Our next employee spotlight is a very special one, as we’re highlighting our newest employee, Nikki Staley! (Kidding, kidding, Nikki Davis just had to go and get married so now we never recognize her name in our inbox…) To us, she’s mom. And boss. And the friend who is always down for a coffee run or a Chinatown Inn egg roll. But, she’s also the Owner and Creative Director of Cosmitto!
Nikki grew up in Sligo, Pennsylvania, which is pretty much Clarion. If you don’t know where that is, you could say she grew up near Pittsburgh and that would work just fine. She graduated from Clarion University with a degree in Strategic Communications with a focus in Advertising, PR, and Corporate Communication. After living the life of a gypsy while bartending around the city, Nikki ended up at Cosmitto (at that time, it was Community Elf) as an Account Manager. She worked her way up to Senior Account Manager, then Account Director, until she decided to literally take business into her own hands by buying out Cosmitto. (You can read more about that here). Keep reading to learn more about her and what she loves most about life at and outside of Cosmitto.
Q: Why did you originally want to work at Cosmitto?
A: Knowing I wanted to work in an agency originally attracted me to the Cosmitto, so much more kept me here. You can probably find those reasons in another blog.
Q: What’s your favorite aspect of your job as Owner/Creative Director?
A: I love how dynamic my job is. No two days are alike. I could write a dissertation on this question, but nobody has time for that, so we will leave it at that.
Q: What’s your dream job?
A: Honestly, I have my dream job. However, if you are holding a gun to my head and asking me to pick something else, I would open an animal rescue.
Q: What are you most passionate about?
A: Wine, but not in a let’s analyze everything about this, but in a can I have a glass please and thank you? In all seriousness, my passions have changed as I’ve grown. Now, I would say improvement in every sense of the word: personally, professionally, home, the list goes on.
Q: What’s the best social campaign you’ve seen recently?
A: Does any clothing retailer count? I am a sucker. Take my money.
Q: What are your favorite Twitter accounts to follow?
A: Ummmm pass. How terrible is it that I don’t use Twitter?
Q: Where is the coolest place you’ve ever been?
A: I left my heart in Jamaica. I learned a lot about life and myself there.
Q: What’s one thing you could eat every day?
A: Chips. Unless Matt eats them all first.
Q: What are some of your favorite movies? Name a few.
A: Forrest Gump. Edward Scissorhands. I also enjoy anything horror or suspense.
Q: What are some of your favorite books?
A: I read a lot of trash. Please don’t judge. I do love A Prayer for Owen Meany though.
Q: What’s one song you could listen to on endless repeat?
A: Clumsy. Hard to Concentrate. My Guardian Angel. Dig. Bring back the 90’s and early 2000’s.
Q: Coffee, tea, or other?
A: Coffee in the morning. Tea in the afternoon. Wine in the evening.
Q: What would your patronus take the shape of?
A: I’ve been told I am a koala bear—cute and feisty.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about Pittsburgh?
A: I love that each neighborhood has its own flavor, but we’re all Burghers at the end of the day.
Q: Pierogies or Primantis?
A: Egg rolls.
Q: What’s the first thing you’d do if you won the lottery?
A: Buy an island.
Q: What is your biggest fear?
A: Movies that I shouldn’t be afraid of. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Cat in the Hat. Thumbelina. Alice and Wonderland. There are plenty more, but you get the idea.
Q: What are three things still left on your bucket list?
A: Scuba dive (again). Rescue a street dog. Buy an island.
Q: Who do you hope to be in 5 years?
A: Me. Maybe me with a mini-me. Other than that, I love this life.
Cheyenne Knight
