CREW Detroit Introduces

Erin Hooper

Walbridge

Your employer/title and brief synopsis of what you do

I am a marketing coordinator at Walbridge, a global construction company headquartered in Detroit, where I'm mainly responsible for content development. I manage the company's corporate newsletter, develop award entries, write content for its website and handle its social media presence.

How did you land in the commercial real estate field?

In high school I began answering phones at a local real estate agency and grew to run a portion of its front-of-the-house operations. College led me to journalism, and I became a reporter for almost six years. Recently, I ventured into the world of marketing and landed in the construction industry.

What single piece of advice or encouragement would you offer a woman who wants to enter your career field?

From a marketing standpoint, it's important these days for women to understand the power of social media. Companies don't want to hire someone who knows how to use Facebook. They want someone who knows how to use social media as a marketing tool and a business resource. My advice is to take your familiarity with Facebook one step further. Get on Twitter and Instagram. Increase your presence on LinkedIn. Follow your competitors, pay attention to their social media activity, and do whatever they're doing, but better.

Who is your mentor/who inspires you?

I actually have an official mentor through Walbridge's Mentoring Program. He's a licensed attorney with 26 years in the construction industry, including experience in operations, engineering, design and sales. On a broader scale, I'd say my most recent inspiration is Hillary Clinton.