MEET VIRGINIA DEVLIN

• 1968  Born in the suburbs of Chicago on March 31 after mom decides to wash windows. Six weeks late according to the doctor, but just in time to avoid grandmother’s threat to disown an “April Fool.”
  
  
• 1970  Welcomes baby brother, Michael. Relinquishes role as family’s only grandchild. Becomes bossy – yet kind – older sister instead.
  
  
• 1972  Observes birth of her dog Thunder’s seven puppies, whose father is named Lightening. (No joke.) Vows to become a veterinarian.
  
  
• 1973  Enters kindergarten and meets first boyfriend. They “date” until second grade – foreshadowing excellent long-term relationship building skills.
  
  
• 1976  Ah, third grade. The evil Mrs. Pierson. Ugly cat-eye glasses. Mom cuts off hair. An awkward year…
  
  
• 1979  Wins national essay contest themed “What Patriotism Means to Me.” Can’t wait to be old enough to vote.
  
  
• 1978  Sets the school record for the 220-yard dash and does the most sit-ups in gym class – boys and girls! Nothing like good competition as motivation.
  
  
• 1982  Moves to another Chicago suburb and meets neighbor and future best friend. Spends after school hours creating “magazines” with original essays, poetry and drawings. And making up dances to various Devo songs.
  
  
• 1985  Is elected class president – builds diplomacy, presentation and event management skills. Member of the track team. Sprints, relays, hurdles – sounds like the PR world!
  
  
• 1986  Graduates high school and heads off to college in DeKalb, Illinois (home of Cindy Crawford!) as finance major. Meets other best friend on the first day of school because they had the same shoes. Struggles with accounting and statistics.
  
  
• 1987  Switches majors to photojournalism because (1) she likes to write and (2) photography sounds cool! Maintains business minor to make mom happy and because she knows some day finance stuff will be important.
  
  
• 1988  Starts work at daily college newspaper, the Northern Star, in the photography department. Ruins film of future Chicago Tribune photographer on first day. Good thing they sent three people to shoot the 10,000 Maniacs concert! Also meets fellow photojournalist and future husband, Kurt.
  
  
• 1989  Becomes photo editor of Northern Star. Exhibits artwork in school gallery. Sells her first photo. Turns 21 – finally can legally attend “new wave night” at local bar.
  
  
• 1990  Graduates college. Moves immediately to Chicago. Works at a law firm – because you just don’t make good money as a beginning photojournalist!
  
  
• 1993  Saves money, quits job, drives 3,000 miles west with Kurt to Seattle. Gets foot in the door at EvansGroup, Seattle’s largest public relations agency (now Publicis). Discovers passion for PR, despite championing soybeans for first client.
  
  
• 1995  Follows Kurt back to Chicago. Gets hired at conservative-looking Selz Seabolt (now Publicis), despite sporting cropped platinum blonde hairstyle. Handles PR for clients as varied as lip balm, cheese and roses.
  
  
• 1997  Follows favorite Selz Seabolt mentor to Weber Shandwick (BSMG Marketing Communications at the time) as account supervisor working on the Pork. The Other White Meat and got milk? campaigns. Over nine years, ascends to title of executive vice president, working with clients like Campbell Soup Company, The Clorox Company, Electrolux Major Appliances, Masterfoods USA, Nestle and Sara Lee.
  
  
• 1998  Marries Kurt. Who would have thought that first dark room encounter would turn into marriage?
  
  
• 2005  Marks great personal achievement with the arrival of daughter, Ava.
  
  
• 2006  Leaves Weber Shandwick to create specialist agency Current, embarking on the greatest journey in her professional career to date.
  
  
• 2009  Wakes up excited each day to work with a growing team of talented professionals and world class clients. Beams with pride at what Current has become in three years.