Working with non-profits all about willing to give
Leah Lyon, 2008
By Delaney Juliet
In the public relations field, working from one’s home for a non profit organization can be a major challenge. This is especially true when your job includes organizing prop construction, costume design, makeup, venue, advertising, and publicity. For Leah Lyon, however, this proves to be a balancing act she enjoys.
“In my opinion, this job is all about what you are willing to give, and being a perfectionist has really helped me mature in the industry,” Lyon said.
Leah, a mother of two grown children, Andria and Jason, and wife of Jeff Lyon for 28 years, works as the executive director of High Desert Opera in Grand Junction. After graduating in 2008 with a degree in Mass Communication with a concentration in Public Relations, Leah accepted her current job just three months after receiving her diploma. This was a major challenge considering the lack of professional experience prior to the job offer. It has also allowed her to learn first hand very quickly, and immerse herself into the business.
Her success in began when she was accepted at Mesa State College. According to Lyon, a few aspects of the school that contributed to her growth and progression were the newly available Mac Lab, readily available professors and advisors, teachers from diverse backgrounds, and small class sizes. “I can confidently say that the Mass Comm program at Mesa definitely prepared me for the reality of the industry. There are things that have changed in the field since I graduated and therefore I did not properly learn them, but that is just something I had to realize was a factor of this discipline.” A few of these components that have arisen are the broadness of the internet, better interviewing skills, more focus on research, and grant writing.
While attending school and focusing on receiving her degree, Lyon’s daughter Andria was also a full-time student at MSC with the same major. While this is not a typical college scenario, the mother and daughter were not the center of attention. According to Leah, “very few people, including our teachers, knew that we were related, even when we took classes together.” Despite the fact that they did their senior projects together, studied and helped each other with homework throughout their time at Mesa, they still maintained a ‘“typical” mother-daughter relationship. For example, on the first day of one class, Andria asked her not to sit next to her. Ironically, upon Leah’s arrival the only open seat in the classroom was next to her daughter.
“Mass communication has taught us how to work with someone who has certain challenges and to be efficient coworkers,” Leah claimed of her and her daughter. She added, “Sometimes the instructors would ask where my daughter was when she was ditching, but I did not want to lie to them or get her in trouble. It taught me how to be confident in not saying anything!”
Leah is happy with her occupation and fully commits to all aspects of her job, and uses “almost everything that I learned in my time during college.” This includes press releases, articles, advertising, designs, communications, financials and the theater based components such as costuming, props, makeup, venues, planning, and all other aspects that the industry demands.
Her future goals include gaining more sponsors, a better financial budget, and create less haphazard and more organizational focus. She hopes to remain an important part of the company.
Lyon’s final words explain her motivation and loyalty to her profession, as well as her business etiquette. “I feel that my personal skills, ability to create relationships, business sense, communication and creativity have really helped me better myself and set me apart from others in the industry. I will not accept no for an answer.”
Leah welcomes former classmates and friends to get back in touch with her.
Phone: (970) 216-5212
