Spotlight on 2013 SDLA Institute alumna, Barb Moreno. Barb is the Communications Director for the San Diego Convention Center, where she leads an award-winning team of specialists.

Tell us about your work.

My job is to manage all digital and marketing content related to the San Diego Convention Center. I oversee a team of designers and communications specialists and we produce content delivered through all our main digital platforms: our website, VisitSanDiego.com. I also write, edit and produce the Corporation's videos in house and publish them to our YouTube channel. In addition, I manage our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts. My department reports to our Vice President of Public Affairs, and indirectly to the CEO and COO. Our audience reach is very wide and diverse and includes: meeting planners who use our marketing materials to plan their conventions in our facility; attendees from around the world who will be coming to San Diego for a convention - many for the first time ever; and the public, stakeholders and advertising partners and vendors.

You lead an award-winning communications team. Which awards were added to your shelf this year? 

It's been an incredible year for our Communications Team. Over the past two weeks, the Communications Department received five total awards from our peers. Two came from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) San Diego chapter and three from the highly prestigious San Diego Press Club. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, PRSA awarded the Convention Center the Bronze Bernays Award of Excellence for our VisitSanDiego.com website redesign and a Silver Bernays Award of Merit for our 25th Anniversary Celebration Event, which raised $50,000 for charity. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, the San Diego Press Club gave us a 1st Place Award for our website in Overall Use of Design, as well as Best of Show, meaning we beat out all website winners of the night, including NBC, the Union Tribune and the San Diego Zoo. In addition, our video I produced for Comic-Con this year took a 3rd place award.

Earlier in the year, our FY14 Annual Report won a bronze award from Creativity International, as well as an infographic we produced on how much food it takes to feed Comic-Con attendees.

How did you arrive at this job?

I worked as the Web Content Specialist at the Port of San Diego for nearly five years prior to getting hired at the Convention Center. I was assigned to help the Convention Center staff by producing a video on the proposed expansion for the Convention Center since they did not have anyone on their staff to do it. The Port is technically the "landlord" of the convention center, so my department was asked to assist. After a few months, I had a job offer. Before moving to San Diego, I spent many years as a news producer, working in major TV newsrooms from Las Vegas, to Phoenix and Los Angeles.

How do you feel about your role and your contribution to San Diego?
The San Diego Convention Center is an amazing economic engine for the city. I enjoy working in the building and seeing people from around the world react to the city we live in and awe at their experiences at the Convention Center. For many visitors, their first impression is our Convention Center and the staff who operate it, and each and every one of us take that to heart. There are cities around the world who want what we have and I hope that people understand what a gem we have along the waterfront.

What do you most value about your SDLA Institute experience? 
The best part of SDLA were my classmates. It's been a pleasure to continue to keep in touch and watch each other grow together, professionally and personally.