Corey Fountain is the new Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Sales and Marketing Council director. She replaced Sarah Lane, who moved to Cincinnati where her husband took a job with the Cincinnati Reds.
How did she get the job?
Fountain heard about the opening six months ago when Amanda Blakeslee left, but at the time she was Holly Benson’s travel aide on her statewide political campaign for Attorney General. “I traveled with her all over the state and lived out of hotel rooms and rental cars. I was interested then but I was on the campaign,” said Fountain. After the campaign ended and Benson lost, Fountain ended up back in Jacksonville and went to work for the Department of Children and Families but soon realized it wasn’t the job for her.
“I felt really underutilized and knew I could do more. I wanted something more challenging and exciting. Then, this position magically came open again, so I sent in my résumé,” she said. She interviewed with NEFBA Executive Director Daniel Davis and took the job.
In her words, what does she do?
“I take care of the SMC Members and help them with what they need. I plan events and make sure the members are taken care of. I want to make sure they know me, like me and feel comfortable coming to me with anything they need.”
College?
She has a bachelor’s degree in family and child sciences from Florida State University.
After college?
She interned at the Florida Association of Broadcasters in Tallahassee for two years. “It was great and didn’t have a lot to with broadcasting. It was more association work. Then Holly Benson’s campaign opened in the basement of the building and I just sort of fell downstairs,” she said.
Why work for SMC?
“I feel like you don’t know what opportunities there are until they are presented to you. I love the association I work for and I really enjoy the involvement with the members, the events and fundraising on the campaign. I don’t know much about real estate, but I’ve learned that I really don’t need to.”
How did previous experience help her in her new job?
“I’m a big people person and love being around people. I feel I read people very well and can help them be comfortable doing what they need to do. I think my experience with the FAB has been really helpful. I worked very closely with the director of membership and learned a lot.”
Ideas for making SMC meetings better?
Fountain said SMC has been hosting networking games during the meetings and she would like to expand on them and do more to help members interact with each other to increase networking possibilities.
Most interesting thing about new job?
“The people. The people are very interesting, energetic, outgoing, fun and it is just a great group. Building relationships is my biggest concern right now.”
Best advice she’s ever received from co-worker?
“Figure out what you need and don’t be afraid to ask for it.”
Training?
Lane left about a month-and-a-half before Fountain started, so she has been relying on Scott Merritt and Jamie Atkins of NEFBA to help her out with questions. “Scott told me, ‘It’s a lot of work, but it’s also very rewarding. If you can get past the first few months, it will all work itself out.’ It’s only been two weeks and I already feel I have a good grasp on what I need to do,” she said in early July. She started the position June 27.
Resides
Fountain is single and lives in the Arlington area. She has a Chihuahua named Sophie.
-by Michele Gillis