Member Spotlight - Marcia Delgadillo

Current Board Position:  Treasurer
Work history:   Professional services marketing (accounting and legal); commercial real estate management and a broad range of other things
Education: Bachelor of Science in Marketing (yes, it was a B.S.!)

What did you dream to be growing up?   I wanted to be a teacher.  After seeing the Blue Angels fly, I dreamed about being a Blue Angel pilot. 

What was your first job?  As soon as I turned 15½, I got a job at Stone Soup, a restaurant in Serramonte.  I started by serving salads and worked my way up to sandwiches before I went on to bigger and better things.

Tell us about your road to legal marketing…  After leaving a job at a Big 5 accounting firm, I took a break to spend time with my second child who was a baby at the time.  A month or two before I planned to delve back into marketing, I spent some time helping out my mom in her office at a law firm.  Just when I was going to leave her firm to find a “real” job, the marketing position became available.  Lawyers are very similar to accountants in many ways.  Marketing them is very similar.  I went through the interview process and the rest is history.  I have worked at one large global and two mid-size law firms.

 What do you value about your profession?  The relationships.  Throughout my marketing career, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people.  Whether it’s an attorney I’m working with, a service provider, or a colleague, I find the relationship process very rewarding.  I meet many interesting people and have been privileged to make many lasting friendships.  It’s truly rewarding to work with interesting, nice and fun people.

What advice would you offer to someone new to legal marketing?  Join LMA, join the LMA Connect, attend the educational and social programs, and network!  LMA is what made me feel like I had a support net.  And make sure to build and maintain relationships!

What is currently on your iPod?  I like a lot of things.  My iPod has Maná, The All American Rejects, Bon Jovi, Carole King, Fall Out Boy, Green Day, Metallica, Josh Groban, Rascal Flatts and Velvet Revolver.  It also has Len Tillem podcasts--he’s very entertaining.

Where is your favorite place to relax?  On the beach in Mexico or anywhere where else I can look at the ocean.  I find it very calming and peaceful.  It puts life in perspective.

What book(s) are you reading? A Thousand Splendid Suns.  I like reading just one book at a time.

Are you subscribed to any listservs? Favorites?  LMA, ILTA, my temple, my kids’ school, and Berkeley Parents Network (BPN).  BPN is my favorite.  It runs the gamut!

What goals do you have for LMA this year?  I’d like to see more members join our local chapter.  I’d also like to see more people get involved with our committees.  New people bring vibrancy to the organization and fresh ideas.

If you were stranded on a desert island for one week with a group of attorneys, what would you want to have with you?  My scrapbooking stuff that has piled up for a couple of years, an iPod with noise canceling ear buds, and a great marketing/business development coach like Martha Sullivan that would whip the attorneys into shape.