Q&A with Jack McDonald: Executive Director of Client Relations

A:

I was very interested in both communication and AV equipment from an early age. The combination of those passions led me into the broadcasting industry. I was a production assistant and photojournalist at WNCT in Greenville, NC for a few years. That was an incredible experience that I am still proud of to this day, but ultimately, I decided that the news life was not for me and spent the next decade in a variety of communications and AV-related jobs. I was part of the broadcast crew on a satellite truck that covered college football and basketball games, sold pro audio gear, installed home theaters, and worked as an AV technician on a large technology company’s campus. It seems like kind of a winding path, but all of that experience really clicked into place for me here. I originally joined Centrifuge in 2011. I left for another opportunity in 2022, which was a great learning experience, but CMI was always my real home, and I am so grateful to be back where I belong.

A:

My primary job here these days is to ensure that the solutions we propose and develop for clients are strategically designed to help them achieve their business objectives. I am very excited to partner with clients to help navigate their communication challenges. Aside from working directly with clients, I love being able to tap into some of the lessons I have learned along the way and provide some guidance to people on our team that are less experienced in the industry. I have had so many people help me out along the way, it is fun to reach the stage of my career where I can (hopefully) do the same!

A:

Get us involved early! We are much more than a vendor that wants to take orders and can provide insight and expertise on many aspects of events and communication. We will always craft custom solutions, but we can partner with you best when know your business objectives, desired attendee behaviors, budget parameters, venues being sourced, etc. I can’t count the number of times clients have had to make compromises on their production and communication options because decisions had been made and contracts had been signed without taking a holistic view of the situation. Let’s avoid unnecessary constraints on creativity and engagement!

A:

As an extrovert, I get a lot of energy from being part of a team. A lot of my favorite memories have been when we are able to band together to overcome challenges. The industry we are in throws us a lot of curveballs, and it is a thing of beauty when everyone immediately snaps into “pivot mode”, does their part, communicates, and we are able to excel in the face of quickly changing circumstances. It is not for everyone, but being comfortable in that environment is mandatory for success in live events. There are too many moments over the years to list out here! Showing up prepared to pivot and do my part for the team keeps me motivated, and that shared mindset across Centrifuge Media is why we have been able to deliver exceptional results for clients consistently for the past 20 years.

A:

I am pretty boring! I love watching sports. I would say that has been my primary non-work interest since I was a little kid. I am a passionate fan of the Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Orioles. I rarely miss a game of either team on TV, and I try to get to at least one or two in person each year. Outside of those two teams, I will literally watch any sports that happen to be on TV. One of my childhood friends and I started a tradition in 2015 of going to an MLB game somewhere around the country each year, which has been a really cool experience to see the different stadiums and cities. Aside from sports, I love reading books. I could never pin down just one, but a few of my favorites are: All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy, Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life by William Finnegan, Between the World and Me by Ta-nehisi Coates, The Vegetarian by Han Kang, For Whom the Bell Tolls and A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway, Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, and Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace.

A:

I broke out in sweat thinking about this, but I think I have to go with MLB. Baseball was my first favorite sport, and the Orioles are the team I am most passionate about. Plus, the Super Bowl is an awesome spectacle, but for me, nothing is more exciting than post season baseball.