MEET AMY COLTON

• 1968  Born in Des Moines, Iowa on February 2. Bad news is its Ground Hog’s Day, good news is everyone remembers birthday.
  
  
• 1978  A theatrical year…plays Scrooge’s sister Fran in Des Moines Community Playhouse’s “A Christmas Carol” production, and later Moses in the spring musical at Plymouth Congregational Church. (Good thing the apostles had long hair!)
  
  
• 1979   With an 11 millimeter overbite and a ½” space in front teeth, becomes first in her class to get braces and three kinds of teeth-yanking “appliances.” Bi-monthly trips to the orthodontist begin; Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody blares in the background as the wires get tightened.
  
  
• 1981  Ech – 7th grade! Preppy handbook wannabe is a vision in Kelly green cords, a whale feral aisle sweater, coordinating folio bag and Duck shoes. Teeth are horrendous still at this point – plastic surgery considered.
  
  
• 1982  Braces come off and orthodontist wins a trophy for most improved overbite without surgery at national convention. Eats the first caramel apple in years and buys out the grape Bubble Yum supply at Quick Trip.
  
  
• 1983  Wins first blue ribbon for drawing and decides to become a high school art teacher for life.
  
  
• 1984  Makes the synchronized swimming team and masters holding breath for 3 minutes at a time and slicking hair back with Knox Gelatin for star-studded “pageant.”
  
  
• 1986  Begs dad to go to art school, who says “after four years and a degree that will get you a job.” Graduates high school and goes to University of Iowa, secretly declaring art as major.
  
  
• 1987  Dad finds out and makes her add journalism to the degree plan.
  
  
• 1989  Publishes first article in school newspaper and thinks maybe this writing thing isn’t so bad. Takes graphic design internship in Chicago to see if you can get a “real” job in art.
  
  
• 1990  Graduates University of Iowa with double degree in Art and Journalism. Answers help wanted ad for graphic designer at Northwestern University in Chicago. Works there for six months and decides writing is a better gig.
  
  
• 1991  Takes a job at Bozell PR (now Weber Shandwick) on the Cap’n Crunch account. Dresses up like the Cap’n on several occasions, including half time at a Detroit Pistons game and through the halls of Congress in Washington, DC. Oh, the glamorous world of PR!
  
  
• 1994  Gets married to college sweetheart and starts work on the Milk Mustache campaign launch. Goes on to orchestrate the first 100-city mobile tour for the got milk? campaign, gaining expertise in grassroots marketing.
  
  
• 1997  Pregnant with first baby, water breaks while typing emails at desk minutes after the office baby shower. Son David is born two hours later and two weeks early.
  
  
• 2000  Pregnant with second baby, prays won’t deliver on New Year’s and be shown everywhere as new millennium mom. Whew. Michael is born January 11.
  
  
• 2003  Just getting ready to come back to work when, oops, third child and finally a daughter is born. Kitty (Katherine) changes everything. Balances being a mom with freelance marketing work.
  
  
• 2004  Launches 2-year campaign to teach Americans the National Anthem. Spends every national holiday coordinating media placements and hears amazingly good – and awful – renditions of the song.
  
  
• 2006  Founds the Marketing to Moms Coalition with a talented group of women.
  
  
• 2007  Returns to work at Current…now the fun really begins.
  
  
• 2008  Gets rid of diapers in her house for good – feels liberated! Lets her kids talk her into getting a dog. Less liberating. Meanwhile, career life kicks in with award-winning work for Clorox and Step2 toys.
  
  
• 2009  Master juggler now with great clients, fun colleagues – and three kids in school, sports and a knack for mishaps.