Peoria Profile
Julie Snell: Snell Communications
Julie Snell has been on both sides of the news: reporting it and now, as sole proprietor of Snell Communications, making it.
The Peoria native earned a degree in broadcast communications at Western Illinois University before beginning as a reporter at WHOI TV. "I continued my career as marketing coordinator and public relations director of Par-A-Dice Hotel & Casino. I was part of the team that brought the new boat to East Peoria in the early 1990s. That was a very exciting time for the area. I took great pride working with the original investors of Par-A-Dice and feel that I formed many close business associates but, moreover, many friends from my time there," she said.
Snell then returned to the world of television as the promotion director of WMBD TV. "It was a time when CBS was on an upward swing, and it was great to be a part of that team, both locally and nationally," she said. "I've been fortunate to have worked with some of the finest television talent this area has ever known, both at WHOI and WMBD TV. Although I began my career on camera, I felt I could better serve my passion for the industry in promotion and public relations. I learned a great deal from my days at Par-A-Dice-but mostly that serving is where my passion lies."
That passion led her to form Snell Communications in 2001, which she said was a response to a need in the community. "I have very strong Christian beliefs, and I felt I was being pulled to serve. The local Gus Macker 3 on 3 Basketball tournament found itself without a group to run it. It had a history of 11 years in central Illinois, and that was a tradition I wasn't going to let die. I was asked to take it over when no one else could, and that's how I got started. One day I was writing script for the event, and the next day I was running the whole thing. It was quite a whirlwind. Since then, I've established a group to take ownership of the event, and they contract me to run it. Now, I'm contracted to sell and run events," Snell said.
As sole proprietor, Snell is hands-on with every project, an arrangement she enjoys. "Because I'm responsible for all aspects of the company, I'm responsible for the successes and failures. When the computer breaks, I have to fix it. When we run out of supplies, I have to buy them. But I also am able to look back at all the hard work I've put into a project and know I have something to do with that success. I really don't like to be in the limelight. Instead, I like to give credit where it's due. It's true that you can get much more gratification out of giving than taking. That's true for me," she said.
Although Snell Communications is capable of taking on more, Snell said she's happy to simply focus on the Gus Macker Tournament for now. "God has a purpose for me, and although some days I don't always know what that is, in the big picture, I think I do. That purpose is to serve. Although it may sound strange to some that I feel I'm serving through basketball, you might be surprised. I'm expanding every day. I began running one tournament three years ago, and today I'm not only responsible for overseeing the entire operation of the local tournament, I now travel nationally to other communities to open new tournaments for not-for-profit organizations. In addition, I also travel to other tournament sites and work as part of a very talented team of Gus Macker national staff. I'm part of a grander team of hard-working and dedicated people, yet I'm able to remain independent. It really is the best of both worlds for me."
Many people have the misconception that her company is simply about basketball. "I guess that's why so many people wonder how I got here from a broadcasting, promotions, and public relations background. I really think what I do amounts to a greater good than the event itself. Through all of my experiences, I've met some very talented and successful business people worldwide. The contacts I have span many different kinds of populace, and I've been able to bring a lot of those people together. For example, I help not-for-profit agencies make money for their organizations by introducing them to businesses that will sponsor the event," she said.
Snell said the biggest surprise she's had since starting her own company has been people in general. "People surprise me every day-sometimes good, sometimes not so good. I just get up every day and hope the good outweighs the bad, and that maybe I can make a difference in that which starts out as not so good."
She said the best part of her job is her independence. "When I allow God to guide me through the choices I make in a day-instead of someone else who has different goals and beliefs than I do-I can sleep well at night. I have a 14-year-old daughter with many interests and a husband who travels with his job quite a bit. Owning my own company gives me the flexibility to be involved in both of their worlds. I work very hard, but when I can, I like to remember that life isn't just about work."
Her advice for other women entrepreneurs is simple: follow your heart. "We don't choose our time here, so make the best of it," she said. "Keep everything in perspective. Balance the value of things in your life not by your financial worth, but by the same measure God does. So ask yourself every day, 'What have I done for someone else today?' If you can answer that without hesitation, consider yourself successful."
As for the future, Snell said she intends to live by the Gus Macker mission statement: "Make the World a Better Place to Live." TPW
The Peoria native earned a degree in broadcast communications at Western Illinois University before beginning as a reporter at WHOI TV. "I continued my career as marketing coordinator and public relations director of Par-A-Dice Hotel & Casino. I was part of the team that brought the new boat to East Peoria in the early 1990s. That was a very exciting time for the area. I took great pride working with the original investors of Par-A-Dice and feel that I formed many close business associates but, moreover, many friends from my time there," she said.
Snell then returned to the world of television as the promotion director of WMBD TV. "It was a time when CBS was on an upward swing, and it was great to be a part of that team, both locally and nationally," she said. "I've been fortunate to have worked with some of the finest television talent this area has ever known, both at WHOI and WMBD TV. Although I began my career on camera, I felt I could better serve my passion for the industry in promotion and public relations. I learned a great deal from my days at Par-A-Dice-but mostly that serving is where my passion lies."
That passion led her to form Snell Communications in 2001, which she said was a response to a need in the community. "I have very strong Christian beliefs, and I felt I was being pulled to serve. The local Gus Macker 3 on 3 Basketball tournament found itself without a group to run it. It had a history of 11 years in central Illinois, and that was a tradition I wasn't going to let die. I was asked to take it over when no one else could, and that's how I got started. One day I was writing script for the event, and the next day I was running the whole thing. It was quite a whirlwind. Since then, I've established a group to take ownership of the event, and they contract me to run it. Now, I'm contracted to sell and run events," Snell said.
As sole proprietor, Snell is hands-on with every project, an arrangement she enjoys. "Because I'm responsible for all aspects of the company, I'm responsible for the successes and failures. When the computer breaks, I have to fix it. When we run out of supplies, I have to buy them. But I also am able to look back at all the hard work I've put into a project and know I have something to do with that success. I really don't like to be in the limelight. Instead, I like to give credit where it's due. It's true that you can get much more gratification out of giving than taking. That's true for me," she said.
Although Snell Communications is capable of taking on more, Snell said she's happy to simply focus on the Gus Macker Tournament for now. "God has a purpose for me, and although some days I don't always know what that is, in the big picture, I think I do. That purpose is to serve. Although it may sound strange to some that I feel I'm serving through basketball, you might be surprised. I'm expanding every day. I began running one tournament three years ago, and today I'm not only responsible for overseeing the entire operation of the local tournament, I now travel nationally to other communities to open new tournaments for not-for-profit organizations. In addition, I also travel to other tournament sites and work as part of a very talented team of Gus Macker national staff. I'm part of a grander team of hard-working and dedicated people, yet I'm able to remain independent. It really is the best of both worlds for me."
Many people have the misconception that her company is simply about basketball. "I guess that's why so many people wonder how I got here from a broadcasting, promotions, and public relations background. I really think what I do amounts to a greater good than the event itself. Through all of my experiences, I've met some very talented and successful business people worldwide. The contacts I have span many different kinds of populace, and I've been able to bring a lot of those people together. For example, I help not-for-profit agencies make money for their organizations by introducing them to businesses that will sponsor the event," she said.
Snell said the biggest surprise she's had since starting her own company has been people in general. "People surprise me every day-sometimes good, sometimes not so good. I just get up every day and hope the good outweighs the bad, and that maybe I can make a difference in that which starts out as not so good."
She said the best part of her job is her independence. "When I allow God to guide me through the choices I make in a day-instead of someone else who has different goals and beliefs than I do-I can sleep well at night. I have a 14-year-old daughter with many interests and a husband who travels with his job quite a bit. Owning my own company gives me the flexibility to be involved in both of their worlds. I work very hard, but when I can, I like to remember that life isn't just about work."
Her advice for other women entrepreneurs is simple: follow your heart. "We don't choose our time here, so make the best of it," she said. "Keep everything in perspective. Balance the value of things in your life not by your financial worth, but by the same measure God does. So ask yourself every day, 'What have I done for someone else today?' If you can answer that without hesitation, consider yourself successful."
As for the future, Snell said she intends to live by the Gus Macker mission statement: "Make the World a Better Place to Live." TPW