Member Spotlight - Debra Kamys

Current position:  Principal/President & COO, Inherent, Inc.
Work history:  Legal Secretary, Radio Producer, School Counselor, etc...  
Education:  Joint Degrees in Psychology & Rhetoric, U.C. Davis / Masters in Educational Psychology, University of San Francisco

What did you dream to be growing up? 

I flirted with several ideas, including being the first female quarterback in the NFL, becoming an olympic gymnast and being a veterinarian.  In college, my studies were focused on pre-law, but working in an insurance defense firm post-gradution quickly dissuaded me of the notion of becoming an attorney.  

What was your first job?

At 16, I took my very first job scooping ice cream at the Baskin-Robbins on B Street in San Rafael.

Tell us about your road to legal marketing…

I spent the first 2-1/2 years after college working in various roles in law firms before switching to radio producing.  When an opportunity came up to work as a project manager for an Oregon-based company that focused on technology solutions for law firms, the fit made sense.  11+ years later, I'm running the company with my husband and we are doing some truly fantastic work for some very forward-focused law firms.

 What do you value about your firm? Your profession?

Every project is different, and since technology continues to evolve it never gets boring to do what we do.  It is truly exciting to work with clients to turn creative concepts into realities.  I love it when a client is willing to stretch beyond what "typical" law firms will do -- when they truly trust our talented people to help shape and direct their marketing plans they always end up with something fresh, exciting and different.  One firm we're working with now is changing from a boring blue logo to a cool, cranberry color.  How many law firms can you think of that use that color?

What advice would you offer to someone new to legal marketing?

Join the LMA and network, network, network.  So many people in our organization are excited to help "newbies" and will offer advice and suggestions in many areas.  The Bay Area Chapter has a mentor-mentee program, which is a fantastic way to get involved and meet others in the industry.

What is currently on your iPod?

Ha, will it surprise anyone to know I've always been a Rocker Chick?  Among other artists, I have AC/DC, Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, Guns N' Roses and the Red Hot Chili Peppers on my iPod.  I lighten things up a bit with the Pixies, Matchbox Twenty, Maroon 5 and Sheryl Crow.  I have some movies, too, including:  School of Rock, the SpongeBob Squarepants Movie and Trading Places.

Where is your favorite place to relax? 

Friday nights after the kids are in bed - drinking red wine by the fire table in our backyard while listening to music and watching the bridge lights on the bay.  I also like to reduce stress with a couple hours on the tennis court, though I would not call that "relaxing"!

What book(s) are you reading? 

I'm about halfway through Play Dirty, a book about an ex-NFL quarterback who gets caught up in murder, mystery and sex.

Are you subscribed to any listservs? Favorites?

Only the LMA listserv - I get more than enough e-mails as it is!  

What goals do you have for LMA this year? 

The year is almost over!  I'd like to see us expand our membership with the City Groups we've been working on to include a lot of folks in nearby areas like Sacramento.  Providing real-time and also after-the-fact Webinar files for people to watch when they can't make meetings would be nice as well.

If you were stranded on a desert island for one week with a group of attorneys, what would you want to have with you?

I would have to have my laptop with a lot of extra batteries and a wireless Internet connection.  Oh, and my iPod.