Meet Melanie Lotspeich, marketing manager at Cox Business.
Tell us a little about your business. – Cox Business (www.coxbusiness.com) provides voice, data, video, and cloud services for more than 355,000 small and regional businesses nationwide, including health care providers; K-12 and higher education; financial institutions; and federal, state, and local government organizations. The organization also serves most of the top-tier wireless and wireline telecommunications carriers in the U.S. through its wholesale division.
How did you get started in the business? – My role at Cox Business really found me. I was initially looking at a role on the Cox Public Affairs team, but a position in marketing presented itself instead. It looked new and challenging, and it was something I’d never done before. I thought to myself, “I think I could be great at that!” Nearly 12 years later, I’m still excited to come to work every day and help my team be successful.
What has been your most important achievement professionally? – Completing my MBA is a professional achievement I’m very proud of. I took advantage of Cox’s generous tuition reimbursement program and was able to graduate just before I had my son.
Tell us a little about your family. – I have a five-year-old son, Gus, who is a nuclear ball of energy and keeps me on my toes at all times. We live in Dundee and you can often fi nd us walking around the neighborhood (usually enjoying a scoop at E-Creamery).
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – Anything that gets me outside. Playing at the park with my son, jogging, walking, or traveling.
What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – I’m originally from a town on the Alabama/Tennessee state line and, in middle school, I raced horses (barrel racing and pole bending).
What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.
If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Thoughtful.
If you had a theme song, what would it be? – “New Slang” by the Shins.
If you could have a super power, what would it be? – Whatever superpower Samantha had on Bewitched. That’s what I need.
Which talent would you most like to have? – Speaking another language fluently.
What local nonprofit organization(s) are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? – Moasic. My sister is developmentally disabled and has been involved with Mosaic day services for the past 25 years. The staff there are passionate, caring, thoughtful, and are so great with the clients that utilize their services. They are superheroes in my book.
What is your favorite movie? – Clue. I loved it as a kid but even more as an adult since I understand more of the jokes.
What is your favorite TV show? – Game of Thrones.
What is your favorite local restaurant? – California Taco. I’ve been ordering the same thing there since I was 13—a chicken flour taco with a root beer.
If you could have dinner with one famous person from the past or present, who would it be? – Dolly Parton. She’s sharp, witty, generous, and an all-around national treasure.
If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – (402) 934-1186; Melanie.Lotspeich@cox.com; www.coxbusiness.com.