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Who says you can’t go home?
A look into the life of a young professional born, raised and living in Auburn.
By Ashley Hoey of Coburn Design, Inc.
Jessica Harkins is no stranger to the uncertainty of young adulthood. After college, she was offered the somewhat intimidating ability to charter her own path into adulthood and the world of being a professional. And, excelling in that path was part of her ultimate dream growing up in Auburn.
“I grew up in Auburn and went to school here all the way through high school,” said Harkins. “I was in marching band, the swim team and every club imaginable… I was in it.”
Harkins graduated in the top third of her class at Auburn High School and then decided to pursue her education further at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. While away tackling her studies and enjoying her experience in the western region of the state, Harkins became unsure of her focus.
“I started as a biology major and then switched to marketing,” said Harkins. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do with biology and then I thought I wanted to get into something in the business field.”
Upon graduation in 2004, she made it back to Auburn where she would plan her transition into the “real world.” Her search for employment landed her with opportunities in the area involving the world of marketing, her newfound passion.
“I was really fortunate,” admitted Harkins. ”There were a couple different marketing jobs in Auburn at the time and I was fortunate to get the job at The Citizen and I’ve been there ever since.”
Harkins role at Auburn’s hometown news publication is highly diverse and includes everything from coordinating events and promotions to advertising to in-house marketing. She plays a vital role in advertising The Citizen to the region and has enjoyed the ability to expand upon the skills she learned at college while applying them to a product that speaks to the very nature of her hometown.
When asked if she had the intention to stay here all along, Harkins is candid about the uncertainty that came before her upon graduation.
“I wasn’t quite sure what I’d do,” said Harkins. “I just got out of college, I didn’t really have any money to go anywhere and I found the job in Auburn. It turns out a lot of my friends came back for a while and my family is here. And, I like the area, I like to do things around here.”
Harkins is grateful for the professional atmosphere that many businesses in the city offer to the young professional in Auburn. She is hopeful with more opportunities opening up that more of her former classmates, members of Generation Y and the MTV Generation, will join her in building the professional presence of young people in the area.
“There’s a lot of opportunities as a lot of the baby boomer population retires, in the years to come,” said Harkins. “I think the community is really supportive of young professionals, embracing us and wants to work with us.”
The easy access to Ithaca and Syracuse, the hometown environment and the ability to see her family are ways that keep Jessica’s feet to the ground in Auburn. Harkins enjoys the central location that Auburn offers as a small city in the Upstate Region of New York. She’s looking forward to more progress as the city expands on an economic development level.
“I would like people to start bringing businesses downtown, but it might be more of a tourist thing. I’d like to see more events at the lake,” said Harkins.
In her spare time, Harkins enjoys the new Auburn Public Theater and is anxious for more retailers to open up their doors in Auburn. She believes more business will give young people more reasons to stay, more things to do and more places to shop. Harkins is on the Steering Committee of a young professionals group in Auburn known as IGNITE. The group aims to create networking opportunities for young professionals and to create relationships with members of the business community.
“We want to have our voices heard and get everyone to solve the issues. Together we’re a force.”
Harkins would consider raising her family here when the time comes and values her experience growing up in Auburn. We hope Jessica continues her quest for professional success in the area. Auburn is lucky to have young professionals like her with a passion for the community and a desire to improve the economic landscape of our great city.
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