Hazel says, “Concept’s longevity and success within the industry is testament to its strong position in the marketplace. In many respects we inherited a company with a strong brand name and one with very strong levels of customer service. Over the last couple of years, we have invested a lot of energy in consolidating this position but this does not mean we are un-open to change. When it comes to interfacing with the target markets of our customers, we are always looking for new and value oriented solutions.

“Each and every one of Concept’s clients is an important yet separate entity and Concept is its marketing arm. At the same time, each client can rest easy, having the assurance that we have decades of expertise and a dynamic working knowledge of the media marketplace.

She adds, “At Concept Advertising, we complete advertising campaigns that are original and strategic and we have an award winning in-house graphic design studio, having won an IDEA (Irish Design effectiveness award) a couple of years back”.

It’s clear that Hazel enjoys her work and made the right decision to go into advertising, “I love my job at Concept. I love the clients that I work with and I love the fact that it offers such variation from day to day. There is a very talented team working at Concept and they never cease to amaze me with their creativity and passion for advertising”.

If her working life wasn’t busy enough Hazel’s personal life certainly keeps pace. Her boyfriend Andy is a New Yorker who is an assistant principal of an intermediate school in Brooklyn which is certainly a logistical challenge!

“Flights back and forth to New York have become a regular feature of my life along with phone-calls and e mail but it’s going well,” says Hazel.

Outside of advertising she keeps busy being a member of the Carrigaline Gospel Choir and is also president of the Publicity Club of Cork which aims to “bring the communications industry together”.

“Last year we held the Jazz Luncheon in aid of the Irish Cancer Society and earlier this year, my sister, a friend and I organised a casino night in aid of breast cancer research, raising almost €7,000. 

“The casino night was a great success and we had great support from Ernst & Young where my sister works, Morrison Mansworth financial services (now Moneystones Group) and from friends.”

Supporting the Irish Cancer Society was a cause close to Hazel’s heart, “My mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in Christmas 2005 and underwent treatment in 2006 so we wanted to do something for this cause. My mum is now in great health and amidst the current climate of controversy surrounding cancer care in Ireland, I could only say the best about the treatment she received at the Mid-western Regional Hospital and St John’s Hospital in Limerick,” she says.

You might be surprised that Hazel even has time to think about future plans but she has a clear vision for Concept’s future growth and success, “Going forward, the plan is to grow Concept’s core business as much as I possibly can. My experience over the years has been invaluable but I don’t plan on sitting back and am always interested in progression for both Concept and myself. 

“With that in mind, I plan on doing some short-term studies next year in the States on brand management marketing and corporate branding best practices, adding an extra dimension to Concept’s service offering and individuality”.

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