2014 Communicator of Achievement Jeanine Larson
Longtime friend and colleague, Patricia Carlson, describes NDPC’s 2014 COA as, “Memorable. She will be your friend for life and a colleague you’ll never forget. No one works harder, personally or professionally, than Jeanine Larson.”
A native of Pittsburgh, Jeanine graduated from Penn State with a double major in Broadcast Journalism and Communication Arts & Sciences. She had four news internships, including two in England, and in August 2004 began work in Fargo as a reporter for WDAY-TV, she was soon producing and anchoring the news. Two years later joined the local FOX-TV station as an anchor and reporter, where she impressed news director Jim Shaw with her “instincts for the news and her compelling presence on camera.” Members of the media, like NDPC member Ellen Crawford, appreciated her “accurate and complete reporting and her smooth, confident manner as an anchor.”
Jeanine set a new course for her career in 2007, when she joined Noridian Mutual Insurance as interactive content coordinator, contributing to the company’s website, and writing, recording and editing videos and podcasts for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota. In 2009 Jeanine brought those skills to Bell State Bank & Trust. As the bank’s Web Content Coordinator she writes and edits online content and develops and maintains the company’s social media channels. The bank’s prolific social media outreach program was recently recognized nationally as one of the Top 50 Community Bank Leaders in Social Media by the Independent Community Bankers of America.
Since moving to North Dakota, Jeanine has become a wife and the mother of two. She has also experienced jet skiing, hunting, marathoning, fishing, karaoke singing, and modeling. She’s also spent many hours volunteering with North Dakota area American Diabetes Association. Inspired by her brother’s lifelong struggle with Type 1 diabetes, she assists with public awareness, fundraising, and charity efforts, and serves on the statewide community leadership board as chair of marketing and communications.
In 2008, Jeanine joined NDPC. Her first leadership role was running NDPC’s annual College Communications Contest. She chaired the college contest twice before being elected to the board of directors. As NDPC’s Southeast District Director, Jeanine organized and hosted the 2010 spring conference in Fargo and spent two years as president of NDPC’s local affiliate, Fargo-Moorhead Professional Communicators, organizing and leading FMPC’s monthly luncheon meetings. She is currently serving her third term as 2nd vice president of NDPC, a position responsible for running NDPC’s professional Communications Contest. She herself has won many state and national awards for her work. On the national level, Jeanine serves on the NFPW Education Fund board.
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