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People To Watch Jessica Rogers Digital Media Solutions BY CINDY COCKBURN St. Pete’s young dynamo Jessica Rogers gives new meaning to the word “passion.” At 33, she wears the title of Chief of Staff for Digital Media Solutions (DMS). To say the least, she is known for juggling a variety of tasks for the locallybased, multi-million dollar company on a daily basis. When we last met, she was preparing to host a film crew to help bring national attention to the mental health needs of America’s veterans for the 2nd Annual DMS Heroes and Legends Ultramarathon to be held April 24-26. The 48-hour, coast-to-coast course starts in New Smyrna and ends in Clearwater Beach. Her CEO Joe Marinucci and COO Fernando Borghese will push each other to undergo the 220-mile course as their own team of two. Each leader will run more than 100 miles on their own.
DMS Heroes & Legends Gala WHAT: A benefit for Headstrong, a non-profit helping veterans WHERE: Opal Sands Resort, Clearwater Beach WHEN: 7 pm Sunday, April 26 TICKETS: Starting at $125; sponsorship opportunities available; ultramarathon@ DMSgroup.com or call (727) 687-5265; digitalmediasolutions.com/ultramarathon
Jessica is proud to help organize the event. It only takes a few minutes with Jessica to recognize her inspiring inner radiance and passion for helping others. “I want to motivate young business professionals to live their most brilliant lives, and that brilliance cannot be achieved without lifting up those around you,” she said. Her love for St. Pete and passion for philanthropy go hand-in-hand. A graduate of St. Petersburg Catholic High School, Rogers established close ties to her community and developed an early commitment to her civic duties which continued as she served in the Junior League of St. Petersburg. As the DMS Chief of Staff she is responsible for providing strategic counsel and support to key leaders within the company and
the day-to-day operational efficiency surrounding the DMS brand. DMS is one of the Tampa Bay area’s fastest-growing martech companies. Business maven, philanthropist and trailblazer, Jessica Rogers continues to rise while wearing many hats. Her meteoric rise in the Tampa Bay area can be attributed to her drive for purpose and passion. In 2015, she was hired as Executive Assistant to CEO Joe Marinucci. Rogers immediately developed a reputation as a trendsetter and innovative thinker. By 2017, she became the first VP of Culture for DMS and used her role to motivate colleagues to make positive impacts in the communities in which they live and work. In 2019, she helped launch the inaugural DMS Heroes & Legends Ultramarathon benefitting veterans and first responders. She helped DMS raise more than $50,000 for the Gary Sinise Foundation. For the second year in a row, DMS has pledged to honor America’s veterans. Running relay style, four teams of DMS runners will traverse a grueling 220-mile course to raise funds for Headstrong, a nonprofit that provides confidential cost-free mental health care treatment for military veterans and their families. The Ultramarathon is not the first charitable project Rogers has propelled forward. In 2015, Rogers spearheaded her company’s first philanthropic initiative, DMS Season of Giving. The program provides support to those most in need in the local community. This year’s event will culminate with the inaugural Heroes & Legends Gala, which will be held on April 26 and is open to the public.
March/April 2020
StPeteLifeMag.com
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