Cindy Harris, 36

By Sarah Roberts

If you’re part of the next generation of young professionals, Cindy Harris has some advice for you: Real-world experience is key. It’s a lesson that Harris learned in college and has consciously strived to offer students and young workers who cross her path. For the last two-and-a-half years, she has worked as marketing strategist for KMK Media Group and has helped grow the business by more than 20 percent.

Notably, she also started a summer internship program for the company – organizing the job description, leading the firm’s search, reviewing applications, conducting interviews and personally mentoring the selected interns.

“I got my start as a student writer in what I know is an incredibly hard business to break into,” Harris said. “I’ve found that it’s really important to give students who are interested in this field and willing to work hard the opportunity to build some skills so they have something to show potential employers when the graduate. It’s difficult to get an interview without that real-world experience.”

For Harris, that extends to judging regional student advertising competitions for the American Advertising Federation and serving as a member of Next Rockford, the organization of diverse young professionals dedicated to improving the community and preparing the next generation of leaders. Harris also serves on the board of directors for the Discovery Center Museum, Visiting Nurses Association and Without Shoes Dance Co.

“I encourage younger people to stay in Rockford, but we’ve got to have meaningful jobs for them to stay, and I understand that they may want to go out and see the world and experience different things,” Harris said. “My hope is that they go out and do that and then bring their talents back to Rockford.”