About Susan Knoll
Education:
I represent the creative side of the Sumy team. This fact will impress you even more when you know I have degrees in English and Anthropology. (That would be the “art” in Liberal Arts). I graduated from Ball State University many years ago, but not many, many years ago, a distinction that grows more important with each passing year.
Work History:
Right out of college I lived in Indiana and worked for a stock car racing organization developing photos and designing newsletters and magazine advertisements. I learned several important things about myself – I completely and totally loved photography and design. And I completely and totally hated car races.
As soon as humanly possible I transitioned out of the world of race cars and into the world of advertising where I worked as a graphic designer for [Insert soulless corporation]. It was a living, but really, there was nothing more than corn in Indiana. Soon, I made my way across the country to Dallas with my daughter for a job transfer.
I spent the next 10 years working as an Advertising and Marketing Director for a large international book distributor. I was fortunate enough to work with many well-known authors and top publishers. It was a job sent from heaven until the company was purchased by [Insert yet another soulless corporation]. Fortunately, I was in a position to quit, and my sister and I started Sumy Designs shortly thereafter.
We’ve worked hard at Sumy Designs and have built a fantastic clientele. This hard work and dedication has provided us with the ability to stay on top of the design and technology world, a work schedule which allows us spend time with our families and has supported our unfortunately fortunate Apple addiction. On the days we sisters aren’t killing each other, it’s been a wonderful experience, even if I do have to remind Amy that, as older sister, I am always right.
Personal:
I am a proud founding board member of a Non-Profit Organization called Shaletest. ShaleTest provides environmental testing services to private individuals and groups whose lives are affected by natural gas development. I am outspoken and vigilant as I deal with the negative impacts of urban gas drilling and how it affects our health and environment. Seriously, you don’t want to frack with me.
When I’m not designing pages or playing Activist Susan, I spend a lot of time with my family (the aforementioned, lovely man who fired me, our beautiful daughter and three dogs). I love shoes, wine, gardening and singing Barry Manilow songs loudly in public places to impress my ever-adoring daughter.
I am also a back-of-the-pack runner who has completed several half-marathons and more than a handful of marathons. At one point in my life I had a crazy dream about qualifying for the Boston Marathon – I’m almost over that now. Currently, I am training for my first half-ironman.
In my spare time, I blog about my life and running, Runner Susan, and contribute articles with far too much detail about the disgusting side of running to the awesome Complete Running Network. I blog to keep myself on track physically, mentally, and to ensure I do not spend all my money on shoes.
