Want to know what’s top of mind with today’s top marketers? At Paladin, we keep a pulse on what’s trending in marketing and advertising by listening to the leaders through local events, online webinars, top industry pubs, Twitter, blogs and other social channels.

Recently, a fellow board member of a local marketing group sent a quick email request asking “What new or ‘go-to’ marketing book is on your desk?” I thought I would share some of the responses from this influential group of senior marketers, along with a few of my personal favorites, too.

• “Marketing Metaphoria: What Deep Metaphors Reveal About the Minds of Consumers” by Gerald Zaltman and Lindsay H. Zaltman Read the full story

As we gear up for a great 2011, we are adding key people to our team. I would like to introduce three team members that joined us most recently:

Robert Walker joined as a Business Development Manager. He is located in Dallas and has extensive creative staffing experience both in DFW and nationally. Broad experience across multiple industries including healthcare, finance, pharma and retail. - Robert.Walker@paladinstaff.com

Pam Maret is our new Regional Manager for Paladin NYC. Pam was a top producer for a competitor before relocating from Charlotte to New York. Prior to entering the staffing industry, Pam was a Manager and sales executive in corporate advertising. - Pamela.Maret@paladinstaff.com

Don Schneider has joined as an Executive Recruiter. He will focus on senior level direct-hire roles in Marketing, Creative and Communications fields. He has over 15 years of experience in marketing managing account, creative and production teams on both the client and agency side. - Don.Schneider@paladinstaff.com

We are excited to provide Robert’s, Pam’s and Don’s expertise to you, the Paladin community. We believe that they will be invaluable partners to clients and candidates.

Please join us in welcoming all three to our team. And look forward to more new talent to join Paladin as we grow in 2011.

We have the pleasure of welcoming our newest addition to the Paladin Team and the new voice of Paladin - Cindy-Lee Pijoos. Cindy is taking over my role as Recruitment Coordinator. She will be the point person for our working Associates and initial inquiries from Candidates and Clients.

Cindy’s story about finding Paladin is a classic case study for how social networking can help you find a job. Recruiters, mentors, bloggers, and even Forbes continuously buzz about personal branding and networking through online communities to find a job. After reviewing Paladin’s postings online, she contacted me through a direct message on Twitter. Her social media savvy gained her an interview, and her experience and professionalism won her the role.

Cindy graduated with an integrated marketing communications degree in PR. She comes to us originally from Cape Town, South Africa and has lived in various cities before settling in Chicago. She thoroughly enjoys volunteering, cooking, and networking - so be sure to introduce yourself at the next event.

As we welcome Cindy as the new face and voice of Paladin, I am personally taking the next step in my career. I have recently accepted a position in social media, which will be a new challenge I am very excited to take on. My passion for interactive, online marketing has spooled through my experience at Paladin. I am happy to have had a chance to hone my social media experience in my Paladin role and look forward to staying a part of the extended Paladin family!

The first association I joined was the student chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, the PRSSA, primarily because Al Walker offered extra credit for my journalism class at NIU. While I may not have appreciated it at first, it is here where I built a strong foundation and friendships that I’ve drawn on throughout my career.

There are many reasons to join an association, and there are many for marketing and creative professionals to choose from. The key common thread they offer is a forum to interact with peers facing similar business challenges, and most importantly, an opportunity to further your personal and professional development.

Regardless of the stage you are at – from young professional to mid management, or even if you’ve reached the pinnacle of your profession, there is a wealth of benefits to tap into by not just joining, but actively participating in one or several groups.

Sure there are the tangible benefits of educational programs, access to thought leadership articles, access to member directories, subscriptions to trade publications and the like. But if you talk to long-time members and association leaders, there are far richer rewards and reasons to believe:

• Build a trusted peer-to-peer network to call on to help navigate a particular issue
• Exposure to best practices to benchmark what other companies are doing and spark new ideas for your organization
• Stretch your marketing skills as a speaker or committee volunteer, take on challenges outside your comfort zone or current work responsibilities
• Surround yourself with smart, savvy peers to inspire and encourage your own and your team’s creativity
  
• Be an industry insider and uncover new career opportunities that may be right for you
• Be a mentor – you’ll not only feel good, you’ll likely learn a few things right back!

We are fortunate to be part of a community of communicators, so perhaps one of the best perks I cherish through my involvement is the fun and lasting friendships gained along the way.

Follow Paladin’s association Twitter list for global updates from variety of networks: http://twitter.com/PaladinStaff/associations

Tell us your opinion! How important is it for professionals in marketing or creative positions to participate in associations? Take our Poll

Margaret Essary is Director, Business Development of Paladin and is an active member of several associations, including the Business Marketing Association, the American Marketing Association, and the Chicago Association of Direct Marketing.