Meet Cheri Duryea McPherson, President of Duryea Strategic Marketing (duryeastrategicmarketing.com) and Canary and Coal (canaryandcoal.com).

Tell us about your business. – Duryea Strategic Marketing and Canary and Coal offer marketing strategy, creative services, traditional and digital media, social media and public relations services to clients across the country. Our collective experience spans a wide variety of industries, and we tailor our strategies to each client’s unique needs. Our goal is simple: to deliver the results our clients need.

How did you get started in the business? – Almost by accident. In college, I had a lot of majors. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do. Finally, it was the second semester of my junior year and my advisor said, “You have got to pick something, or you will never get out of here.” I had a marketing class that semester and really liked it, so I picked marketing. My first job out of college was at a bank in a small town where I played a lot of roles, one of them was marketing. Since then, I have worked on the client side, vendor side and agency side of the business, which has given me a well-rounded view of the marketing world.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced professionally? – Starting a business. I knew the marketing side, but all the administrative pieces of running a business were a surprise.

What has been your most important professional achievement professionally? – Hitting the 10-year anniversary of my own business. I never expected to be a business owner and was very nervous about going in that direction, but I love it and am thrilled that it has worked out.

Tell us a little about your family. – My husband, Jeff, is also a business owner, so he has been a huge help along the way. We have three children, Kellen, Matt and Maddie, and two grandchildren: Mason who is 18 months old, and Hazel who is just a month old.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – That’s hard because I have a lot of things I love to do. However, I would say spend time with my husband because we are both busy and don’t have that much time together.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – When I started college, I was a dance major. My dream was to dance on Broadway.

Which talent would you like to have? – To sing… I am horrible but love music.

What local nonprofit organizations are you passionate about or involved with and are there any special reason why? – Over the years, I have been involved with many… Women’s Fund of Omaha, Heartland Family Service, Carol’s House of Hope, Domestic Violence Council. I have been involved with organizations that help victims of Domestic Violence.

What Is Your Favorite TV Show? – I loved Ted Lasso… It was funny and about soccer so what’s not to love.

What is your favorite local Omaha restaurant? – Anything with Mexican food.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – (402) 250-3928 | Cheri@duryeastrategicmarketing.com or cheri@canaryandcoal.com