Meet Marin Bright: Publisher/editorial director/CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marin Bright and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marin, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I had worked for numerous publishers for years as a general manager and everyone thought I owned the business at each company. My parents were both entrepreneurs, so I never questioned working like I owned it, even as an employee I always went way beyond what was required of my job-like the time I climbed onto the roof to wire the telephones!. I have always made changes during major national upsets, IE: Desert Storm, the San Francisco earthquake, so when 911 hit I was ready to make a move. The crazy thing is, I started my business in travel media 2 months after 911 with the highest sales I had ever had in a launch of a magazine. The hotels were sitting tough against terrorism and many of them did not want to roll over for these attacks. I also always had a plan in the back of my mind that I could produce a better, high-end magazine than any I saw being published in my industry. I had a clear vision of luxury and knew I could produce a stand out product better on my own-turns out I did!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Starting a magazine is probably one of the most difficult businesses to succeed in-95% fail. It was excruciatingly hard, and there were many nights I would lie awake thinking I could a sneak away and move to Montana and work in a coffee shop, but I owed to many people money to run! We were always the Neiman Marcus of media companies in the meetings and event market space-that was our goal, I believe quality always wins, and we did, we are the number one magazine by far in market share and readership. Our industry is brutally competitive and the imitation from competitors was difficult. We have won over 25 awards and are very proud that through all the ups and downs we have continued to grow. We not only publish a thick monthly magazine, we have a robust website and put on 12 events a year. We are famous for our excellent taste and first class style, we are very proud of this. When a hotel or tourism board does business with us, we make them shine, Marin Bright was chosen as the top 25 women in media to watch 2 years in a row-2014 and 2015 by Folio and has been named The Distinction in Leadership award by the Maggie awards in 2015.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to Napa Valley. We would eat at many top restaurants in the area, have spa treatments, taste wine and go for long walks amid the vines. This would be heaven!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My mother was a shining example of a strong woman who was way ahead of her time when she became a deputy sheriff and then started her own investigative firm, in a day that most women were homemakers. She always taught me that I can do anything I want. She was my cheerleader! I have always surrounded myself with a great team and have had many of the same employees since the beginning of my business, 20 plus years ago. I like to collaborate with others and their creativity and shared values have made starting Smart Meetings so much easier and fun. Garrick Naguit and Eric Haase are top on my list!

Website: www.smartmeetings.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartmeetings/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smart-meetings
Twitter: @smartmeetings
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smartmeetings