In her own words: Milena Regos, Out&About Marketing

Northern Nevada Business Weekly: Tell us about your firm and your job.

Milena Regos: I started Out&About Marketing in July 2009 based on my passion for honest and remarkable marketing that connects brands with people using digital marketing and social media. The new relationship economy has changed society forever the way companies conduct business, revolutions are started, news is delivered and consumed, people communicate with friends and the way they want to interact with brands. My goal is to educate business owners and marketers understand the value of social media and how to connect with people using technology by providing value to their customers.

NNBW: How did you get into this profession?

Regos: I have been involved with marketing since 1995 as the promotions and special events manager for the largest advertising agency in Bulgaria working with international brands like Nestle, PepsiCo and Marlboro. I was one of the first people to convince Yahoo in selling banner ads. Social media provides a unique way for people and companies to connect and establish a relationship. I see it as the future and the only way to do business since digital technology allows companies to provide value to people by giving them what they need when they need it. I've been a marketer ever since I was a kid. Some people think it's easy and they can learn it in school and yes, you can learn some skills but you either have it in you or you don't.

NNBW: What's the most important thing you have learned in your career?

Regos: Your brand is what people say it is. In today's world this holds even more weight.

NNBW: What was your first job?

Regos: My very first job was when I was 7, selling the extra fish we caught as kids in the summer camp to other campers. I learned the laws of supply and demand and how to present a product to appeal to people. I started my own company at age 17, one of the first private enterprises in post-communist Bulgaria: windsurf rental and lessons at the Black Sea. I learned that running your own business is the hardest and most rewarding job you can do but if you are passionate about it, it doesn't feel like work. Now, I'm back to running my own business and loving every second of it.

NNBW: What are your favorite hobbies? How do you spend your time away from work?

Regos: I love the outdoors, skiing, paddleboarding, mountain biking, yoga, healthy living, cooking, traveling and spending quality time with my husband and friends.

NNBW: Have any advice for someone who wants to enter your profession?

Regos: Start working on your personal brand now.

NNBW: Tell me about the most fun you have had on the job.

Regos: It's always in the field flying in a helicopter at 5 a.m. for an aerial shoot or skiing deep powder and meeting with a client in ski boots.

NNBW: What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Regos: Decide what you want to do and pursue your dreams my mom.

NNBW: If you could live your life over, what one thing would you change?

Regos: Spend more time with my parents. After leaving Bulgaria and coming to the U.S., I saw them every once and a while but not enough. They both passed too young, my mom at 54 and my dad at 62. I wish I could have spent more time with them.

NNBW: What can you do that someone else can't?

Regos: I can speak Bulgarian English with an Australian accent.

NNBW: What's the last concert or sporting event you attended?

Regos: Steve Martin playing the banjo with the Steep Canyon Rangers at the Grand Sierra.

NNBW: Why do you choose to work and live in northern Nevada?

Regos: I love the outdoors in northern Nevada. From summer to winter, it's an outdoor playground.

The basics:

Name: Milena Regos, founder and principal, Out&About Marketing

Number of years in this job? Almost 3 years

Number of years in this profession? 17

Education: Bachelor of arts in marketing, The American University in Bulgaria; master in international marketing, Alliant University, San Diego

Last book read? "The New Relationship Marketing" by Mari Smith

Favorite movie? "Braveheart," "Flashdance," "7Pounds," "Hair," "The Bucket List."

I also love "Mad Men," the advertising show

What's on your iPod? My iPod has over 10,000 songs. I listen to Alternative, Launch, Chillhouse. I have a workout

playlist and a paddleboard playlist with variety of music on it, such as ACDC, Bob Marley, Cafe del Mar and Dennis Ferrer

Spouse, kids or pets? I'm married to an Australian. We adopted

an Australian shepherd/black Lab mix 12 years ago by the name

of Buck. We call him Buckles.

Know someone whose perspective you want to share with NNBW readers? Send contact information to: rsabo@nnbw.biz or call (775) 850-2146.