From School to Success

“Key elements for an Operations Manager are time management, compassion, and a drive to learn new things,” says Dee Emery, our Operations Manager at Kessler Creative. With her passion for driving innovation and efficiency in direct marketing services, Dee is a respected leader in the industry who brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the company.

Frank H. Peterson Academies is a magnet school located in Jacksonville, Florida. In this interview, Dee describes her experience working with the school and how it prepares their students for a career after graduation. 

KC: What was your experience like working with the Frank H. Peterson Academies? 

“My experience has been very collaborative. The Academies holds quarterly advisory board meetings so that the teachers and staff get feedback from people out in the industry and student updates, progress, and certifications. We are able to advise as needed.” 

KC: How well do you think it prepares their students for the trade/skill they are looking to go into? 

“I think the students are very interested in their field. They offer certifications in Adobe Programs, so it’s pretty incredible what the students are learning before they even graduate. They have an understanding of their field and what is expected of them before they even graduate and they can see if it is something they are interested in or not. “ 

KC: What is the goal of the Frank H. Peterson Academies? 

“The goal of the academy is to prepare their students for their field and help them make informed decisions about their path after graduation whether it’s going straight into the professional world or going to college.” 

KC: How has what they learned in the classroom coordinated with Kessler/real-world experience? 

“What the students have learned in the classroom that coordinates with their studies is the students learn the programs and certifications and then they get experience with creating a project from start to finish which is presented to the teachers, advisory board, and then professionals. They also have the opportunity to have on-the-job training and come into a professional environment, work in their field, which counts towards school credit.”