I won an Image Award for helping develop custom and unique Long Service Awards for one of my clients. We needed to be mindful of their brand guidelines while creating the award but also original; they no longer wanted typical “stock” awards. We helped me create something that was completely their own and really spoke to their brand. It was something recipients were very happy to receive.
DREAM JOB AS A KID? WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
My dream job as a kid was probably when I worked at Dairy Queen in downtown Calgary during the Calgary Stampede. I got to eat ice cream and apple turnovers every day… it was great! My first job was pumping gas at a garage, back in the day when people used to pump gas for you.
IF YOU COULD LEARN ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
One of my biggest regrets is not keeping up with my French when I moved from Ottawa to Victoria, and even up to now, I really want to learn a second language. I have given Japanese and Spanish a shot, but nothing has stuck.
DEAD OR ALIVE, DREAM DINNER GUEST?
Would love to have dinner with Hugh Jackman. He is an amazingingly talented entertainer and actor. From Marvel adventure flicks to dramatic roles to big production musicals, he does it all. He also has many philanthropic interests. So he seems to be a great human being as well.
WHAT CHORE DO YOU HATE DOING?
House painting. Specifically interior painting.
INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF GENUMARK?
I am involved with theatre. That was one of my earliest callings in life, but I chose not to pursue it as a vocation, but rather as a craft that I enjoy during my not working hours.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ROLE YOU HAVE PERFORMED IN?
From a show I performed last year called The Game’s Afoot. It was a character based on a real life person named William Gillette. He was a famous actor back in the early 1920s/30s and he brought the character of Sherlock Holmes to the stage. He got permission from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to do a stage version and now, everything we think of as Sherlock Holmes, be it the hat or the pipe, is based off this portrayal.
FAVOURITE FOOD & ADULT DRINK?
I like pie, mostly peach and my grandmother’s raspberry pie, but really, I love them all. Also, my wife’s tuna casserole. As for adult drink, it will often change. Currently, I am a vodka soda or red wine drinker.
THREE WORDS TO DEFINE YOU?
Meticulous. Diplomatic. Subdued . When I am on stage I am “out there”, but most of the time, I am happy just being in the background.
IF YOU COULD RELATE TO ANY FICTIONAL CHARACTER, WHO WOULD YOU BE?
Batman
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?
If I have made a positive impact on people.
FAVOURITE SPORTS TEAMS?
The Oilers and certainly the Blue Jays. I also watch a lot of soccer, so Arsenal would be my team there.
FAVOURITE MOVIE?
The Hunt for the Red October, is one of those movies I could just watch endlessly. I can’t even really say why.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
Don’t play it safe.
PHOBIAS?
Not really, but I have an aversion to pickles.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WEREN’T DOING THIS?
There a few choices. A dancer. A veterinarian. I would also possibly be a zoologist.
HOW MUCH COFFEE OR TEA DO YOU DRINK A DAY?
2 coffees a day.
WHAT IS THE BEST DISH YOU CAN MAKE?
I make a mean spaghetti sauce.
WORDS OF ADVICE TO OTHERS?
Be kind.
