One of our most recent additions to the Lemonly team is no stranger to the world of marketing and client service. Cortney Carmody came aboard as director of account service in fall 2023 and has already left her mark.
Cortney comes to us as a long-time Lemonly fan and a seasoned account service pro having nearly a decade of agency experience under her belt. With degrees in marketing and clinical mental health counseling, she’s a master communicator with a strong creative instinct and a people-centered approach to account service. We’re stoked to have her leading our account service team.
Catch up with Cortney in our classic Q&A where she shares more about her background, settling into her role, and some of her favorite Lemonly projects.
Tell us a little about your background, education, and career up to now.
I was born and raised in South Dakota. I’m from Lake Preston, the cutest little small town. After graduating high school, I attended Dakota State University, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in marketing.
From there, I worked briefly at Visit Spearfish in the beautiful Black Hills. During my time as the marketing and PR assistant there, I had the opportunity to work with our advertising agency partner and fell in love with the agency world.
Shortly after, I joined the account service team at that same ad agency — Lawrence & Schiller — and spent the next 8+ years there. During my time at L&S, I learned so much and had the opportunity to grow into the role of director of account service. I love talking about advertising strategy and working with really great clients.
I’ve also always had a real passion for mental health and well-being. So, while working in advertising, I went back to school and earned my master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of South Dakota. I took a brief hiatus from the advertising world to work as a counselor, but I missed the creative outlet that I find in marketing. So, here I am!
Mental health is still a big passion for me, and I actively look for ways to merge my two passions through mental health and wellness initiatives in the workplace and volunteer opportunities in the community.
How would you describe your role at Lemonly?
I have such an awesome job at Lemonly. As director of account service, I work with our amazing account service team to ensure we’re bringing the absolute best experience to our clients. We pride ourselves on bringing creative solutions to our clients’ communication challenges and providing a top-notch client experience throughout that process.
While I do manage a few accounts myself, in my role, I focus on developing creative solutions and strategies for clients and ensuring that our internal processes are running smoothly and supporting our work.
What are you looking forward to about joining the Lemonly team?
I’ve been a fan of Lemonly for years. One thing I’ve always appreciated about Lemonly is their dedication to their core values of collaboration, integrity, and adventure. As an outsider, it was apparent that the team worked well together and were tight-knit — that they were very authentic and honest about who they were, and that they had a lot of fun.
After joining the team, I can tell you it’s not just a front. Those are the values that the team lives and breathes everyday. And personally, those values are very much in alignment with my own, which was a big reason for me taking the leap to join the team.
What’s your favorite app? Appetizers or mobile apps are both fair game. 😉
Oh man, this is where my nerdiness is going to shine. My favorite app has to be Trello. I absolutely love organization and have dabbled with various organization and productivity apps over the years. But I recently transitioned to Trello, and y’all, it has been a game-changer.
If we’re talking appetizers, though: chips and queso all day, every day. And even better if it comes with a margarita.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I try to be outside as much as possible. I’m an avid runner (currently training for my second marathon). My husband and I do a lot of hiking, biking, and kayaking. We love camping and specifically gourmet campfire cooking. We travel as much as possible. I also enjoy reading and music. I would say I’m happiest if I’m sitting outside with good company and live music.
What’s one thing about yourself that would surprise people?
I am a junk food addict, and I hate vegetables. Health and wellness are important to me, but I spend a good share of time looking for hacks. I was literally force-feeding myself carrots in the office the other day (bleh). If anyone has any tips or tricks for me, I’m all ears. In the meantime, I’m forcing down the veggies and then rewarding myself with sweets. It’s all about balance, right?
As a kid, what did you say you were going to be when you grew up?
As a kid, I wanted to be a writer. My mom was the editor of our local newspaper, and I thought that was really cool. And I’ve always really loved fashion. I remember thinking that I wanted to write for a fashion magazine. I may have watched The Devil Wears Prada a few too many times. I’m still fascinated with that world though.
Do you have any pets?
Yes, I have one fur baby. Her name is Lola, and she’s sleeping next to me as I write this. She’s three years old. She’s a mixed breed — American Staffordshire, Husky, and White Swiss Shepherd. Check out those ears (photos below). She’s the sweetest thing, and she goes pretty much everywhere with me.
What’s your favorite genre of music to work to?
I listen to a little bit of everything. I would say alternative/indie is probably my go-to, but I love classic rock (the ‘70s specifically), and there’s a very special place in my heart for ‘90s alternative. I also enjoy hip-hop, R&B, pop, jazz, and most recently, I’ve even started dabbling in country. (I never thought I’d say that.)
Do you have a favorite podcast, blog, or source of inspiration you’d recommend?
I really love Dani Bruflodt’s blog, Thyme is Honey. As a fellow productivity nerd, I’ve learned so many amazing tips and hacks from her. Plus, she also has a real passion for wellness, so I love her content on wellness, nutrition, and how to drink more water (because I’m terrible at that). And in general, we just have a lot in common. She shares great reading recommendations, recipes, playlists, device wallpapers, etc. She’s definitely worth a follow.
What drew you to Lemonly?
I mentioned this above, but it really was Lemonly’s values. I’ve always admired Lemonly from afar, though I’ve had some good Lemonhead friends over the years. Ultimately though, when I realized that Lemonly’s core values mirrored my own so closely, it felt like a perfect match. At this point in my life, I was craving a work environment that allowed me to show up wholeheartedly. With Lemonly’s values being so in sync with my own, it has felt like such a natural fit.
Do you have a favorite past Lemonly project?
I’ve really loved a lot of the work Lemonly has done with Marriott over the years. As someone who loves to travel and who’s spent a good share of my career working with tourism and hospitality clients, I just love that partnership. The work is beautiful and strategic.
I specifically love the infographics about different destinations. An infographic is such a fun way to learn the ins and outs of destinations with the ability to showcase the breadth of things to do while still narrowing in on some specific details.
What’s your favorite part of the office so far?
The people! The Lemonheads are a truly wonderful group of people. Everyone is extremely passionate about the work. They’re incredibly talented and creative. And most of all, they’re a fun group to be around.
Name a dream client and why Lemonly should work with them.
I would absolutely love to work with Patagonia. Not only do they make amazing outdoor gear and clothing, but they also have a really awesome story to tell.
Since 1985 (back before it was the cool thing to do), they’ve been pledging a portion of their sales to preservation and restoration of the natural environment. I had to check the stats, but they’ve given over $140 million in cash and in-kind donations to environmental groups. I love that the brand is truly for outdoor lovers in that way. They have great gear, but they also want our world to continue to be a place where people can enjoy the outdoors.
Patagonia, if you’re listening, we’d love to help you continue to tell that story. 😉
If you had to pick one for the rest of your life: burritos or pizza? Why? 🌯🍕
Burritos! C’mon. Do I even need to say why?
