Newsmakers 2015: Emily Blattel

"Work hard and be nice to people." It's the phrase on a sign in Emily Blattel's office, and a mantra she tries to live by each day.

It must be working, because she just marked her eighth anniversary in what she calls her dream job at Saint Francis Medical Center.

"I love that it's different all the time," she says of her role as communications specialist in the marketing department. "I like meeting people and getting to know people inside our organization and out. I like to know what's going on. It's exciting and challenging and different all the time."

Blattel first came to Saint Francis as an intern while studying public relations at Southeast Missouri State University.

"I knew I wanted to go into health-care PR, and my internship here sealed the deal," she says.

After graduation, she put her art and graphic design background to work at The Printing Co. and applied for jobs at Saint Francis, until finally, in 2007, she got a call back for an interview.

In addition to her work at Saint Francis, Blattel designs and bakes specialty cakes via The Cake Mom & Co. and completes graphic design projects, such as designing wedding invitations and making book covers for her father's publishing company.

"I still love art, and finding ways to do that is important to me," she says.

This fall, Blattel will take on an additional role as adjunct professor at Southeast Missouri State University, where she will teach a graphic design class.

Blattel has been active in Tri State Advertising and Marketing Professionals for six years and is a worship leader at The Church at Morley. She's a sports fan who enjoys research and history, and also is working on her master's degree in communications.

"I add more jobs to my jobs," she jokes. "I'm a lifelong learner. I like to find efficiencies and better ways to do things. Sometimes it may require more work on the front end, but improving the process can make things easier."

The secret to her success?

"Persistence is part of it, and working hard," she says.