THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 10, 1995 TAG: 9502080214
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: W14B EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
``I'm thrilled that I get to serve in an area where my skills and talents can be used,'' said Nancy J. Cross, chairperson of the fourth annual ``Paint Your Heart Out Chesapeake'' project set for April 22.
The project sponsored by the Chesapeake Rotary Club is staffed by hundreds of volunteers, who paint and do small repairs for senior citizens on limited incomes. Last year more than 1,000 volunteers helped to improve, paint and make repairs to 25 homes.
Cross is a partner in Cahoon & Cross Inc., a marketing firm specializing in research, public relations, marketing communications and management services.
``I knew I wanted to be in journalism or communications from the time I was about 8 years old,'' she said. ``At that time I don't think I really knew what all that entailed. But I worked on newsletters and yearbooks while growing up in Suffolk.''
Cross obtained a degree in journalism and history from Greensboro College in North Carolina and then worked as a community affairs director and promotion manager for WGHP-TV in High Point. She left television to become an administrator for the Commission on the Status of Women for Greensboro for several years and then went to work with an advertising agency.
``Then I decided I wanted to live near the ocean,'' said Cross.
She said she researched coastal cities from New York to South Carolina before deciding to live in Hampton Roads.
``It was a growing area with an international flavor,'' she explained.
She moved to Sandbridge in Virginia Beach and went to work for Seamark Inc., a Norfolk advertising agency.
``By the mid-1980s marketing had become much more sophisticated,'' Cross said. ``It was no longer simply advertising. There was brand awareness, consumer attitudes, demographics, buyer profiles, customer satisfaction, focus groups and employee and community relations to consider.''
In February 1986, Cross and Margaret K. Cahoon, another marketing executive, opened their own agency. They now have a staff of nine serving clients in Maryland, Delaware, Washington and North Carolina as well as Virginia.
In 1989 Cross was one of three women invited to join the Chesapeake Rotary Club.
``It was like part of my heritage and family tradition,'' said Cross. ``My father, grandfather, brothers and even a cousin in Scotland are Rotarians.''
Shortly after Cross joined the Rotary Club, Robert F. Ripley introduced the idea of a one-day painting project to help out elderly or handicapped homeowners who lived in the community.
Cross immediately became involved. She has served on the steering committee and the guidance committee and spearheaded the marketing and public relations.
``PYHOC took a simple idea, gave it life and made it a service,'' said Cross. ``It's a marketing specialist's dream.
``But the ultimate reward is the feeling of satisfaction and celebration after making a difference in our community,'' Cross said.
``From the bank president who gave a large check to the young person who painted, lives have been brightened, property values have increased and the neighborhood is enriched by the gift of giving.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Nancy J. Cross is chairperson of the fourth annual ``Paint Your
Heart Out Chesapeake'' project.
by CNB