Welcome to my new website and future blog! 

My name is Natalie Kates and I was raised by a bilingual Cuban family in Miami, Florida.  Since I was young I can always remember enjoying creative projects such as crafts, collages, and was the family business and greeting card creator.  I draw inspiration from a variety of sources but am incredibly inspired by surrounding myself daily working with talented colleagues and a great student team!   These days I’ve been keeping myself busy, but my interests include reading, writing, movies, swimming, photography, traveling, animals, visiting zoos/aquariums, the beach, my family, friends, dog Bean, and boyfriend Kenny.

A more recent investment of my time is concentrating on my personal branding by becoming more active with updating this website which is a work in progress that will eventually feature my blog and sources of inspiration, more social media activity outreach, and continuously keeping up with articles on trends ranging from topics that include social media, PR, graphic design, marketing, advertising, leadership, technology, website usability, etc.  I believe it’s important to stay current and well-rounded.  An amazing resource I recommend downloading and using is the Linkedin app or their site which organizes top articles by categories from a variety of sources!

My first internship experience was for two summers at the City of Miami Office of Communications assisting the television producers with their documentaries and shows. In the summer of 2007, I was chosen to intern at TBWA\Chiat\Day in Los Angeles, California through the American Association of Advertising Agencies’s Multicultural Advertising Intern Program. At the agency, I worked with the Infiniti and method account management teams. During the summer of 2009, I interned with the Integrated Marketing department at Zubi Advertising Services in Coral Gables, Florida helping to create and launch a social media marketing plan for the agency.

Throughout my senior year at FSU, I began working with the Center for Hispanic Marketing Communication. In April of 2008, I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 3.8 GPA and received my Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from FSU with a double minor in Hispanic Marketing Communication and Journalism. I was selected as the sole recipient from my graduating class with the 2008 Outstanding Mass Media Studies Student Achievement Award. I graduated again from The FSU School of Communication in May 2010 with my Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communication (3.5 GPA) and a graduate certificate in Digital Video Production.

Post-graduation, I was a Digital Media Coordinator at the Zimmerman Agency in Tallahassee, Florida. The main accounts I worked with include Party City, The Emerald Coast, George Foreman, Cooper Tires, Firedog, etc. In August 2010, I began a full-time position as the Promotions and Publications Coordinator at The Florida State University Career Center. I enjoy and feel fortunate working at my alma mater, and also continue to help the Center for Hispanic Marketing Communication.

Enjoy!