A spotlight on individuals who are moving onward & upward

CHERYL PEARSON-McNEIL

When it comes to work, Cheryl Pearson-McNeil, the new senior vice president of communications for AC Nielsen U.S., has a very simple rule of thumb: "You should be smiling for six out of eight hours that you're on the job. You need to be happy, and you should be working where your passion is."

As the person who's ultimately in charge of media requests for AC Nielsen, Pearson-McNeil of Glen Ellyn, Ill., lives by that motto. For example, the Fort Wayne, Ind., native most recently researched pickle consumption. Why? Because a reporter needed the information.

Pearson-McNeil, 45, the first-ever Black senior VP at AC Nielsen, has another rule she follows when it comes to her job: "Every four years, no matter where I am with the company, I either move up or I move out ... I've never been one of those people who are just interested in sitting at a desk and getting a paycheck and not interested in growth. That means you're not giving everything you've got to give."

CHERYL'S FIRST J-O-B: "I was a store graphic coordinator for Kohl's. I was responsible for writing and developing a system for the signs that go up over sale items. To this day they still use my coding system. I made a whopping $17,000 a year."

DAVID CAMPBELL

After learning he didn't have 20-20 vision, David Campbell reworked his dream of becoming an Air Force pilot into something that became the secret to his success: fixing airplanes.

After learning how to be an airplane mechanic via the Air Force, he went on to fix planes at American Airlines, where he rose through the ranks and, several years ago, became the company's first Black vice president. Most recently, Campbell was promoted to senior vice president of technical operations for American Eagle, making him one of the most powerful Blacks in the airline industry.

Now, instead of solely being in charge of the airline bases that fix and refurbish the massive 757 engines, Campbell is ultimately in charge of all the flight scheduling, all the pilots and all the mechanics for American Eagle.

He's been preparing for the job his entire life, mostly by managing various relationships and knowing his craft.

"Regardless of whatever you decide to do, prepare," says Campbell, 46, originally from Sardis, Miss., but who now lives in Southlake, Texas, with his wife and two children. "Make sure that your mind is clear and strong from a spiritual standpoint. You don't let racism or anything get in your way to distract you."

DAVID'S FIRST J-O-B: "I was 10 years old when my father subcontracted to paint one of the local supermarkets in Mississippi. I worked with him to do the paint clean-up and touch-up and things like that. I got $10."

WENDY WASHINGTON

When you work in the music industry, it's not hard to amass CDs.

In fact, Wendy Washington has more than 1,000 of them.

It's part of the perks--and the job--for Washington, the newly appointed vice president of media relations for the Zomba Label Group. In other words, she oversees the entire publicity campaign for artists as varied as Kirk Franklin, Britney Spears, Buddy Guy and T-Pain. Translation: She needs to listen to all of that music.

"The one unique thing is it's an opportunity to work again with the rock acts," says Washington, a 30-something New Yorker. "There are very few African-Americans who actually cover all parts of music. I head the whole public relations department."

Not intimidated by being a solo female in an industry that's chock full of seemingly ubermasculine men, Washington is frequently asked to dole out "hook-ups" for free music and concert tickets, and she frequently has to say no.

"It's not as glamorous as it looks," she says. "A lot of it is nuts and bolts and connecting dots and following up. With the music business the way it is, my job depends on people buying the CD."

WENDY'S FIRST J-O-B: Delivering the Colorado Springs Gazette. "My grandmother used to drive me along my route until she felt comfortable with me doing it myself."

COPYRIGHT 2007 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning