Central MA Up + Comer: Barry Communications VP Lindsay Gerhardt

Thursday, October 03, 2013

Susan Wagner, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Barry Communications Executive Vice President Lindsay Gerhardt has a bright future to look forward to.

Central MA Up + Comers is a weekly profile of a member of the next generation as they begin making their mark on the Central MA workforce and community. Join us every Thursday for a look at the careers and lifestyles of the local digital generation.

Lindsay Gerhardt, Executive Vice President, Barry Communications

SW: We are introducing a generation who is starting to or is making their mark on the Central MA community. What career have you chosen to move forward in?

LG: I am Vice President of Barry Communications. I am focused mainly on sales and marketing but in a small business you end up wearing many hats.

SW: How made you decide to follow this career path?

LG: I went to business school and always knew I wanted to get into business management and marketing. I grew up surrounded by entrepreneurs and family businesses. After several years working in publishing, marketing and PR, I decided to work for my dad’s family business focusing on business development in the telecommunications industry. We sell voice solutions to business.

SW: What is the best thing about your company?

Our customers are happy—they depend on us for their own businesses. Without communications, most companies cannot function. It is an essential part to making their business successful.

SW: Can you describe a typical day in your life?

That’s a tough one as I am ALL over the map! I live in Boston so wake up and usually get a workout in …that is the one consistent thing about my days. I either go into our office in Worcester or am on the road meeting with existing customers and new prospects. I also spend a fair amount of time networking to drive new avenues of businesses.

SW: What is your dream job?

Ha! Is there such a thing? Job and dream…my dream job would be spending time with my family and friends, working out, traveling…but if job means work, I am pretty happy with my current job. It is an incredible feeling working for a family business and watching it grow and succeed. The key piece of making a job a dream for me is the opportunity to be out meeting with all different kinds of people and businesses.

SW: What is your favorite piece of technology?

My iPhone. Cliché, I know…but I can’t live without it.

SW: What is on your iTunes?

I listen to a huge variety of music…right now I have been listening to a lot of Passion Pit (thanks to my fiancé), country, Jay Z, and Motown. I am a huge fan of Pandora and I am excited to try out this new iTunes Radio!

SW: What is your favorite social networking site? Why?

I am a sucker for Facebook. It is such a great way to keep in touch with friends and family and follow my favorite places to go. I also love Instagram—skip all the fluff and get right into the pictures!

SW: What do you do away from your career?

I have the most amazing fiancé, family, and group of friends so most of my times is spent enjoying them. I enjoy being active whether I am running, trying a yoga or barre class around the city, riding my cruiser bike on the Vineyard or taking enormously long strolls around Boston. I love travelling be it short weekend trips around New England or visiting friends and family or long adventures! I can’t miss trying new restaurants (or revisiting the old standbys), exploring local farmers markets or gourmet food shops, and cooking.

SW: Are you involved in the community? If so, how?

I would say this is something on my 2014 goal list—to find ways to become more involved in my community. I help some charities by donations and occasional volunteering but I haven’t found my niche in community involvement and development yet. If anyone reads this and has ideas, I would love them! It is my personal goal to find an organization in my community to be part of.

SW: Who is the biggest influence in your life?

My late grandfather “puppy” still influences me each day. He was a real family man and true entrepreneur and businessman. He worked hard, loved us dearly, and always had a good time and a good laugh. I hear his voice in my head each day calling me: “Hey Linny, how is business? Selling anything today? Work hard. Don’t spend too much money. Love you.”

SW: What is a fun fact few people know about you?

I started a website about food, fashion, fitness and philanthropy in Boston about 5 years ago. Although it was success, my partner and I had to shut the site down due to some personal issues at the time. I see that as one of my biggest achievements and failures—something I learned MANY lessons from.

SW: Your favorite expression?

Live well. Laugh often. Love much.

SW: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I see myself married to my amazing fiancé with a beautiful family and children—watching them grow up. I see myself looking at Barry Communications and being proud of how far we have grown and developed. I see myself still enjoying my friends and family, being active, loving and being involved in my community. From a career standpoint, I would love to teach business to high school or college kids. I had a young woman teach me a business leadership class at the University of Colorado—she made a huge impact on me and helped inspire me to reach my goals and dreams.

With more than 25 years of leadership experience, Susan Wagner has been known for driving events, initiatives, launches, and openings through her company Susan Wagner PR. In this challenging economy, she has begun a new division to offer affordable start-up packages to new and emerging small businesses and non-profit organizations that include professional writing services, websites, collateral, marketing, social media, grassroots outreach and PR campaigns.